Abstract: A camera (210) for providing an adjusted image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (224), an optical assembly (222), a capturing system (226), and a control system (232). The optical assembly (222) is adjustable to alternatively be focused on a first focal area (356A) and a second focal area (356B) that is different than the first focal area (356A). The capturing system (226) captures a first captured image (360A) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the first focal area (356A) and captures a second captured image (360B) when the optical assembly (222) is focused at the second focal area (356B). The control system (232) provides the adjusted image (214) of the scene (12) based upon the first captured image (360A) and the second captured image (360B). Additionally, the control system (232) can perform object depth extraction of one or more objects (16) (18) (20) in the scene (12).

Abstract: A recorder (10) for recording a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (218), an optical assembly (220), an image system (222), a position assembly (243), an audio system (224), and a compensation system (248). The image system (222) captures an image (252) of the scene (12). The position assembly (243) can be an autofocusing assembly (244) that focuses the optical assembly (220) on a subject (16) of the scene (12). The position assembly (243) generates position information relating to the position of the subject (16) relative to the recorder (10). The audio system (224) captures a captured sound from the scene (12). The compensation system (248) evaluates the position information and the captured sound from the scene (12) and provides an adjusted sound track in view of the position information.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (210) for providing an image (214) of a scene (12) that is within a fluid (16) includes an apparatus frame (228), a capturing system (230), and a control system (236). The capturing system (230) captures a captured image (614A). The control system (236) adjusts a color content of the captured image (614A) based on a clarity of the fluid (16). The image capturing apparatus (210) can include a clarity sensor (227) that provides a clarity signal that corresponds to the clarity of the fluid (16) near the image capturing apparatus (210). Moreover, the image capturing apparatus (210) can include an illumination system (724) that generates a generated light beam (726) that can be adjusted to compensate for the light that is attenuated by the fluid (16).

Abstract: A color compensation system (12) for providing an adjusted image (700) of a captured image (474) of a scene (15) that is within a fluid (16) includes compensation software (698). The compensation software (698) can adjust the captured image (474) utilizing information regarding at least one of a plurality of compensation factors that include (i) a clarity of the fluid (16), (ii) an apparatus depth of an image capturing apparatus (10), (iii) a separation distance between the image capturing apparatus (10) and a subject (20) of the scene (15), (iv) a fluid type of the fluid (16), (v) a subject depth of the subject (20), (vi) an approximate time of day the captured image (474) is captured, (vii) an approximate date the captured image (474) is captured, (viii) an approximate geographic location in which the captured image (474) is captured, (ix) an angle of incidence, and (x) an approximate weather condition in which the captured image (474) is captured.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (210) for capturing an image (214) of a scene (12) that is within a fluid (16) includes an apparatus frame (228), a capturing system (230), and a control system (236). The capturing system (230) captures the image (214). The control system (236) adjusts a color content of the captured image (214) based on at least one of a separation distance (SDist) between the image capturing apparatus (210) and a subject (20) of the scene (12); an apparatus depth (AD) of the image capturing apparatus (210) below a fluid surface (21); a subject depth (SDep) of the subject (20) below the fluid surface (21); or a fluid type of the fluid (16). Additionally, the image capturing apparatus (210) can include a depth sensor (234) that provides an apparatus depth signal that corresponds to the apparatus depth (AD) of the image capturing apparatus (210).

Abstract: An image apparatus (10) for providing an adjusted image (474) of a scene (12) that includes an photo-emissive object (18) includes an apparatus frame (228), a capturing system (232), and a control system (236). The capturing system (232) captures a raw captured image (466) of the scene (12). The control system (236) identifies a captured photo-emissive object (418) in the raw captured image (466). Further, the control system (236) can perform a different level of image compensation on the captured photo-emissive object (418) than on other portions of the captured image (466). Stated in another fashion, the control system (236) can perform a first level of white balance correction on at a first region (482A) of the captured image (466) and can perform a second level of white balance correction on a second region (482B) of the captured image (466). With this design, the control system (236) can provide the adjusted image (474) having a more uniform and acceptable white balance correction.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (10) for providing an adjusted image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (222), a flash system (230), a capturing system (226), and a control system (232). The flash system (230) generates a flash of light (248) to illuminate the scene (12). The capturing system (226) captures an original image (368) when the scene (12) is illuminated and a non-flash image (366) when the scene (12) is not illuminated. The original image (368) has an original color composition (368A) and the non-flash image (366) has a non-flash color composition (366A) that is different than the original color composition (368A). The control system (232) evaluates the non-flash image (366) and the original image (368). In one embodiment, the control system (232) provides the adjusted image (214) that is based on the non-flash image (366) and the original image (368).

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (10) for capturing an image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (222), a capturing system (226), and an illumination system (230). The capturing system (226) captures the image (214). The illumination system (230) can alternatively generate a first generated light beam (348A) having a first color composition (368A) and a second generated light beam (348B) having a second color composition (368B) that is different than the first color composition (368A). The scene (12) can have a first lighting condition (366A) or a second lighting condition (366B) that is different than the first lighting condition (366A). Further, the illumination system (230) generates the first generated light beam (348A) when the scene (12) has the first lighting condition (366A) and the illumination system (230) generates the second generated light beam (348B) when the scene (12) has the second lighting condition (366B).

