Installation for increasing usable range along axial direction of light source

Abstract

An installation for increasing the usable range along the axial direction of a light source. The installation has a light source and an optical sensor. The light source generates a sense image. The optical sensor further has a sensor and a transparent panel. The sensor is responsible for detecting the image generated by the light source so that a sense image is created. The transparent panel is positioned between the sensor and the light source. A coating on the transparent panel modifies the light transparency along the axial direction of the light source such that light transparency is lower in the middle compared with the ends.

1. An installation for increasing the  a usable range along the  an axial direction of a light source, comprising:
 a light source for generating a sense image; and  
 an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor includes a sensor, a transparent panel and a coating, wherein the transparent panel is positioned between the sensor and the light source, the coating is formed over the transparent panel, the transparent panel has a long axis running from edge to edge, the sensor detects an image after light from the light source has passed through the coating and the transparent panel, and the coating on the transparent panel modifies the light transparency along the long axis such that the light transparency is lower in the middle compared with the ends.  
 
     
     
       2. The installation of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed only over the  an image-forming region when light passes through the transparent panel. 
     
     
       3. The installation of  claim 1 , wherein the coating actually comprises of  a plurality of coatings attached side by side with each coating material having a different light transparency. 
     
     
       4. The installation of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a charge couple device (CCD). 
     
     
       5. The installation of  claim 1 , wherein one application is the  a scanner. 
     
     
       6. An installation for increasing the  a usable range along the  an axial direction of a light source, comprising:
 a light source for generating a sense image; and  
 an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor includes a sensor, a transparent panel and a coating, wherein the transparent panel is positioned between the sensor and the light source, the coating is formed over the transparent panel, the transparent panel has a long axis running from edge to edge, the sensor detects an image after light from the light source has passed through the coating and the transparent panel, and the coating on the transparent panel modifies the light transparency along the long axis such that the light transparency is lower in the middle compared with the ends,  
 wherein the coating comprises of  a single coating material but a variable thickness along the long axis.  
 
     
     
       7. An installation for increasing the  a usable range along the  an axial direction of a light source, comprising:
 a light source for generating a sense image; and  
 an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor includes a sensor, a transparent panel and a coating, wherein the transparent panel is positioned between the sensor and the light source, the coating is formed over the transparent panel, the transparent panel has a long axis running from edge to edge, the sensor detects an image after light from the light source has passed through the coating and the transparent panel, and the coating on the transparent panel modifies the light transparency along the long axis such that the light transparency is lower in the middle compared with the ends,  
 wherein the coating comprises of  multiple coating materials with different light transparency but with an equal thickness along the long axis.  
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus, comprising:
   a sensor;        a transparent panel positioned over the sensor; and        a coating formed on a surface of the transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a middle portion of the coating relative to an edge portion of the coating.      
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises a single coating material having a variable thickness.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises a plurality of coating materials.  
     
     
       11. A method, comprising:
   forming a coating on a surface of a transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a middle portion of the coating relative to an edge portion of the coating; and        positioning the transparent panel between a light source and a sensor.      
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming the coating on the surface of the transparent panel comprises forming a coating having a variable thickness.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming the coating on the surface of the transparent panel comprises forming a coating comprising a plurality of coating materials.  
     
     
       14. An apparatus, comprising:
   a light source;        a sensor;        a transparent panel positioned between the light source and the sensor; and        a coating formed on a surface of the transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a middle portion of the coating relative to an edge portion of the coating.      
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the coating comprises a single coating material having a variable thickness.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the coating comprises a plurality of coating materials.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the middle portion of the single coating material is thicker than the edge portion.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the middle portion of the coating is thicker than the edge portion.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the middle portion of the single coating material is thicker than the edge portion.  
     
     
       20. An apparatus, comprising:
   a sensor;        a transparent panel positioned over the sensor; and        a coating formed on a surface of the transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to a light source relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light source.      
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the coating comprises a single coating material having a variable thickness.  
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the coating comprises a plurality of coating materials.  
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the transparent panel is disposed between the sensor and the light source.  
     
     
       24. A method, comprising:
   forming a coating on a surface of a transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to a light source relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light source; and        positioning the transparent panel between the light source and a sensor.      
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the coating on the surface of the transparent panel comprises forming a coating having a variable thickness.  
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the coating on the surface of the transparent panel comprises forming a coating comprising a plurality of coating materials.  
     
     
       27. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for sensing light;        a transparent panel positioned over the light sensing means; and        means for providing reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to a light source relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light source.      
     
     
       28. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for producing light;        means for sensing light;        a transparent panel positioned between the light producing means and the light sensing means; and        means for providing reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to the light producing means relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light producing means.      
     
     
       29. A digital camera, comprising:
   a sensor;        a transparent panel positioned over the sensor; and        a coating formed on a surface of the transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to a light source relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light source.      
     
     
       30. The digital camera of  claim 29 , wherein the transparent panel is disposed between the sensor and the light source.  
     
     
       31. A scanner, comprising:
   a sensor;        a transparent panel positioned over the sensor; and        a coating formed on a surface of the transparent panel, wherein the coating is configured to provide reduced transparency at a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to a light source relative to a portion of the transparent panel disposed farther from the light source.      
     
     
       32. The scanner of  claim 31 , wherein the transparent panel is disposed between the sensor and the light source.  
     
     
       33. A method for increasing the usable range of a light source, the method comprising:
   reducing a transparency of a first portion of a transparent panel relative to a transparency of a second portion of the transparent panel, wherein reducing the transparency of the first portion comprises using a coating material having a variable thickness on the transparent panel.      
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion is a middle portion of the transparent panel and the second portion is an edge portion of the transparent panel.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first portion is a portion of the transparent panel disposed closer to the light source relative to the second portion.  
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33 , wherein reducing the transparency of the first portion comprises using a plurality of coating materials on the transparent panel.