Abstract: A photographic copier has a station which serves as a scanning station and a copying station. The station includes a support for an image to be scanned and copied, and a single light source for scanning and copying. A light-diffusing member is disposed between the light source and the support, and the light-diffusing member has a first condition for copying and a second condition for scanning. Light undergoes a high degree of diffusion in the first condition and a lower degree of, or substantially no, diffusion in the second condition.

Abstract: A photographic printer for making 3D pictures or animation pictures from at least two 2D images on lenticular print material. The printer uses a monitor for sequentially displaying 2D images. A projection lens is used to project the displayed 2D images onto the print material. A tilting mechanism is used to tilt the print material for changing the projection angles. In order to correct for the distortion of images projected on the print material due to tilting, the 2D images are geometrically transformed according to the tilting angles. The same printer can be used to make 2D prints on regular photographic paper. The printer can be equipped with a plurality of projection lenses with different focal lengths so that pictures of different magnification factors can be made.

Abstract: A cleaning structure for an out-of-liquid conveying portion whose object is to facilitate detachment and attachment of a cleaning nozzle unit from and to a crossover rack, and to hold cleaning nozzles in predetermined positions suitable for the out-of-liquid conveying portion in a state in which the cleaning nozzle unit has been mounted to the crossover rack. In order to mount the cleaning nozzle unit to the crossover rack, the cleaning nozzles are made to penetrate through through-holes defined in one of side walls of the crossover rack. In this state, an interlocking member is elastically flexed so as to be inserted into an interlocking hole. After completion of its insertion of the interlocking member, a hook is brought into engagement with an upper edge of the interlocking hole by elastic recovery of the interlocking member. As a result, a case can be mounted to the side wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of individual prints and index prints from films which contain recorded data regarding the circumstances surrounding the exposure of the individual pictures stored on the film. Recorded data on the film is read, the data being associated with an individual picture and concerning a desired print format for the individual picture. The recorded data is preferably stored magnetically, but may also be stored optically. The system produces an individual print of the individual picture having a format based on the read data. The system also identifies, by modification of an image of the individual picture formed on the index print, the region of the film printed on the individual print and of the regions not printed, based on the read data.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus, having an illumination optical system for radiating a light beam from a light source to a pattern area of a mask for transferring the image of the pattern area onto a photosensitive substrate by the light beam passing through the mask, is provided with plural sets of a first reference mark and a second reference mark arranged on the mask and the photosensitive substrate at positions corresponding to each other, and a light-shielding device for shielding the light beams radiated toward the second reference marks, whereby it is possible to re-use the second reference marks in a post-process by preventing the first reference marks on the mask from being superposed on the second reference marks on the photosensitive substrate or from being transferred onto a part near the second reference marks.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes, an image pickup device having a plurality of pixels disposed with a predetermined distance therebetween to pick up an image on a photographic original with respect to a plurality of colors; an image forming device having an optical axis, to form the image of the photographic original onto the image pickup device; a pixel shifting device to shift a focal point of the image on the image pickup device by a distance shorter than a distance between the pixels of the image pickup device; a plurality of color filters having a plurality of colors different from each other; and a filter selector to select a color filter from the plurality of color filters and for disposing the color filter between the photographic original and the image pickup device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a scan exposure unit for performing a slit scan exposure on a light-sensitive material, a line sensor that is provided in an optical path branching from the optical path of slit exposing light and that reads the original image prior to the slit scan exposure of the light-sensitive material, a memory for storing image signals, a monitor for displaying a monitor image using the stored image signals, a device for designating the principal area of the original image from the monitor image, and an exposure computing unit for computing the conditions for proper exposure using both the information on the principal area and the image signals stored in said memory.

Abstract: A scanning exposure apparatus and method wherein an original and a substrate are moved relative to an illumination region to which pulse light is projected.

Abstract: An illumination system for an optical system such as a microlithographic projection exposure system includes a zoom lens 2 for varying the degree of coherence .sigma. and two axicons (22, 23) with an adjustable distance therebetween. The distance can preferably be reduced to zero. The illumination system provides continuous, conventional illumination with a variable degree of coherence .sigma. and annular illumination or multipole illumination with different geometries with low losses of light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling driving of an ozone emission fan includes the steps of: when an external printing command is provided, outputting a control signal for driving the ozone emission fan; printing image data externally inputted after outputting the control signal for driving the ozone emission fan; and after the printing operation, outputting another control signal for stopping the ozone emission fan.

