Scanner Module Light Guide with Reflective Grooves for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy scanner modules using CCFL or xenon lamps face issues such as long start-up times, environmental concerns due to mercury, high heat generation, and non-uniform light distribution, which affect image quality and price competitiveness.
Innovation Solution
Employing a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source in conjunction with a light guide member that includes reflective grooves and guide surfaces to achieve uniform light distribution across the scanning width, reducing start-up time, power consumption, and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a point light source (LED) with light guide is used, then power consumption and start-up time are reduced, but light distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member incorporates multiple reflective grooves with different inclination angles at different locations to create localized variations in light reflection. This ensures that light is uniformly distributed across the entire illumination area despite using a point light source, resolving the contradiction between fast start-up and uniform light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective surface of the light guide member is segmented into multiple reflective grooves rather than being a single continuous surface. This segmentation allows different portions of the light to be reflected at different angles, achieving uniform light distribution while maintaining the compact point light source configuration.
2Area of stationary object
If CCFL is used as light source, then linear light coverage is achieved, but start-up time increases and environmental harm occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member acts as an intermediary that transforms light from a compact LED into a linear light distribution pattern. The light guide member with its reflective grooves diffuses the point light source output to achieve linear light coverage equivalent to CCFL, while eliminating the environmental harm of mercury-containing lamps.
3Illumination intensity
If xenon lamp is used, then high light output is achieved, but heat generation increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-based xenon lamp illumination system with an LED-based system that uses electroluminescence. This substitution dramatically reduces heat generation while maintaining high light output through the light guide member's optical design, eliminating the contradiction between illumination intensity and temperature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The LED-based scanner module achieves faster start-up, reduced power consumption, improved image quality, and enhanced durability with stable light output across a wider temperature range, while minimizing environmental concerns and assembly tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide member (210A, 210B) with reflective grooves and guide surfaces to achieve uniform light distribution
Implementation Method 2
reflect and diffuse the light generated from a light source (1)
Implementation Method 3
guide surfaces (2c) formed on both sides of the light guide member (2) to connect the exit surface (2a) to the reflective surface (2b). The guide surfaces (2c) may be inclined relative to the reflective surface (2b) such that the light reflected from the reflective surface (2b) can be directed toward the exit surface (2a)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module includes a light source generating light to be irradiated onto an object and a light guide member extending in correspondence with a width of the object. The light guide member has a reflective surface defined by a plurality of reflective grooves, some of which arranged to be non-parallel with other ones. Light is effectively diffused and/or scattered in the width direction of the light guide member by the reflective grooves, allowing a uniform light distribution across the scanning width.