Single LED Scanner Illuminator with Light Splitters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scanner illuminators suffer from significant light loss and irregular illumination, leading to defects in image data due to uneven light distribution and varying angular distribution of light along the document sheet.

Innovation Solution

A scanner illuminator system featuring a single light source coupled with a plurality of light guides via one or more light splitters, ensuring balanced and uniform light distribution by diverting light from the source through the guides to illuminate the document.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional scanner illuminators use multiple LEDs or cold cathode lamps with mirrors, then illumination coverage is achieved, but significant light loss occurs and illumination uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight lossVSAvoidillumination uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the illumination function into multiple light guides (first light guide and second light guide) that are positioned at different locations. Each light guide independently illuminates a portion of the document, allowing light to be distributed more efficiently without the need for mirrors that cause light loss. This segmentation enables both reduced light loss and improved illumination uniformity across the document surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light guides as intermediary elements between the light source and the document. These light guides act as mediators that transport and distribute light efficiently, replacing the direct LED-to-document or lamp-to-mirror configuration. The light guides reduce light loss by providing a controlled light path and improve uniformity by distributing light evenly along their length to different document regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional illuminators use opposing LED sets with focusing lenses, then light direction is controlled, but significant light loss is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight direction controlVSAvoidlight loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical focusing lens system with a light guide-based optical system. Instead of using lenses to control light direction, the light guides themselves are positioned and oriented to naturally direct light to the appropriate document regions. This substitution eliminates the light loss associated with lenses while maintaining effective light direction control through geometric positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If conventional illuminators use single light source with mirror, then illumination is provided, but angular distribution of light varies along the document

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveilluminator structureVSAvoidangular distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the illumination system into multiple light guides positioned at different locations and orientations. The first light guide and second light guide are arranged to illuminate different portions of the document from different angles, ensuring uniform angular distribution across the entire document surface. This segmentation eliminates the angular distribution variations that occur with single-source mirror systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by having different light guides positioned at specific locations with specific orientations tailored to their respective illumination zones. Each light guide is optimized for its local region, ensuring that angular distribution is appropriate and uniform for each portion of the document it illuminates, rather than using a single uniform illumination approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution achieves efficient use of light, providing balanced illumination along the document sheet, reducing light loss and ensuring even illumination, thereby improving the quality of image data captured.

Implementation Method 1

a light splitter configured to divide light from the single LED into a plurality of beams and direct the beams into different light guides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight splitting: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

a first light guide configured to receive a first beam from the light splitter and transport the first beam to illuminate a first portion of a document; a second light guide configured to receive a second beam from the light splitter and transport the second beam to illuminate a second portion of the document

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guidance: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS8279499B2Single LED dual light guide

Publication Date: 2012.10.02 XEROX CORP

AI summary

Various embodiments provide illuminators and related scanner illuminating systems, wherein the illuminators can include a light source having one or more LEDs coupled to a plurality of light guides through one or more light splitters such that light emitted from the light source can be split into each of the plurality of light guides.