Light source mechanism for an imaging apparatus

Abstract

A light source mechanism for an imaging apparatus comprises at least a point light source and a light shield. The point light source located at one end of the light shield is used for providing illumination to the imaging apparatus during a scanning process. The light shield is a hollow pipe structure and further includes a long slot lying along an axial longitudinal direction thereof for allowing lights to leave the light shield. An inner surface of the light shield is made as a diffusion surface for evenly diffusing lights inside the light shield, by which a homogeneous line light source for the scanning process is formed at the long slot of the light shield.

1. A light source mechanism for an imaging  An apparatus, comprising:
 at least a point light source, for providing illumination to the imaging apparatus  configured to provide light during a scanning process; and  
 a light shield including  comprising a hollow pipe structure with an axis and having a mounting element at one end for installing the point light source; ,  
 wherein the light shield further includes  comprises a long  slot lying along an axial longitudinal  direction, thereof for allowing lights to leave  wherein the slot is configured to receive the light therethrough, such that the light exits the light shield via the slot,  
 wherein an inner surface of the light shield beingcomprises a diffusiondiffuse surface for diffusing lights inside the light shield, and wherein a line light source is formed at the long slot of the light shieldthe light from the point light source,  
 wherein said  the diffusion surface of said  the light shield includes a plurality of  comprises ring protrusions located adjacent the point light source and ring protrusions located distant from the point light source,  
   wherein the ring protrusions located adjacent the point light source are configured to provide a reduced diffusion of the light as compared to the ring protrusions located distant from the point light source, and    
   wherein a line light source is formed at the slot of the light shield.    
 
     
     
       2. The light source mechanism for an imaging  apparatus according to  of  claim 1 includes , further comprising two said  point light sources mounted at respective ends of said  the light shield. 
     
     
       3. The light source mechanism for an imaging  apparatus according to  of  claim 1 , wherein said  the ring protrusions are formed by electroplating. 
     
     
       4. The light source mechanism for an imaging  apparatus according to  of  claim 1 , wherein said  the ring protrusions are formed by injection. 
     
     
       5. A light source mechanism for an imaging  An apparatus, comprising:
 at least a point light source, for providing illumination to the imaging apparatus  configured to provide light during a scanning process; and  
 a light shield including a hollow pipe structure with an axis and having a mounting element at one end for installing the point light source; ,  
 wherein the light shield further includes a long  comprises a slot lying along an  the axial longitudinal direction thereof for allowing lights to leave  through which the light is configured to exit the light shield,  
   wherein  an inner surface of the light shield beingcomprises a diffusiondiffuse surface for diffusing lights inside the light shield, and wherein a line light source is formed at the long slot of the light shield, andthe light from the point light source along at least a portion of the axis of the light shield,  
 wherein said  the light shield includes an upper half and a mating lower half, the upper half having said diffusion  comprising the diffuse surface, and the lower half including said long  comprising the slot and an interior high reflection layer, and  
   wherein a first portion of the diffuse surface located nearest the point light source has a reduced ability to diffuse the light as compared to a second portion of the diffuse surface located furthest from the point light source.    
 
     
     
       6. The light source mechanism for an imaging  apparatus according to  of  claim 1 , wherein said  the point light source is an LED  comprises a light emitting diode ( LED ). 
     
     
       7. The light source mechanism for an imaging  apparatus according to  of  claim 1 , wherein said long  the slot has a length substantially equal to a width of an ordinary  a documentfor experiencing said scanning process  being scanned. 
     
     
       8. A light source mechanism for an imaging apparatus, comprising:
 at least a point light source, for providing illumination  light to the imaging apparatus during a scanning process; and  
 a light shield including a hollow pipe structure with an axis and having a mounting element at one end for installing the point light source; ,  
 wherein the light shield further includes  comprises a long  slot lying along an axial longitudinal  directionthereof for allowing lights to leave , wherein the slot is configured to receive the light therethrough, such that the light exits the light shield via the light slot,  
   wherein  an inner surface of the light shield beingcomprises a diffusiondiffuse surface for diffusing lights inside the light shield, and wherein a line light source is formed at the long slot of the light shieldthe light from the point light source, thereby homogenizing the light intensity within the light shield along at least a portion of the axis of the light shield, and  
 wherein a diffusion ability of said diffusion  diffuse surface of said light shield increases with an increase in the distance from said point light source.  
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus, comprising:
   a light source configured to provide light for a scanning process; and        a light shield comprising a substantially hollow tube structure having two ends and a cavity formed therein, wherein the light shield has an inner surface that inwardly reflects the light of the light source that enters the cavity from at least one end, wherein the inner surface of the light shield includes a diffuse area that diffuses the reflected light along at least a portion of an axis of the hollow tube structure, wherein the diffuse area comprises a plurality of ring protrusions located adjacent the light source and a plurality of ring protrusions located in the middle of the light shield, and wherein a diffusion ability of the plurality of ring protrusions located in the middle of the light shield is greater than a diffusion ability of the plurality of ring protrusions located adjacent the light source.      
     
     
       10. An apparatus, comprising,
   means for providing light for a scanning process;        means for reflecting the light within a cavity of a hollow tube; and        means for diffusing the light within the cavity of the hollow tube, wherein the means for diffusing light homogenizes a light intensity within the cavity along at least a portion of an axis of the hollow tube and comprises a plurality of ring protrusions on at least a portion of an inner surface of the hollow tube, and wherein a diffusion ability of the plurality of ring protrusions increases with an increase in distance of the plurality of ring protrusions from the means for diffusing light.      
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the ring protrusions comprise alternating concave and convex surfaces on the inner surface of the hollow tube, and run in a direction transverse to the axis of the hollow tube.  
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light shield comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and a slot configured to allow the light to exit the hollow tube structure.  
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner surface of the light shield includes an area having a high reflection layer.  
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ring protrusions are substantially parallel with each other, and wherein the ring protrusions are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hollow tube.  
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light source comprises two light sources mounted at respective ends of the light shield.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is an LED.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the upper portion includes a diffuse surface, and wherein the lower portion includes an interior high reflection layer and the slot.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for providing light comprises two light sources mounted at respective ends of the means for diffusing light.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the means for providing light comprises an LED.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the diffuse area and the area having the high reflection layer are formed through an injection or an electroplating process.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the diffuse surface comprises a plurality of ring protrusions located adjacent the point light source, and wherein the second portion of the diffuse surface comprises a plurality of ring protrusions located at a middle portion of the light shield.  
     
     
       22. The light source mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the diffuse surface of the light shield comprises a first portion of ring protrusions located adjacent the point light source and a second portion of ring protrusions located further from the point light source, wherein the first portion of ring protrusions have a first diffusion ability, wherein the second portion of ring protrusions have a second diffusion ability, and wherein the second diffusion ability is greater than the first diffusion ability.