Linear illumination apparatus and method

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of light sources in a linear array;

an optical integrator integrating light from the plurality of light sources directly into a uniformized linear illumination of substantially uniform irradiance;

an elongated aperture, positioned intermediate the plurality of light sources and optical integrator, for blocking unwanted light and directing light from the plurality of light sources in the linear array into the optical integrator; and

at least one lens, positioned subsequent to the elongated aperture, for imaging the uniformized linear illumination onto a surface.

2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of light sources are LEDs.

3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical integrator is an integrator bar.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical integrator comprises an array of refractive elements.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lens is a cylindrical lens.

6. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lens is a toroidal lens.

7. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optical integrator comprises a light pipe.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filter to condition the uniformized linear illumination output from the optical integrator.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 8 wherein the filter comprises a central portion, wherein the central portion provides highest transmittance values for the filter and wherein the filter exhibits decreased transmittance with distance from the central portion.

10. A reading apparatus for obtaining a line of image data stored on a surface, the reading apparatus comprising:

a radiation source for directing a line of stimulating radiation onto a surface of a stimulable image carrier to generate a line of image-bearing radiation, the radiation source comprising:

(i) a plurality of light sources in a linear array;

(ii) an optical integrator integrating light from the plurality of light sources directly into a uniformized linear illumination of substantially uniform irradiance;

(iii) an aperture, disposed intermediate the plurality of light sources and optical integrator, for blocking unwanted light and directing light from the light sources in the linear array into the optical integrator; and

(iv) at least one lens, positioned subsequent to the aperture, for imaging the uniformized linear illumination onto the surface;

a sensing head for obtaining image data from the line of image-bearing radiation excited from the image carrier, the sensing head comprising a plurality of channels, each channel adapted to sense a segment of the line of image-bearing radiation; and

an image processor for accepting the image data obtained from sensing head channels and forming a line of image data according to the line of image-bearing radiation.

11. The reading apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sensing head comprises a charge-coupled device.

12. The reading apparatus of claim 10 wherein the radiation source further comprises a filter adapted to condition the uniformized linear illumination from the optical integrator.

13. A method for providing linear illumination, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of light sources in a linear array;

providing an optical integrator for integrating light from the plurality of light sources directly into a uniformized linear illumination of substantially uniform irradiance;

providing an elongated aperture, positioned intermediate the plurality of light sources and optical integrator, for blocking unwanted light and directing light from the plurality of light sources in the linear array into the optical integrator; and

imaging the uniformized linear illumination onto a surface.