The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1999
Manami Kuiseko, Kyoto, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A spectral image input device has an image forming optical system for forming an image of image light on an image forming surface and a phase difference generating unit disposed anterior to the image forming surface in the direction of image light travel. The phase difference generating unit constitutes, sequentially in the direction of image light travel, a polarizer for transmitting only polarized light in a specific direction, an optical element formed of a solid material having a birefringence, and arranged such that the principal refraction index axis is inclined 45° relative to the polarization angle of the analyzer, the optical element generating a phase difference in accordance with the wavelength of the image light based on the difference in the physical thickness of the optical element in the direction of image light travel and an analyzer for transmitting only the image light of a polarization angle of 90° relative to the direction of the polarized light of the polarizer.