Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and compensating for focus errors in a photolithography tool which holds a reticle and a substrate substantially parallel is described. The apparatus includes at least one proximity gauge for determining a first distance between the reticle and the substrate, thereby determining if a focus error condition exists. The apparatus also includes an actuator for adjusting the position of the reticle with respect to the substrate, thereby compensating for the focus error condition. According to another embodiment, a lens system actuator is employed for adjusting a lens system parameter, thereby compensating for the focus error condition detected by the at least one proximity gauge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for projection exposure applied to photolithography in the field of production of semiconductor devices. An illuminating light which has passed through a silt having an opening width is swept relative to a photomask for projecting a pattern of the photomask on a wafer using a projection optical system. As the illuminating light is swept a distance equal to the opening width of the slit in a direction along the x-axis, the imaging plane is oscillated by one period a distance equal to 2 .mu.m. Specifically, during the time the photomask is moved by the above distance in the direction along the axis x, with the illuminating unit and the projection optical system remaining fixed, the wafer is moved in the x-axis direction in synchronism with the photomask 4 at the same time as the wafer is oscillated by one period with an amplitude 2 .mu.m in the direction along the z-axis.

Abstract: A continuous web substrate printing system which can utilize a single otherwise conventional or existing xerographic print engine (normally printing conventional cut sheet print substrates) having an endless photoreceptor belt with a belt seam requiring a section of that belt to be unimaged in each belt rotation, yet provide continuous directly abutting images on the printed web, to avoid paper scrap. A special simplex or duplex continuous web printing substrate supply module may be docked with the cut sheet print engine to form an integral web printing system. It has a web feeding and image transfer system for appropriately feeding the continuous web printing substrate uncut into the print engine for image transfers to one or both sides of the web from the imaging surface of the print engine.

Abstract: In a photographic printer, red, green and blue light beams are modulated respectively according to red, green and blue image signals DR, DG and DB each made up of image signal components representing densities of respective picture elements, and a color image is recorded on a color photosensitive material by scanning the photosensitive material with the modulated light beams. Picture elements which are of brightness not higher than a first predetermined brightness close to the shadow or not lower than a second predetermined brightness close to a highlight and are of chroma not higher than a predetermined chroma are detected on the basis of the image signals DR, DG and DB. The image signal components for the detected picture elements which form a continuous region in the image are excluded from the image signals DR, DG and DB, thereby obtaining image signals DR', DG' and DB'.

Abstract: There is provided a film image detection method, comprising the steps of measuring densities at a large number of measurement points arranged along a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction in a measurement area including an image recording range on a photographic film on which an image is recorded, calculating density variation amounts at the measurement points along the first and second directions on the basis of the densities at the measurement points in the measured measurement area, accumulating the calculated density variation amounts at the measurement points along the first direction for each of a plurality of first rows of measurement points constituted by a predetermined number of measurement points arranged along the second direction, and for accumulating the density variation amounts at the measurement points along the second direction for each of a plurality of second rows of measurement points constituted by a predetermined number of measurement points arranged along

Abstract: A plural mode printing system utilizing a cut sheet print engine for printing conventional cut sheet print substrates, in which page print images are generated and transferred to the cut sheets at an image transfer station. This plural mode printing system selectively provides printing onto either the cut sheets or onto an uncut continuous web printing substrate, in the same cut sheet print engine. An independently moveable continuous web printing substrate supply module is selectively operatively docked with the cut sheet print engine. That web printing module has a web feeding and image transfer assistance system for feeding the continuous web uncut into the cut sheet printing engine for transferring the page print images onto the web instead of onto cut sheets when the print engine is operatively docked with the web printing substrate module. The web printing module does not itself need to print.

Abstract: A photographic printing apparatus is provided in which a plurality of film cartridges X stored in a cartridge storage 1 are unloaded and transferred one by one to a film table 5 and after reading image data from a film of the cartridge with a scanner module 6 using light from a light source module 4, and printing it on a photosensitive material PC placed on an exposure bed 3c by exposure of light through a lens unit 4b, returned back to the cartridge storage 1.

