Patent ID: 8264750

Claim:
An image reading apparatus comprising: a light source with arrayed light emitting elements; a light guide unit that scatters light emitted from the light source such that the light intensity is greater at end portions than at the central portion in the array direction of the light emitting elements, and guides the light to a reading position of a medium to be read; and an optical system that guides the light reflected at the reading position to a light detection unit that detects the light intensity, wherein the light guide unit comprises: a light guide member that guides the light emitted from the light source to the reading position of the medium to be read; and recesses and projections that scatter the light, the recesses and projections being formed to a film body bonded to a light emitting face of the light guide member, and disposed with coarser intervals at the end portions than at the central portion in the array direction of the light emitting elements.