ILLUMINATOR AND IMAGE READER EMPLOYING IT

摘要

An illuminator comprising a light guide (10) having a circular cross-section, a scattering body (11) provided at a part on the circumference of the circular cross-section and emitting scattering light into the light guide, and a condensing lens (12) for condensing the light emitted from the light guide and converting it into linear, planar or spot-like light. The illuminator can utilize the light from a light source effectively and a required irradiation region can be irradiated with light efficiently. An image reader capable of high speed reading by using such an illuminator is also provided.