Abstract: An index printer in which density correction can be reliably effected and in which an appropriate image can be printed is obtained. When a standard image data such as a so-called Bull's eye is input from an image memory to a gray image processing portion of a sub-control portion, data which is greater than a predetermined threshold value Q is extracted from the standard image data and is averaged so as to set a standard gray image. The set standard gray image is displayed on a whole surface of a display surface of a liquid crystal panel via a liquid crystal panel driver, and is printed onto a photographic printing paper by a light source.

Abstract: An in-line index printing system includes a sensor that determines the average density value of a photographic frame, a programmable light source and a video camera. The average density value calculated by the sensor is used to set the current levels supplied to a set of red, green, and blue LEDs to produce light that compensates for the exposure and color characteristics of the photographic frame. The film is illuminated by the light produced by the programmable light source and the video camera captures an image of a frame on the film. The image is digitized, and stored in a memory of a computer where it can be manipulated, if desired to enhance the color. The images from the frames can be printed on a color laser printer, a CRT printer, or transmitted over a computer network, such as the Internet.

Abstract: A surface activating process in which treatment can be performed within a short time and in which activation of undesired areas does not occur is achieved by concentrating ultraviolet light with wavelengths from 200 nm to 300 nm by means of an oval focussing mirror. The ultraviolet light is incident in parallel on a mask via a first reflector, an integrator lens, a shutter, a second reflector, and a collimator, and is radiated through the mask onto a workpiece to activation a surface area of the workpiece. The arc length of the lamp is selected to be within a range from 7.5 to 29 mm to obtain a radiation intensity which is sufficient for surface activation. Furthermore, the relationship .alpha.>1.5.degree. and the relationship d.times.tan .alpha..ltoreq.0.1 W are satisfied at the same time, where .alpha.

Abstract: A photofinishing device for handling different formats of photographic film. The photofinishing device comprising a work station for photofinishing a respective format type of photographic film, means for moving the respective format type of photographic film along the work station, and at least one sensor assembly pivotably mounted to the photofinishing device so as to move between an engaged position and a non-engaged position, the at least one sensor assembly having a sensor, the at least one sensor being in substantial contact with the film when the sensor assembly is in the engaged position, the at least one sensor assembly when in the non-engaged position allowing easy access to the sensor.

Abstract: A continuous web substrate duplex printing system which can utilize a single otherwise conventional or existing xerographic, print engine (normally printing conventional cut sheet substrates) without substantial structural modification, and without requiring plural print engines on opposite sides of the web. The continuous web may be fed uncut into the print engine to two transfer stations alternatingly engaging a single endless belt imaging surface, which two alternating transfer stations are in line with one another in the direction of movement of the imaging surface, with web inversion and a controlled expandable/contractible web loop in between those two transfer stations, for respectively transferring the page print images onto the two respective sides of the continuous web in sequential batches of plural first and second side images, in the proper page sequence and positions and without any spaces between page images along the web.

Abstract: An image forming device having multiple direction lens system, a presetting system, a page turner, a movable platform to manipulate both unbound and bound originals, an image monitoring unit, a microcomputer-based control system and an image formation unit, is disclosed that provides the capability of automatic and manual image formation from both unbound and bound originals. The automatic image formation from bound originals is enabled in both Flat Open Mode (original 180.degree. face-up opened) and Angled Open Mode (originals less than 180.degree. face-up opened). Unbound documents can also be face-up loaded on the movable platform for the automatic image formation and will never be jammed. While having bound or unbound originals face-up positioned on the 3D-movable frame, the manual image formation in both single and dual projecting direction also becomes much easier and effective with higher copy quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projection exposure apparatus by a scan-exposure method. The apparatus includes an illuminating means for illuminating a mask transfer region with illumination light for an exposure through an aperture of a variable field stop disposed in a position substantially conjugate to the mask; a driving means for configuring the aperture of the variable field stop in a rectangular shape (having edges orthogonal to a direction of the scan-exposure) and simultaneously making variable a width of the rectangular aperture of the stop in a widthwise direction (the scan-exposure direction) of the transfer region (pattern forming region) on the mask; and a control means for controlling the driving means to change a width of the rectangular aperture of the variable field stop in interlock with variations in position of the variable field stop on the mask transfer region which varies due to the one-dimensional movements of the mask stage.

