A planar optical element (e.g., a camera) is provided comprising a diverter for diverting light from an object into an imaging plane; a planar lens waveguide in the imaging plane, receiving the diverted light and focusing it onto a line; and a sensor line located on the focus line, for forming a one-dimensional image of the object. Many such elements can be applied to a planar substrate at different angles, and the one-dimensional inputs Fourier-analysed to reconstruct the desired two-dimensional image. The elements may be transparent, so that the substrate may be a display screen; eliminating the need to locate a camera to the side of the screen. The elements can cover all or most of the screen, and a subset chosen at any given time to constitute the camera. The system can also be run backwards as a projector, with light-emitting elements instead of sensors.

An image reading device includes a single light source that irradiates an image reading target with light, a traveling change member that changes a traveling direction of the light from the light source and irradiates the image reading target with the light at an incidence angle different from an incidence angle of the light directly applied from the light source to the image reading target, and a switching mechanism that switches traveling of the light from the light source to an optical path for directly irradiating the image reading target or an optical path for irradiating the image reading target via the traveling change member.

A light emitting device includes a light-guide member that extends in one direction, a light emitting element that radiates light onto an end surface of the light-guide member, a reflective member that extends in the one direction and reflects, while holding the light-guide member, light that is emitted from a surface of the light-guide member, and a housing that accommodates the reflective member and includes a holding unit, the holding unit being configured to hold the reflective member at an accommodating position of the reflective member and configured to allow the reflective member to be released from a state of being held when the reflective member is bent in a crossing direction that crosses the one direction.

A scanner includes: a first mirror having a plurality of concavities configured to reflect light from a document; a sensor group having a sensor chip with a photoelectric conversion element line configured to detect light reflected by the concavity; and an aperture member having a plurality of apertures corresponding one-to-one to the concavities and disposed between the first mirror and the sensor group on an optical path of light reflected by the concavity; the equivalent f-number of the aperture being 6 or greater.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source that emits light in a main scanning direction to a subject to be read, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical system that images the light reflected by the subject to be read and guides the light to the light receiving unit. The optical system includes a reflector mirror that reflects the light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical element that is disposed adjacent to the reflector mirror and images the light reflected by the subject to be read. The optical element is held by the reflector mirror.

A light emitting device includes a light-guide member that extends in one direction, a light emitting element that radiates light onto an end surface of the light-guide member, a reflective member that extends in the one direction and reflects, while holding the light-guide member, light that is emitted from a surface of the light-guide member, and a housing that accommodates the reflective member and includes a holding unit, the holding unit being configured to hold the reflective member at an accommodating position of the reflective member and configured to allow the reflective member to be released from a state of being held when the reflective member is bent in a crossing direction that crosses the one direction.

A reading module has a light source, an optical system imaging, as image light, reflected light of the light radiated from the light source to the document, and a sensor converting the image light imaged by the optical system into an electrical signal. The optical system has a mirror array in which reflection mirrors are coupled together in an array in the main scanning direction and an aperture stop portion having a first aperture adjusting the amount of image light reflected from a reflection mirror and a second aperture shielding stray light that enters the first aperture from an adjacent reflection mirror. The second aperture is arranged at such a position as to be able to shield stray light passing through a boundary between the reflection mirrors and the center of the first aperture when the mirror array contracts to the maximum extent in the main scanning direction.

A scanner includes: a first mirror having a plurality of concavities configured to reflect light from a document; a sensor group having a sensor chip with a photoelectric conversion element line configured to detect light reflected by the concavity; and an aperture member having a plurality of apertures corresponding one-to-one to the concavities and disposed between the first mirror and the sensor group on an optical path of light reflected by the concavity; the equivalent f-number of the aperture being 6 or greater.

A reading module has a light source, an optical system imaging, as image light, reflected light of the light radiated from the light source to the document, and a sensor converting the image light imaged by the optical system into an electrical signal. The optical system has a mirror array in which reflection mirrors are coupled together in an array in the main scanning direction and an aperture stop portion having a first aperture adjusting the amount of image light reflected from a reflection mirror and a second aperture shielding stray light that enters the first aperture from an adjacent reflection mirror. The second aperture is arranged at such a position as to be able to shield stray light passing through a boundary between the reflection mirrors and the center of the first aperture when the mirror array contracts to the maximum extent in the main scanning direction.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source that emits light in a main scanning direction to a subject to be read, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical system that images the light reflected by the subject to be read and guides the light to the light receiving unit. The optical system includes a reflector mirror that reflects the light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical element that is disposed adjacent to the reflector mirror and images the light reflected by the subject to be read. The optical element is held by the reflector mirror.