Image capturing apparatus for guiding light emitted from a plurality of light emitting devices
US7978259B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 26, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V40/14
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image capturing apparatus illuminates an object and captures an image of the object using the reflected light from the object. On a circuit substrate mounted an image sensor, a plurality of light-emitting devices are mounted in the peripheral positions of the image sensor. By means of a ring-shaped light guide member, the light from the plurality of light-emitting devices is guided to an image capturing range, so as to illuminate the object. With this, by mounting a light receiving system and a light emitting system on an identical substrate, miniaturization can be achieved, and the image capturing range can be illuminated by substantially uniform light. Also, using the ring-shaped light guide member, an optical unit is housed inside the ring, thus enabling further miniaturization.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.