Devices and/or systems for illuminating a component

1. A beamsplitter comprising:

a substantially planar first reflection zone positioned such that its normal is at an angle relative to an optical axis, wherein light incident on the beamsplitter at an incidence angle relative to the normal is reflected by the first reflection zone toward an object at a first angle relative to the optical axis and wherein the first reflection zone is an imaging portion of the beamsplitter that transmits light reflected from the object substantially without optical distortion; and

one or more additional reflection zones coupled to the first reflection zone, wherein each of the one or more additional reflection zones reflects light incident on the beam splitter at the incidence angle toward the object at an angle relative to the optical axis that is different than the first angle.

2. The beamsplitter of claim 1 wherein the angle between the normal and the optical axis is approximately 45 degrees.

3. The beamsplitter of claim 1 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise:

a second reflection zone coupled to one end of the first reflection zone; and

a third reflection zone coupled to the opposite end of the first reflection zone.

4. The beamsplitter of claim 3 wherein the second and third reflection zones are substantially planar.

5. The beamsplitter of claim 4 wherein second reflection zone and the third reflection zone are positioned such that their normals are at an angle relative to the normal of the first reflection zone.

6. The beamsplitter of claim 3 wherein the second and third reflection zones are non-planar.

7. An illuminator comprising:

one or more individually controllable light sources;

a beamsplitter optically coupled to the plurality of individually controllable light sources, the beamsplitter comprising:

a substantially planar first reflection zone positioned such that its normal is at an angle relative to an optical axis, wherein light incident on the beamsplitter at an incidence angle relative to the normal is reflected by the first reflection zone toward an object at a first angle relative to the optical axis and wherein the first reflection zone is an imaging portion of the beamsplitter that transmits light reflected from the object substantially without optical distortion, and

one or more additional reflection zones coupled to the first reflection zone, wherein each of the one or more additional reflection zones reflects light incident on the beam splitter at the incidence angle toward the object at an angle relative to the optical axis that is different than the first angle; and

circuitry and logic for selectively activating one or more of the one or more individually controllable light sources to change the illumination provided by the illuminator.

8. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein each of the one or more controllable light sources comprises:

one or more sources; and

a diffuser optically coupled to the one or more sources.

9. The illuminator of claim 8 wherein the one or more sources comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, or fiber optically transmitted light sources.

10. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein each of the one or more controllable light sources comprises an electroluminescent strip.

11. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise a second reflection zone and a third reflection zone, and wherein the second reflection zone and the third reflection zone are substantially planar and are positioned such that their normals are at an angle relative to the normal of the first reflection zone.

12. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise non-planar second and third reflection zones.

13. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein selectively activating one or more of the one or more individually controllable light sources comprises changing the brightness of at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

14. The illuminator of claim 7 wherein selectively activating one or more of the one or more individually controllable light sources comprises activating or deactivating at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

15. An imaging system comprising:

a camera having an optical axis;

an illuminator positioned along the optical axis, the illuminator comprising:

one or more individually controllable diffuse light sources;

a beamsplitter optically coupled to the one or more individually controllable light sources, the beamsplitter comprising:

a substantially planar first reflection zone positioned such that its normal is at an angle relative to an optical axis, wherein light incident on the beamsplitter at an incidence angle relative to the normal is reflected by the first reflection zone toward an object at a first angle relative to the optical axis and wherein the first reflection zone is an imaging portion of the beamsplitter that transmits light reflected from the object substantially without optical distortion, and

one or more additional reflection zones coupled to the first reflection zone, wherein each of the one or more additional reflection zones reflect light incident on the beam splitter at the incidence angle toward the object at an angle relative to the optical axis that is different than the first angle; and

a processor coupled to the illuminator and to the camera.

16. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein each of the one or more controllable light sources comprises:

one or more sources; and

a diffuser optically coupled to the one or more sources.

17. The imaging system of claim 16 wherein the one or more sources can comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, or fiber optically transmitted light sources.

18. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein each of the one or more controllable light sources comprises an electroluminescent strip.

19. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise a second reflection zone and a third reflection zone, and wherein the second reflection zone and the third reflection zone are substantially planar and are positioned such that their normals are at an angle relative to the normal of the first reflection zone.

20. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise non-planar second and third reflection zones.

21. The imaging system of claim 15 wherein the processor is coupled to the illuminator and to the camera through a network.

22. The imaging system of claim 15 , further comprising a light controller coupled between the processor and the one or more individually controllable light sources.

23. The imaging system of claim 22 wherein the light controller changes the brightness of at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources in response to images obtained by the camera.

24. The imaging system of claim 22 wherein the light controller activates or deactivates at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources in response to images obtained by the camera.

25. The imaging system of claim 15 , further comprising a storage device coupled to the processor.

26. A process for illuminating an object, the process comprising:

directing light from one or more light sources toward a beamsplitter, the beamsplitter comprising:

a substantially planar first reflection zone positioned such that its normal is at an angle relative to an optical axis, wherein light incident on the beamsplitter at an incidence angle relative to the normal is reflected by the first reflection zone toward the object at a first angle relative to the optical axis, and

one or more additional reflection zones coupled to the first reflection zone, wherein each of the one or more additional reflection zones reflect light incident on the beam splitter at the incidence angle toward the object at an angle relative to the optical axis that is different than the first angle; and

capturing an image of the object through the first reflection zone.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein the angle between the normal and the optical axis is approximately 45 degrees.

28. The process of claim 26 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise a second reflection zone and a third reflection zone, and wherein the second reflection zone and the third reflection zone are substantially planar and are positioned such that their normals are at an angle relative to the normal of the first reflection zone.

29. The process of claim 26 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise non-planar second and third reflection zones.

30. The process of claim 26 , further comprising transmitting the image to a processor for analysis.

31. The process of claim 30 , further comprising selectively changing the light directed toward the beamsplitter in response to an analysis of the captured image.

32. The process of claim 31 wherein the one or more light sources are individually controllable, and wherein selectively changing the light directed at the beamsplitter comprises changing the brightness of at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

33. The process of claim 31 wherein the one or more light sources are individually controllable, and wherein selectively changing the light directed at the beamsplitter comprises activating or deactivating at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

34. The process of claim 31 , further comprising diffusing the light before directing it toward the beamsplitter.

35. A process for imaging an object, the process comprising:

positioning the object along the optical axis of a camera;

positioning an illuminator along the optical axis, the illuminator comprising:

one or more individually controllable light sources;

a beamsplitter optically coupled to the one or more individually controllable light sources, the beamsplitter comprising:

a substantially planar first reflection zone positioned such that its normal is at an angle relative to the optical axis, wherein light incident on the beamsplitter at an incidence angle relative to the normal is reflected by the first reflection zone toward the object at a first angle relative to the optical axis and wherein the first reflection zone is an imaging portion of the beamsplitter that transmits light reflected from the object substantially without optical distortion; and

one or more additional reflection zones coupled to the first reflection zone, wherein each of the one or more additional reflection zones reflects light incident on the beam splitter at the incidence angle toward the object at an angle relative to the optical axis that is different than the first angle; and

capturing an image of the object through the first reflection zone.

36. The process of claim 35 wherein the angle between the normal and the optical axis is approximately 45 degrees.

37. The process of claim 35 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise a second reflection zone and a third reflection zone, and wherein the second reflection zone and the third reflection zone are substantially planar and are positioned such that their normals are at an angle relative to the normal of the first reflection zone.

38. The process of claim 35 wherein the one or more additional reflection zones comprise non-planar second and third reflection zones.

39. The process of claim 35 , further comprising capturing an image of the object through the first reflection zone.

40. The process of claim 39 , further comprising transmitting the image to a processor for analysis.

41. The process of claim 40 , further comprising storing the image in a storage device coupled to the processor.

42. The process of claim 40 , further comprising selectively changing the output of the light sources in response to an analysis of the captured image.

43. The process of claim 42 wherein selectively changing output of the light sources comprises changing the brightness of at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

44. The process of claim 42 wherein selectively changing the output of the light sources comprises activating or deactivating at least one of the one or more individually controllable light sources.

45. The process of claim 35 , further comprising diffusing the light before directing it toward the beamsplitter.