Light-channeling apparatus and method
A light-channeling apparatus for a scanning module comprises a first light-guiding tube, a second light-guiding tube, and a collimating lens positioned inside the first light-guiding tube. The first and second light-guiding tubes are attached to a body casing of the scanning module. The scanning module uses the first light-guiding tube having the collimating lens to channel light from a light source to a scanning region and uses the second light-guiding tube to channel light reflected from the scanning region to a light passage slit on the body casing, to minimize dispersion of light from the light source and keep external light out of the light transmission pathway.
1. A light-channeling apparatus, comprising:
a first light-guiding tube attached to a body casing, wherein the first light-guiding tube is positioned between a light source and a document;
a second light-guiding tube attached to the body casing, wherein the second light-guiding tube is positioned between the document and a light passage slit in the body casing; and
a collimating lens located inside the first light-guiding tube.
2. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein interior sidewalls of the first light-guiding tube comprise a reflective coating.
3. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein interior sidewalls of the second light-guiding tube comprise a reflective coating.
4. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a light-guiding body inside the first light-guiding tube.
5. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a light-guiding body inside the second light-guiding tube.
6. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
7. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
8. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the document end of the first light-guiding tube and the document end of the second light-guiding tube are fused together.
9. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.
10. The light-channeling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.
11. A scanning module, comprising:
a body casing comprising a light passage slit thereon;
a light source attached to the body casing;
one or more reflecting mirrors inside the body casing;
a lens inside the body casing;
a light-sensing device inside the body casing;
a light-channeling apparatus joined to the body casing, wherein the light-channeling apparatus includes a first light-guiding tube and a second light-guiding tube such that the first light-guiding tube is positioned between the light source and a document and the second light-guiding tube is positioned between the document and the light passage slit; and
a collimating lens located inside the first light-guiding tube.
12. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein interior sidewalls of the first light-guiding tube comprise a reflective coating.
13. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein interior sidewalls of the second light-guiding tube comprise a reflective coating.
14. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the module further includes a light-guiding body inside the first light-guiding tube.
15. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the module further includes a light-guiding body inside the second light-guiding tube.
16. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the first light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
17. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the second light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
18. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the document end of the first light-guiding tube and the document end of the second light-guiding tube are fused together.
19. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the first light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.
20. The scanning module of claim 11 , wherein the second light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.
21. A method, comprising:
guiding light from a light source to a document via a first light-guiding tube attached to a body casing;
guiding reflected light from the document through a light passage slit into the body casing via a second light-guiding tube attached to the body casing; and
focusing the light from the light source via a collimating lens located inside the first light-guiding tube.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising reflecting light within the first light-guiding tube via a reflective coating on interior sidewalls of the first light-guiding tube.
23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising reflecting light within the second light-guiding tube via a reflective coating on interior sidewalls of the second light-guiding tube.
24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising increasing light-focusing power via a light-guiding body inside the first light-guiding tube.
25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising increasing light-focusing power via a light-guiding body inside the second light-guiding tube.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second light-guiding tube comprises a hollow interior.
28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the document end of the first light-guiding tube and the document end of the second light-guiding tube are fused together.
29. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.
30. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second light-guiding tube and the body casing are an integrative unit.