Abstract: An imaging method and imaging system for inspecting features located at a known inter-feature pitch on portions of a target surface. The system includes a lens array having a plurality of lenses wherein the lenses of the lens array have an inter-lens pitch and an inter-field of view pitch corresponding to the inter-feature pitch, and an array of imaging elements having an inter-element pitch corresponding to the inter-feature pitch, whereby the imaging system images only field of view areas of the target surface containing features.

Abstract: A grayscale mask for imaging operations, including a substrate layer and a mask layer having a plurality of apertures forming a mask pattern to form a grayscale image. Each edge of each aperture includes a plurality segments forming a serrated edge, resulting in mixed edge diffraction. The apertures may be in an irregular and non-symmetric pattern and may be of variable size. A random diffusing layer may be in proximity to or integral with the substrate layer. The grayscale mask may be used for generating an optical element by printing the initial grayscale mask onto a photoresist layer and transferring the photoresist pattern onto a transparent layer and the mask may include areas or layers of variable transmission. Also described are methods for diffractive intensity averaging, diffractive error diffusion, diffractive spatial dithering, and diffractive intensity averaging.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus and an exposure apparatus that achieves higher quality exposure to light and higher operating speed even where the ratio Hx/Hy between the transverse dimension Hx and the longitudinal dimension Hy of the plane of optical modulation of a two-dimensional optical space modulator is 1.5 or above, for instance, are to be provided. The focal distance fx in an x-direction and the focal distance fy in a y-direction of a second optical system that guides light emitted from an integrator to a two-dimensional optical space modulator are made different, in a ratio of fx/fy=1.6, for instance. In this way, the number of rod lenses in the integrator can be made equal between transverse and longitudinal directions and the value of Hx/Hy can be made 2.5 by bringing the aspect ratio dx:dy of rod lenses to 1.6:1, close to 1.

Abstract: A drilling method and a laser machining apparatus which can shorten the measuring time of workpiece surface height and improve the machining efficiency in spite of irregularities of about 10-30 ?m high in the surface of a table. Surface heights of the table is measured at lattice points in advance. Top surface height at a desired point of the workpiece mounted on the table is measured. Surface height of the point is arithmetically obtained using heights of four points surrounding the point. The difference between the measured height and the arithmetically obtained height is set as the plate thickness of the workpiece. Top surface height of the workpiece at a machining position is regarded as the sum of the plate thickness and the height at that position obtained from the table surface heights.

Abstract: A laser machining method and a laser machining apparatus by which holes excelling in form accuracy can be machined efficiently are to be provided. A first cylindrical lens and/or a second cylindrical lens to correct any deformation of reflective face of a first mirror and/or a second mirror is arranged on an optical axis of a laser beam, and converging positions of the laser beam for an X-component and for a Y-component are coincident with a point on the optical axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bump shape measuring apparatus comprising an illumination optical system which illuminates bumps arranged on a board with illumination light of a low tilt angle to a surface of the board; a detection optical system where reflected light from the bumps is condensed for detection of image signals of the bumps by a high tilt angle to the surface of the board; an image processing unit where an outline of the tip and the base of each of the bumps is calculated based on the image signals of each of the bumps, and geometric characteristics including at least a position and height of each of the bumps are calculated based on the outline of the tip and the base of each of the bumps; and a main control unit where information on the calculated geometric characteristics of the bumps is displayed on a display unit.

Abstract: A rocking actuator and a laser machining apparatus which can suppress a temperature rise of a permanent magnet in a moving-magnet actuator. Even when a steerable mirror is positioned by rapid and continuous motions, highly reliable machining can be performed without degrading machining throughput or hole position accuracy. A cooling jacket for cooling a casing and heat transfer units brought into contact with a coil and the casing are provided. Heat generated in the coil is introduced to the casing through the heat transfer bypass units. Thus, the temperature rise of the coil is suppressed. Radial grooves are provided in the permanent magnet opposed to the coil so as to prevent an eddy current from appearing therein. Groove depth is made not smaller than skin depth expressed by a function of volume resistivity and permeability of the permanent magnet and a fundamental frequency of a current applied to the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a desired position of a collimated light beam are provided. An optical system includes one or more passive optical elements movably positioned in the beam path. Beam position is responsive to movement of at least one of the passive optical elements. The actual position of the beam is detected and compared with the desired beam position. An error signal is generated and the beam path is altered responsive to movement of one or more of the passive optical elements. In further aspects, beam shaping optics, such diffractive optics, are provided to shape the sensed beam portion. In still other aspects, thermal conditions of the laser may be monitored and a thermal map is provided to automatically compensate for estimated beam drift due to thermal conditions.