Abstract: A heating assembly (36) for heating a cathode (38) of an electron gun (30) of an exposure apparatus (10) includes a radiation source (42) and a beam shaper (44). The radiation source (42) generates a source beam (46). The beam shaper (44) receives the source beam (46) and selectively shapes the source beam (46) into a shaped beam (48) that is directed to the cathode (38). In certain embodiments, the beam shaper (44) can readily change the shape and intensity profile of the shaped beam (48) to achieve a desired electron beam (32) from the electron gun (30). In one embodiment, the radiation source (42) generates a pulsed source beam (46).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for positioning a device (228) includes a stage assembly (218) and a first transfer device (268A). The stage assembly (218) positions the device (228) and includes a device stage (250) that retains the device (228). The stage assembly (218) positions the device (228) in a work area (238) and a transfer area (240). The transfer device (268A) transfers a first utility to or from the device stage (250) in a non-contact fashion when the device stage (250) is in the transfer area (240) and does not transfer the first utility to or from the device stage (250) when the device stage (250) is in the work area (238). The first utility can be electrical power and/or electrical signals. Additionally, the apparatus (10) can include a loader (242) that loads the device (228) onto the device stage (250) when the device stage (250) is in the transfer area (240).

Abstract: A heating assembly (36) for heating a cathode (38) of an electron gun (30) of an exposure apparatus (10) includes a radiation source (42) and a beam shaper (44). The radiation source (42) generates a source beam (46). The beam shaper (44) receives the source beam (46) and selectively shapes the source beam (46) into a shaped beam (48) that is directed to the cathode (38). In certain embodiments, the beam shaper (44) can readily change the shape and intensity profile of the shaped beam (48) to achieve a desired electron beam (32) from the electron gun (30). In one embodiment, the radiation source (42) generates a pulsed source beam (46).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for positioning a device (228) includes a stage assembly (218) and a first transfer device (268A). The stage assembly (218) positions the device (228) and includes a device stage (250) that retains the device (228). The stage assembly (218) positions the device (228) in a work area (238) and a transfer area (240). The transfer device (268A) transfers a first utility to or from the device stage (250) in a non-contact fashion when the device stage (250) is in the transfer area (240) and does not transfer the first utility to or from the device stage (250) when the device stage (250) is in the work area (238). The first utility can be electrical power and/or electrical signals. Additionally, the apparatus (10) can include a loader (242) that loads the device (228) onto the device stage (250) when the device stage (250) is in the transfer area (240).

Abstract: A capacitive sensor provides a high level of precision (potentially accurate within fractions of a nanometer) by taking the effects of environmental changes into consideration and compensating for any and all changes to the plate area and to the value of the dielectric constant before determining an accurate measurement. Such compensation can be achieved through use of a plurality of environmental sensors to mathematically calculate the change according to the variant conditions surrounding the capacitive sensor. Preferably, however, the compensation would be made through the use of a reference capacitor with a fixed gap between the plates but that is otherwise identical in both form and reaction to environmental changes as the capacitive sensor that it monitors in order to compensate for all environmental parameters other than the parameter of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed-loop method of controlling the switch operation of a pulse width modulation circuit in the delivery of power to a load. This is done by measuring the power required of the input pulse, integrating the actual power delivered of the output pulse, calculating the power difference between the ideal pulse and the actual pulse, and compensating in the next pulse for error with appropriate offset. A high-speed processor compensates for the error, and generates a timing stream signal to control the modulation frequency of the PWM circuit. This is done on a pulse-to-pulse basis, thus allowing dynamic and nearly instantaneous error correction. Combined with existing PWM technology, the present invention increases the transfer efficiency and the linearity of power delivered to a load. As a direct benefit of precise switching control and low energy losses, smaller heat sink is required as well as less thermal stress is applied on the system.

Abstract: A high performance, high-speed, cost-effective pulse width modulation circuit for the delivery of linear and efficient power to a load. The inventive aspects include: (a) removing certain MOSFET current limiting resistors and reducing impedance paths between components to decrease switching transition time; (b) providing an ultra-fast transient protection circuitry between the Gate and the Source, and between the Drain and the Source of the MOSFETs; (c) providing a hermetically sealed Faraday cage over the circuit; (d) providing a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the circuit; (e) providing an electrically and geometrically symmetrical circuit, having multiple pieces of interconnected substrates to reduce electrical and mechanical stress across the junctions and matching thermal coefficient of adjoining components; (f) using costly BeO material only for the substrate in the MOSFETs where most heat is generated and less costly Alumina substrate for the rest of the circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed-loop method of controlling the switch operation of a pulse width modulation circuit in the delivery of power to a load. This is done by measuring the power required of the input pulse, integrating the actual power delivered of the output pulse, calculating the power difference between the ideal pulse and the actual pulse, and compensating in the next pulse for error with appropriate offset. A high-speed processor compensates for the error, and generates a timing stream signal to control the modulation frequency of the PWM circuit. This is done on a pulse-to-pulse basis, thus allowing dynamic and nearly instantaneous error correction. Combined with existing PWM technology, the present invention increases the transfer efficiency and the linearity of power delivered to a load. As a direct benefit of precise switching control and low energy losses, smaller heat sink is required as well as less thermal stress is applied on the system.

Abstract: A high performance, high-speed, cost-effective pulse width modulation circuit for the delivery of linear and efficient power to a load. The inventive aspects include: (a) removing certain MOSFET current limiting resistors and reducing impedance paths between components to decrease switching transition time; (b) providing an ultra-fast transient protection circuitry between the Gate and the Source, and between the Drain and the Source of the MOSFETs; (c) providing a hermetically sealed Faraday cage over the circuit; (d) providing a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the circuit; (e) providing an electrically and geometrically symmetrical circuit, having multiple pieces of interconnected substrates to reduce electrical and mechanical stress across the junctions and matching thermal coefficient of adjoining components; (f) using costly BeO material only for the substrate in the MOSFETs where most heat is generated and less costly Alumina substrate for the rest of the circuit.