Abstract: Conventional methods using two optical waveguide members are disadvantageous in cost because they require two optical waveguide members and pairs of their associated components. A linear lighting apparatus includes a rod-like optical waveguide member (100) formed by a transparent material, a light source placed near an end face of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction, and a light exit surface (101) formed on at least part of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction. A cross section of the optical waveguide member in the widthwise direction has a plurality of reflecting areas (102, 103) at positions to face a light exit surface (101) and a barrier (106) at a boundary portion between the reflecting areas (102, 103).

Abstract: Conventional methods using two optical waveguide members are disadvantageous in cost because they require two optical waveguide members and pairs of their associated components. A linear lighting apparatus includes a rod-like optical waveguide member (100) formed by a transparent material, a light source placed near an end face of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction, and a light exit surface (101) formed on at least part of the optical waveguide member (100) in the longitudinal direction. A cross section of the optical waveguide member in the widthwise direction has a plurality of reflecting areas (102, 103) at positions to face a light exit surface (101) and a barrier (106) at a boundary portion between the reflecting areas (102, 103).

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus constructed by an illuminating unit for illuminating an object in a line shape, an image forming optical system for forming a light, as an image, from the object illuminated by the illuminating unit, a line sensor for converting the light formed as an image by the image forming optical system into an image signal, and a frame for holding the illuminating unit and the line sensor, wherein a shape in which vertices of at least a part of the cross section of the illuminating unit are connected by straight lines is set to a polygon of a pentagon or more, so that an image can be stably read at a high quality.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light guide for guiding light from a light source in a longitudinal direction and radiating the light to illuminate an object to be illuminated, which includes a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a radiator for radiating the light diffused by the diffuser in a predetermined direction. By arranging the diffuser and the radiator so that a normal line passing through the center of the width of the diffuser is different from the predetermined direction at least in the vicinity of the light source when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the illuminance distribution of the longitudinal direction of the light guide is uniformed.

Abstract: In an image sensor which has a photoelectric conversion element group, an illumination device having light sources of at least three emission colors R, G, and B, an imaging lens, and the like, moire noise in a color output image is eliminated, the original reading time is shortened, and a cost reduction is attained. For this purpose, a sensor array including a linear array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a lens array for imaging an original image on the sensor array, an illumination device using LEDs having emission colors R, G, and B, and a cover glass are supported by and fixed to a frame. The conjugate length of the lens array is set to fall within the range between the R and G emission wavelengths. An original pressed against the cover glass is illuminated by the illumination device, and light reflected by the original is converted into electrical signals by the sensor array, thereby reading the original image.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus constructed by an illuminating unit for illuminating an object in a line shape, an image forming optical system for forming a light, as an image, from the object illuminated by the illuminating unit, a line sensor for converting the light formed as an image by the image forming optical system into an image signal, and a frame for holding the illuminating unit and the line sensor, wherein a shape in which vertices of at least a part of the cross section of the illuminating unit are connected by straight lines is set to a polygon of a pentagon or more, so that an image can be stably read at a high quality.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus constructed by an illuminating unit for illuminating an object in a line shape, an image forming optical system for forming a light, as an image, from the object illuminated by the illuminating unit, a line sensor for converting the light formed as an image by the image forming optical system into an image signal, and a frame for holding the illuminating unit and the line sensor, wherein a shape in which vertices of at least a part of the cross section of the illuminating unit are connected by straight lines is set to a polygon of a pentagon or more, so that an image can be stably read at a high quality.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light guide for guiding light from a light source in a longitudinal direction and radiating the light to illuminate an object to be illuminated, which includes a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a radiator for radiating the light diffused by the diffuser in a predetermined direction. By arranging the diffuser and the radiator so that a normal line passing through the center of the width of the diffuser is different from the predetermined direction at least in the vicinity of the light source when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the illuminance distribution of the longitudinal direction of the light guide is uniformed.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises signal generation unit for generating an image signal on the basis of reflected light using a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged on a substrate, and image forming unit for projecting the reflected light, from an original image, within a predetermined area on the substrate on which the signal generation unit is provided, wherein the signal generation unit includes signal output unit for outputting the image signal from the plurality of photoelectric converters to the outside of the signal generation unit, and a part or all of the signal output unit is arranged outside of the predetermined area on the substrate. Accordingly, reflection of light by the electrodes is prevented, and no light noise incidents on the photoelectric converters. Therefore, it is possible to increase the S/N ratio of the image sensor.

