| US 7,467,879 B2 | ||
| Document illuminator with stepped optical element | ||
| Robert P. Herloski, Webster, N.Y. (US); Jagdish C. Tandon, Fairport, N.Y. (US); Douglas E. Proctor, Gates, N.Y. (US); and Eric Dudley, Rochester, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 21, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/409,137. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0247857 A1, Oct. 25, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. F21V 7/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 362—310 [362/610] | 7 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus for scanning a document, comprising:
a platen for supporting at least a portion of the document;
a light source; and
an optical element for directing light from the light source to the platen, the optical element including a light-transmissive
material of predetermined refractive index and defining
a first main surface and a second main surface, together substantially forming a CPC through a section thereof,
an exit surface disposed between the first main surface and the second main surface, and
a back structure opposite the exit surface, the back structure defining a plurality of small planar surfaces generally forming
an arc, the small planar surfaces being arranged in a linear array, whereby light emanating from a source disposed between
the first main surface and the second main surface and between the back structure and the exit surface is reflected from one
of the small planar surfaces and directed to emerge substantially perpendicular to the exit surface, and
a cavity in the first main surface, the cavity disposed substantially at a centerline of the arc of the back structure, the
light source being disposed in the cavity.
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