Abstract: In a stage-drive controlling device used in a scanning projection exposure apparatus, a targeted speed Iwy is imparted to a speed control system for controlling the speed of a substrate stage, and a targeted speed Irc is concurrently imparted to a speed control system for controlling the speed of a mask stage such that the two stages assume a predetermined positional relationship. A deviation Xrc in the speed of the Speed control system is multiplied by 1/4 (multiplied by the magnification of projection) by a deviation feedback system, and the multiplied value is fed back as a targeted input to the speed control system. For this reason, the following formula holds: Ywy={Kwy/(s+Kwy)}.times.(Yrc/4). If the response of the speed control system side (substrate stage side) is good, even if the speed response of the speed control system side (mask stage side) is poor, the speed ratio between the two stages is kept at 4:1.

Abstract: Uniform illumination of a photomask in optical lithography is achieved with annular illumination of the conjugate pupil plane in a lithography tool. A spinning diffraction filter is placed in a stepper so as to provide annular illumination on a time averaged basis. This approach provides annular illumination for resolution enhancement in an easily manufacturable and flexible way and without significant loss of light intensity. No illuminator redesign in the photolithographic exposure tool is required.

Abstract: A process for making a printing plate includes composing a digital image of a page to be printed including at least one halftone image. Load imagesetting paper in an imagesetter. Operate the imagesetter to print a paper negative of the digital image on the imagesetting paper. Expose the paper negative to a printing plate.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus for forwardly and reversely photographing images on two rows of film, the leader of the film is transported in a set amount before starting photographing images on the first row, and after photographing on the second row terminates, the trailer of the film is transported in an amount set on the basis of the amount of the leader transport.

Abstract: A projection imaging system is described for patterning large, flexible substrates at high exposure speeds and desired resolution, the substrates being in the form of a continuous band fed from a roller for cost-effective electronic module manufacturing. From the continuous band, segments of one panel size are sequentially exposed one at a time. The segment being exposed is held rigidly on a scanning stage, on which is also mounted a mask containing the pattern to be formed on the substrate. The imaging subsystem is stationary and situated above the scanning stage. The mask is illuminated with a hexagonal illumination beam and a region of similar shape is imaged on the substrate. The stage is programmed to scan the mask and substrate simultaneously across the hexagonal regions so as to pattern one whole panel.

Abstract: A method of detecting a focus position of a projection optical system at a high throughput and with high accuracy. A sensor pattern (SP) which is provided on a wafer stage (WS) as a light-receiving part of a photoelectric sensor (PES) is moved in the direction of an optical axis (AX) of a projection optical system (PL), and at the same time, it is moved in a direction (X) perpendicular to the optical axis (AX). While doing so, a reticle pattern (RP) which is provided on a reticle (R) is illuminated by illuminating light (IL) for exposure, and an image of the reticle pattern (RP) is formed on the sensor pattern (SP) through the projection optical system (PL). Light passing through the sensor pattern (SP) is received by the photoelectric sensor (PES), and a focus position is detected on the basis of the intensity of the transmitted light.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an illuminating arrangement for an optical system such as a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus and includes a glass rod 5 for light integration. The reticle masking unit (REMA) 51 is mounted at the exit face of the glass rod 5.

Abstract: By the method of exposure using attenuation type phase shift mask, based on the phase angle of exposure light passing through second and third light transmitting portions and on hole diameters of the second and third light transmitting portions, an optimal value between first and second distances h.sub.1 and h.sub.2 can be calculated. Therefore, a resist film can be exposed at optimal focal position. As a result, even when there is a step in the material to be exposed, a desired pattern can be exposed with high precision through the same steps in every region of the material to be exposed.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus switchable between a reader state for projecting an image on a screen for observation and a scan state for scanning exposure of the image, which includes plural scanning mirrors which integrally move on a same line to effect the image scanning. The mutual distance of the plural scanning mirrors is varied at the switching between the reader state and the scan state.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for contact printing uses a vacuum contact plate and a screen frame to hold a master film sheet in contact registration with a screen having a region that is substantially porous to the passage of air disposed about a central photosensitive region. The vacuum contact plate receives the screen frame and supports the master film sheet and the screen on an elevated, substantially planar component. Air is evacuated from a hollow cavity within the elevated component to create a pressure differential across the master film sheet to urge the master film sheet in contact with the screen. If the master film sheet is not large enough to cover the entire porous region of the screen, the master film sheet is attached to a carrier sheet of sufficient size. The carrier sheet is then placed on the elevated component to be retained in contact registration with the photosensitive screen.