Abstract: An image scanner including a two-dimensional matrix sensor, a scanning plane defined by the axes, an optical system, an optical axis perpendicular to the scanning plane and coinciding with an axis, a lighting system including at least four light sources that have its own main axis and are positioned so that each light source is adjacent to one side of the scanning plane and illuminates it from a different direction. Each light source is arranged with its own main axis in a plane parallel to a facing mirror-reflecting surface above said facing mirror-reflecting surface and is oriented so as to radiate the scanning plane by specularly reflecting its light beams on the respective mirror-reflecting surface situated on the opposite side of the scanning plane with respect to the light source.

Abstract: An image scanner including a two-dimensional matrix sensor, a scanning plane defined by the axes, an optical system, an optical axis perpendicular to the scanning plane and coinciding with an axis, a lighting system including at least four light sources that have its own main axis and are positioned so that each light source is adjacent to one side of the scanning plane and illuminates it from a different direction. Each light source is arranged with its own main axis in a plane parallel to a facing mirror-reflecting surface above said facing mirror-reflecting surface and is oriented so as to radiate the scanning plane by specularly reflecting its light beams on the respective mirror-reflecting surface situated on the opposite side of the scanning plane with respect to the light source.

Abstract: A linear image scanner capable of digitizing three-dimensional surfaces according to the photometric stereo technique has a linear type imaging sensor, a scanning plane, an optical system, an optical axis, a scan line, a lighting system with at least four independently controllable light sources arranged so that each light source enlighten the scan line from a different direction. At least two first light sources are arranged symmetrically respect to the vision plane and at least two second light sources are arranged symmetrically respect to the moving plane and so that the at least two first and two second light sources radiate the scan line from at least four different directions with uniform light intensity and uniform incident angles of the light sources over the entire length of the scan line. A scanning method is also described.

Abstract: A linear image scanner capable of digitizing three-dimensional surfaces according to the photometric stereo technique has a linear type imaging sensor, a scanning plane, an optical system, an optical axis, a scan line, a lighting system with at least four independently controllable light sources arranged so that each light source enlighten the scan line from a different direction. At least two first light sources are arranged symmetrically respect to the vision plane and at least two second light sources are arranged symmetrically respect to the moving plane and so that the at least two first and two second light sources radiate the scan line from at least four different directions with uniform light intensity and uniform incident angles of the light sources over the entire length of the scan line. A scanning method is also described.