Abstract: A fuser for fixing a toner image to a receiver sheet includes a housing, a fusing roller mounted for rotation within the housing, and a rotatable wick for applying offset-preventing liquid to the fusing roller. The rotatable wick is adjustable between a first position in frictional contact with the fusing roller, wherein the rotatable wick is rotated by the fusing roller and applies an amount of offset-preventing liquid to the fusing roller, and a second position spaced from the fusing roller. An actuation structure selectively moves the rotatable wick between its first and second positions. A motor and a transmission interconnecting the motor and the rotatable wick, at least when the rotatable wick is in its second position, are provided to effect rotation of the rotatable wick to inhibit settlement of offset-preventing liquid in the rotatable wick.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the weight of a stage unit and suppress heat generation of the driving unit of the stage, thereby improving the surface accuracy of the stage or measurement precision of an interferometer for measuring the position of the stage. A reticle base, a scanning stage mounted on the reticle stage and moved in the scanning direction, and a fine adjustment stage mounted on the scanning stage and capable of being finely moved in the X and Y directions and in the rotational direction are provided as a reticle stage. A first electromagnetic actuator for performing driving in the scanning direction, and a second electromagnetic actuator, having a smaller thrust than that of the first electromagnetic actuator, for performing driving in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction are provided as the driving unit of the fine adjustment stage.

Abstract: A dual mode modular reproduction apparatus for selective different sheet printing modes with a common shared base frame unit having integral module mounting guides providing defined simple manual module mounting into the base frame unit into the same effective location of a xerographic engine module with xerographic engine mounting elements which mate with the module mounting guides in the base frame unit for sheet printing xerographically, and an ink jet printing engine module with mounting elements which mate with the same module mounting guides in the base frame unit as the xerographic engine module to operatively mount the ink jet printing engine module in the base frame unit in place of the xerographic engine for sheet printing by the ink jet printing engine module, the xerographic engine module and the ink jet printing engine module thereby being readily manually interchangeable in the base frame unit to provide a choice between xerographic printing or ink jet printing utilizing the same base frame unit

Abstract: A device for adding controlled amounts of moisture to one or both sides of a copy sheet. The device includes a pair of water jets, a reservoir for storing a quantity of liquid and connected to the water jet, a pair of generally cylindrical, pressure rolls, each having an outer cylindrical surface with the rolls being aligned with respect to one another along their axes so as to define a nip between the outer cylindrical surfaces, and a controller for controlling application of water from the water jets to selected portions of each sheet passing thereunder before each sheet enters the nip formed between the outer cylindrical surfaces. Alternatively, the water jets could apply the liquid to the cylindrical surfaces of the pressure rolls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projection exposure method for transferring a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate through a projection optical system. A light beam having a first wavelength for exposure is radiated through the projection optical system onto a first mark area including a fiducial mark on a fiducial plate installed on a substrate stage, reflected light from the first mark area is detected to obtain a position of the fiducial mark. A light beam having a second wavelength to which the photosensitive substrate is not photosensitive is radiated through the projection optical system onto the first mark area, reflected light from the first mark area is detected to obtain a position of the fiducial mark. A positional discrepancy of the fiducial mark caused by the difference in wavelength between the first and second wavelengths is previously calculated on the basis of results of the detection.

Abstract: A photographic film processing apparatus has a data reader for reading magnetic data stored in a row of magnetic recorded tracks on a photographic film. The apparatus determines whether a reading error has occurred during film processing. If no error has occurred, then the film is processed in accordance with the magnetic data from the film. If an error has occurred, then the apparatus determines whether the data is eligible for replacement with reference data. If the erroneous data is eligible, then the film is processed in accordance with the reference data. If the erroneous data is not eligible, then the film is processed in accordance with external substitute data which is entered by an operator. Furthermore, the apparatus produces a maintenance demand signal based on the number of reading errors or the total length of photographic film processed.