Abstract: A light source or LED element is positioned adjacent to an entrance surface of a light guide element of stick shape made of a light transmissive substrate. The light that has entered from the entrance surface to the interior of the light guide element is scattered by a diffusion area to emerge from an exit surface in a predetermined direction, wherein the light that has entered from the entrance surface into the light guide element is not made incident directly on at least a part of the diffusion area.

Abstract: The form of a light condensing part of an illuminating device is of a freer form such as expressed by a general polynomial, rather than a round cross-sectional form.

Abstract: In an image sensor which has a photoelectric conversion element group, an illumination device having light sources of at least three emission colors R, G, and B, an imaging lens, and the like, moiré noise in a color output image is eliminated, the original reading time is shortened, and a cost reduction is attained. For this purpose, a sensor array including a linear array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a lens array for imaging an original image on the sensor array, an illumination device using LEDs having emission colors R, G, and B, and a cover glass are supported by and fixed to a frame. The conjugate length of the lens array is set to fall within the range between the R and G emission wavelengths. An original pressed against the cover glass is illuminated by the illumination device, and light reflected by the original is converted into electrical signals by the sensor array, thereby reading the original image.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light guide for guiding light from a light source in a longitudinal direction and radiating the light to illuminate an object to be illuminated, which comprises a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a radiator for radiating the light diffused by the diffuser in a predetermined direction. By arranging the diffuser and the radiator so that a normal line passing through the center of the width of the diffuser is different from the predetermined direction at least in the vicinity of the light source when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the illuminance distribution of the longitudinal direction of the light guide is uniformed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light guide for guiding light from a light source in a longitudinal direction and radiating the light to illuminate an object to be illuminated, which comprises a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a radiator for radiating the light diffused by the diffuser in a predetermined direction. By arranging the diffuser and the radiator so that a normal line passing through the center of the width of the diffuser is different from the predetermined direction at least in the vicinity of the light source when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the illuminance distribution of the longitudinal direction of the light guide is uniformed.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an illumination device which has excellent performance and characteristics, and can attain a cost reduction, size reduction, and the like, an image sensor having the illumination device, and an image reading apparatus and information processing system using the image sensor. To achieve this object, the illumination device has a light source and a light guide member having an entrance surface for receiving light coming from the light source, an exit surface for outputting light in an illumination direction, and a diffusion region for reflecting and/or diffusing an incoming light beam across the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sensor IC having a group of photoelectric conversion devices which are linearly aligned, a sensor board on which the sensor IC is mounted, a lens for forming light information into an image on the sensor IC, a light source having electrical connection lines, an illumination unit consisting of a light guide for guiding light from the light source and outputting the light in a desired direction, and a frame for holding the respective members. The electrical connection lines of the light source are directly connected to the sensor board. Connector cables for the light source can be omitted, and the image sensor and the external system can be electrically connected through one connector. By simplifying the electrical connection, the influence of noise can be minimized.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light guide for guiding light from a light source in a longitudinal direction and radiating the light to illuminate an object to be illuminated, which comprises a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a radiator for radiating the light diffused by the diffuser in a predetermined direction. By arranging the diffuser and the radiator so that a normal line passing through the center of the width of the diffuser is different from the predetermined direction at least in the vicinity of the light source when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, the illuminance distribution of the longitudinal direction of the light guide is uniformed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sensor IC having a group of photoelectric conversion devices which are linearly aligned, a sensor board on which the sensor IC is mounted, a lens for forming light information into an image on the sensor IC, a light source having electrical connection lines, an illumination unit consisting of a light guide for guiding light from the light source and outputting the light in a desired direction, and a frame for holding the respective members. The electrical connection lines of the light source are directly connected to the sensor board. Connector cables for the light source can be omitted, and the image sensor and the external system can be electrically connected through one connector. By simplifying the electrical connection, the influence of noise can be minimized.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sensor IC having a group of photoelectric conversion devices which are linearly aligned, a sensor board on which the sensor IC is mounted, a lens for forming light information into an image on the sensor IC, a light source having electrical connection lines, an illumination unit consisting of a light guide for guiding light from the light source and outputting the light in a desired direction, and a frame for holding the respective members. The electrical connection lines of the light source are directly connected to the sensor board. Connector cables for the light source can be omitted, and the image sensor and the external system can be electrically connected through one connector. By simplifying the electrical connection, the influence of noise can be minimized.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus constructed by an illuminating unit for illuminating an object in a line shape, an image forming optical system for forming a light, as an image, from the object illuminated by the illuminating unit, a line sensor for converting the light formed as an image by the image forming optical system into an image signal, and a frame for holding the illuminating unit and the line sensor, wherein a shape in which vertices of at least a part of the cross section of the illuminating unit are connected by straight lines is set to a polygon of a pentagon or more, so that an image can be stably read at a high quality.