Linear scanning using a single illumination and imaging optic stations

Abstract

An optical scanning station is disclosed which utilizes light bending apparatus such as mirrors or optical wedges to gather and redirect some of the illumination radiating from the object. The gathering of the light occurs off-axis from the lens and the redirection of the light to the lens causes an off-axis angle between the light beam and the lens axis, thereby resulting in multiple images which are spaced apart from each other when focused on an image plane. The multiple images may be split apart and directed to separate image planes by use of front surface mirrors making the images then available for individual capture by charge couple devices or other similar image capture apparatus. Alternatively, the outboard images may be redirected, again by mirrors, to be focused coincident to the on-axis image, thereby increasing the illumination level at the image plane well in excess of that obtainable with only a single image of the object being focused at the image plane. The primary advantage of these devices is either to permit separate images to be presented on separate image planes without the subtractive losses occasioned by use of subtractive beam splitters or to combine the multiple images to raise the illumination level of a single image at the image plane, thereby permitting the use of slower lenses or reduced illumination level at the object.