Abstract: A composite sheet whose product price can be reduced with a smaller number of manufacturing processes. A laser oscillator outputs a pulsed beam at a frequency f. A mask shapes the outer shape of the beam into a triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal shape. N pieces of time-sharing means time-share the beam to form N beams having a frequency f/N. N pairs of positioning means position the time-shared beams. A condensing lens condenses the beams. A rotating drum displaces a workpiece. A control means controls the time-sharing means, the N pairs of positioning means and a pedestal. The N pairs of positioning means are positioned to irradiate predetermined positions with the beams. The pedestal is moved. The time-sharing means are thereupon operated in predetermined order. The workpiece is machined to make holes whose outer shapes depend on the mask so that distances between sides of adjacent holes are equal to one another.

Abstract: A parallel glass which is a prism having a parallelogram-shaped cross section in an x-y direction, and parallel glasses which are prisms having a parallelogram-shaped cross section in the x-y direction and each include grooves formed in one surface in a z direction perpendicular to the x-y direction, are stacked in direct contact with each other such that the grooves are located on the inside, and light trying to enter the grooves is subjected is total reflection, thereby changing incident parallel beams with a pitch of 13 mm into emergent parallel beams with a pitch of 1 mm.

Abstract: A positioning control system for positioning a moving element on a basis of position command data is provided with a feedback loop. The system is also provided with a loop gain modifier for determining a loop gain, which is to be used in a following positioning operation, on a basis of a difference between an amount of overshoot measured in a current positioning operation and a predetermined tolerance or on a basis of a difference between an amount of overshoot measured in a current positioning operation and a first predetermined tolerance and a difference between an amount of undershoot measured in the current positioning operation and a second predetermined tolerance. The first and second tolerances may preferably be the same in absolute value. The moving element may specifically be a steerable mirror for drilling holes in a work by reflecting a laser beam. Also disclosed is a laser drilling machine including the system.

Abstract: A optical scanner control method and a optical scanner capable of positioning a mirror at a high speed independently of a rocking angle, and a laser machining apparatus for irradiating a printed circuit board with a laser beam by use of the optical scanner to thereby perforate the printed circuit board. In order to operate an actuator for rocking the mirror based on a deviation of a current position from an commanded value, a change in gain of the actuator is measured in accordance with each rocking angle in advance, and the manipulated variable of the actuator is corrected to cancel the change in gain. Thus, the influence of the alteration of a torque constant in accordance with the rocking angle can be suppressed so that the response characteristic becomes uniform all over a scanning region, and the positioning speed can be improved.

Abstract: A spindle unit having a pressure foot whose machining efficiency may be improved even when compressed air is used as means for pressing the pressure foot. The spindle unit having the pressure foot includes a rotor shaft provided within a base rotatably and movably along an axis, a collet chuck provided at one end of the rotor shaft, a linear motor for moving a movable element rotatably connected with the rotor shaft and movably provided within the base along the axis together with the rotor shaft to move a drill closer to or apart from the workpiece, a rotary motor for rotating the rotor shaft, a pressure foot disposed in front of the edge of the collet chuck and is capable of pressing down the workpiece, and air cylinders for connecting the movable element with the pressure foot so as to be relatively movable by a predetermined degree and for pressing the pressure foot in the direction separating from the collet chuck.

Abstract: Substrate processing apparatus for processing holes accurately positioned in an long film, comprising: work supporting devices for supporting the work; clamping devices for clamping the work onto the work supporting devices; first movement devices for moving the work supporting devices in the transferring direction of the work; guiding devices for guiding the work supporting devices; guide supporting devices for supporting these guiding devices; and second movement devices for moving the guide supporting devices in the direction perpendicular to the transferring direction of the work, wherein two pins or holes are disposed on or in each of the guiding devices, holes or pins to engage with the pins or holes are disposed on or in each of the guide supporting devices to combine the guiding devices and guide supporting devices in a grid form, and the holes and pins at four junctions are fitted.

