Optic reflection device

Abstract

An Optic Reflection device, for application as Reflectors in the Light Track of optic installations, more specifically, as Reflector for single or multiple reflections in the scanner, apparatus of optics industry. Designed trapezoidal as opposed to rectangular or otherwise configuration pursuant to prior arts. In a preferred embodiment, the application is in the form of a reflector of single reflection to incident light beam; in another preferred embodiment, the application is in the form of reflector permissive of multiple reflections. Design pursuant to the trapezoidal optic reflector pertaining to the invention can substantially reduce space required of Light Track in an optic system, and therefore commensurably volume and weight claimed in the entire optic system, which facilitates compact design of the products and installation of other devices or utilities in the space so saved in the entire optic system.

1. An optic reflection device for use in an optic system, comprising:
 a light source for providing light;  
 a plurality of reflection mirrors, with at least one reflection mirror having a trapezoidal cross-section, wherein each reflection mirror reflecting  reflects the light from the light source towards a predetermined direction;  
 a lens set that focuses the light from the reflection mirrors; an image sensor that receives the focused light from the lens set and converts the focused light into digital signals; and  
 a chassis that houses and positions the light source, the reflection mirrors, the lens set and the image sensor, with the chassis having a trapezoidal cross-section.  
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each reflection mirror has a trapezoidal cross-section with a constant thickness throughout its cross-section. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each reflection mirror has a trapezoidal cross-section, and has exactly one reflecting surface. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim  1    3 , wherein the  a first reflection mirror is positioned so that the  its exactly one reflecting surface reflects the light from the light source at least two times. 
     
     
       5. An optic reflection device for use in an optic system, comprising:
 a light source for providing light towards an object to generate a reflected light of the object;  
 a plurality of elongated reflection mirrors each reflecting the reflected light to a predetermined location; 
 a lens set that focuses the reflected light from only one of the reflection mirrors; and  
 an image sensor that receives the reflected light from the lens set and converts the reflected light into digital signals;  
 wherein the light source, reflection mirrors and lens set are positioned to define a single light path; and  
 wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated reflection mirrors has a trapezoidal shape that has four edges, with a first set of two of the edges being elongated and parallel to each other, and a second set of the other two of the edges being disposed at an angle with respect to each other, and with the four edges defining exactly one reflecting surface that has said trapezoidal shape.  
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the trapezoidal-shaped reflection mirror reflects the reflected light at least two times in the light path, with the first set of edges reflecting the reflected light a first time, and with the second set of edges reflecting the reflected light a second time. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the image sensor is a charge-coupled device. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the trapezoidal-shaped reflection mirror has a constant thickness. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a chassis for supporting the light source, the reflection mirrors, the lens set and the image sensor, the chassis having a trapezoidal cross-section having a constant width and a constant height, and having an upper surface and a lower surface that has a smaller length than the upper surface. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for providing light;        means for reflecting the light within the apparatus;        means for directing the reflected light;        means for sensing the directed light;        means for housing and positioning the light providing means, the reflecting means, the light directing means, and the sensing means, the housing means having a cross section with two parallel edges and two non - parallel edges, the housing means having a top portion that is wider than a bottom portion of the housing means;        wherein the wider top portion is positioned above the bottom portion to form an overhang; and        means for driving movement of a light track assembly of the apparatus;        wherein said driving means is positioned at least partially beneath the overhang.     
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a width of the overhang corresponds to a width of the driving means. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the reflecting means has a trapezoidal shape that has four edges, with at least two of the reflecting means edges disposed at an angle with respect to each other. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light reflecting means includes a plurality of reflection lenses. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of reflection lenses includes a trapezoidal- cross section and exactly one reflecting surface.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for providing light;        means for reflecting the light within the apparatus;        means for directing the reflected light;        means for sensing the directed light; and        means for housing and positioning the light providing means, the reflecting means, the light directing means, and the sensing means, the housing means having a trapezoidal cross section, the housing means having a top portion that is wider than a bottom portion of the housing means;        wherein the wider top portion is positioned above the bottom portion;        wherein the light providing means is positioned to reflect light from a front surface of a document.     
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reflecting means includes a single reflector having a first reflection region and a second different reflection region. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the regions are located on a same side of the single reflector. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reflecting means has a trapezoidal cross- section.   
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
   positioning a reflector component to reflect light generated by a light source along a light path extending through a light directing component and between a document platform and an image sensor;        providing a chassis to house and position the light source, the reflector component, the light directing component, and the image sensor, the chassis having a trapezoidal shape, the chassis having a top portion that is wider than a bottom portion of the chassis; and        positioning a scanner component adjacent to the bottom portion of the chassis, the scanner component positioned at least partially below an overhang associated with the wider top portion.     
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the scanner component comprises a motor to drive movement of a component within the chassis. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising positioning the light source inside the chassis, the light source positioned to generate a reflection from a document. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reflector component has a trapezoidal cross- section.   
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the reflector component is positioned to reflect the light twice from a same side of the reflector component before the light is directed to the image sensor. 
     
     
       24. An optic reflection device, comprising:
   a light source configured to provide light;        a plurality of reflector components operable to reflect the light towards a predetermined direction;        a light focusing component configured to focus the light from the reflector components;        a chassis configured to house and position the light source, the reflector components, the light focusing component, and a light sensor, the chassis having a trapezoidal shape, the chassis having a top region having a different width than a bottom region of the chassis; and        a scanner component adjacent to the narrower region of the chassis, the scanner component positioned in a space associated with the difference in region widths.     
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein each reflector component has a trapezoidal shape with a constant thickness throughout its cross- section.   
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 24 , wherein each reflector component has a trapezoidal shape and one reflecting surface. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the reflector components is positioned so that its reflecting surface reflects the light at least two times. 
     
     
       28. An optic device, comprising:
   a light source;        a reflection component configured to reflect light generated by the light source to a predetermined location;        a light directing component configured to direct light reflected from the reflection component; and        a light sensor configured to receive the directed light; and        a chassis having a trapezoidal cross - section, the chassis structured to house the light source, the reflection component, the light directing component and the light sensor;        wherein the reflection component has a trapezoidal cross - section and a trapezoidal shaped reflecting surface.     
     
     
       29. The optic device of  claim 28 , wherein the reflection component includes four edges that define exactly one trapezoidal shaped reflecting surface. 
     
     
       30. The optic device of  claim 29 , wherein the four edges define only one trapezoidal shaped reflecting surface. 
     
     
       31. The optic device of  claim 30 , wherein the reflection component has only one reflecting surface that is trapezoidal shaped. 
     
     
       32. The optic device of  claim 28 , wherein the trapezoidal cross- section of the chassis corresponds to interior surfaces of the chassis.   
     
     
       33. The optic device of  claim 32 , wherein an outer surface of the chassis has a rectangular cross- section.