Abstract: A laser machining method and a laser machining apparatus superior in hole position accuracy and hole quality. An outgoing beam outputted as short pulses is shaped by a pulse shaping unit so as to form a #1 branch beam. The #1 branch beam is supplied to a portion to be machined, so as to machine the portion. In this case, the #1 branch beam may be controlled to synchronize with the outgoing beam. When a piece to be machined is made from a metal material and at least one of an organic material and an inorganic material, the metal material is machined with a laser beam shaped to have a pulse width not shorter than 100 ns, and at least one of the organic material and the inorganic material is machined with a laser beam shaped to have a pulse width shorter than 100 ns.

Abstract: A lighting system and an exposure apparatus in which even if the outgoing optical axes of outgoing beams emitted from a plurality of LDs disposed on a flat plane are shifted, the efficiency of use of the beams can be improved, and the directivity of lighting can be enhanced. Diffused beams output from a plurality of LDs arrayed two-dimensionally are converted into high-directivity beams with spread angles equalized circumferentially by two kinds of cylindrical lenses. In this event, the optical axis of the beam emitted from each LD may tilt due to misalignment of the center of the beam with the optical axes of the corresponding cylindrical lenses. This tilt is corrected by a wedged glass. Thus, the optical axis of the beam output from each LD meets the optical axis in the entrance plane of an integrator.

Abstract: A scanner has a rotor, and a stator disposed in the outside of the rotor. The rotor includes a shaft, and a permanent magnet mounted on the outer circumferential side of the shaft. The stator includes a casing, a yoke held in the inner circumferential side of the casing, and coils disposed in the inner circumferential side of the yoke. The permanent magnet of the rotor has radially depressed grooves formed in its outer circumferential portion. The torque constant of the scanner is circumferentially equalized by the grooves. Thus, positioning accuracy is improved.

Abstract: A grayscale mask for imaging operations, including a substrate layer and a mask layer having a plurality of apertures forming a mask pattern to form a grayscale image. Each edge of each aperture includes a plurality segments forming a serrated edge, resulting in mixed edge diffraction. The apertures may be in an irregular and non-symmetric pattern and may be of variable size. A random diffusing layer may be in proximity to or integral with the substrate layer. The grayscale mask may be used for generating an optical element by printing the initial grayscale mask onto a photoresist layer and transferring the photoresist pattern onto a transparent layer and the mask may include areas or layers of variable transmission. Also described are methods for diffractive intensity averaging, diffractive error diffusion, diffractive spatial dithering, and diffractive intensity averaging.

Abstract: There is provided a digital servo control unit which uses a D/A converter, which suppresses the spike-like pulsation superimposed on a current error signal inside a current control circuit, and which has control performance not lower than that in the background art even when a low-voltage and low-price power supply circuit is used. The digital servo control unit has a first-order low pass filter acting on an analog signal output by the D/A converter, and a stabilizing compensation means for compensating a phase delay caused by the first-order low pass filter. An output signal of the first-order low pass filter is input to a current control circuit as a current command signal. The first-order low pass filter is formed as a low pass filter having a cut-off frequency which is lower than a sampling frequency. The first-order low pass filter may be replaced by a notch filter having a cut-off frequency which is equal to a sampling frequency or which is equal to an integer multiple of a Nyquist frequency.

Abstract: There is provided a printed board machining apparatus that is capable of improving machining efficiency without hampering machining accuracy. The printed board machining apparatus includes a pressure foot which is provided with a port whose one end is opened at a lower surface of the pressure foot facing a stiffening plate, and whose other end is connected to a compressed gas source to blow out gas from the port at a pressure which does not interfere with the pressure foot pressurizing the stiffening plate and printed boards in machining the printed boards. It is noted that the gas is blown out during a period of time at least when the pressure foot and the stiffening plate are moving relatively in the horizontal direction.