Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image acquisition apparatus includes an electron beam source configured to generate an electron beam to be radiated onto an object to be measured, an image detecting unit configured to detect an electronic image of the object based on the electron beam radiated from the electron beam source onto the object, and a voltage modulating unit configured to modulate at least one of a voltage to be applied to the electron beam source and a voltage to be applied to the object.

Abstract: A photomask has a pattern formed by writing of a charged beam on basis of a charged beam control data.

Abstract: A method of generating reference data is disclosed, in which two-value or multi-value gradated data of pixels is obtained in units of pixels from a design data of a pattern to be formed on an object, a processed data is obtained by carrying out calculations to the gradated data, and a reference data for use in a comparison with a sensed data obtained by image-picking up a pattern formed on the object is obtained based on the processed data, the method comprising carrying out a first calculation including a predetermined parameter to a value of an gradated data of a targeted pixel among the pixels to obtain a first processed data, and carrying out a second calculation including a predetermined parameter to the values of the gradated data of the targeted pixel and pixels located at the periphery of the targeted pixel to obtain a second processed data.

Abstract: An image data of M-gradations in a pixel is converted into multivalued image data of N-gradations (M>N>2) in a pixel. A remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined whether to be a predetermined gradation TJ (N>TJ>2) in which a tone jump occurs. When the remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined to be the predetermined gradation TJ, it is determined whether a pixel of the predetermined gradation TJ exists in pixels being adjacent to the remarked pixel. When the pixel of the predetermined gradation exists, the gradation of the remarked pixel is changed to the gradation other than the predetermined gradation so as to prevent the tone jump, and an average density after multivalued image data conversion is preserved.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus is provided that includes a cleaning cup for receiving a to-be-cleaned substrate, a table in the cleaning cup, a first, second, and third nozzles, a pure water heating mechanism configured to supply hot pure water, a branch line, a control mechanism, and an open/close valve, provided between the branch line and the pipe, wherein the open/close valve is configured to interrupt emission of hot water from the third nozzle by opening the open/close valve to lower the pressure in the pipe.

Abstract: A method of generating reference data is disclosed, in which two-value or multi-value gradated data of pixels is obtained in units of pixels from a design data of a pattern to be formed on an object, a processed data is obtained by carrying out calculations to the gradated data, and a reference data for use in a comparison with a sensed data obtained by image-picking up a pattern formed on the object is obtained based on the processed data, the method comprising carrying out a first calculation including a predetermined parameter to a value of an gradated data of a targeted pixel among the pixels to obtain a first processed data, and carrying out a second calculation including a predetermined parameter to the values of the gradated data of the targeted pixel and pixels located at the periphery of the targeted pixel to obtain a second processed data.

Abstract: At least two or more than two ink-jet recording heads provided with respective discharge ports for discharging ink are arranged in the direction of conveyance of recording medium. The inks filled in the respective ink-jet recording heads are made to show different surface tensions. With this arrangement, as inks are discharged onto the recording medium that is conveyed by a conveyor under the control of a drive section, the image formed by the inks discharged onto the recording medium shows an improved quality.

Abstract: Ink-jet heads having respective sets of ink ejection nozzles arranged longitudinally at a predetermined pitch are arranged in the moving direction of a sheet of art paper with a predetermined distance separating them from each other. The pitch Q separating the ink ejection nozzle of one of the ink-jet heads located at an end thereof from the corresponding ink ejection nozzle of the other ink-jet head located at the proximal end of the former ink ejection nozzle is made smaller the predetermined pitch P of arrangement of the ink ejection heads of the ink-jet heads.

Abstract: At least two or more than two ink-jet recording heads provided with respective discharge ports for discharging ink are arranged in the direction of conveyance of recording medium. The inks filled in the respective ink-jet recording heads are made to show different surface tensions. With this arrangement, as inks are discharged onto the recording medium that is conveyed by a conveyor under the control of a drive section, the image formed by the inks discharged onto the recording medium shows an improved quality.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has an image recording unit which records an image on a recording medium by discharging ink from a recording head having a row of a plurality of recording elements. The apparatus includes an environmental condition detection unit which detects environmental conditions, a recording head operation state detection unit which detects the operation state of the recording head, and a control unit which executes maintenance of the recording head based on the detected environmental conditions and detected head operation state.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance signal is acquired from a JHH-coupled 1H within an object. After application of a wideband first radio-frequency magnetic pulse, a first frequency-selective radiation pulse is applied to a specific nucleus 1H coupled to a desired nucleus 1H through a homonuclear spin-spin coupling (JHH-coupling), thus multiple-quantum coherences between the nuclei 1H being generated. A second radio-frequency magnetic pulse is then applied. A second frequency-selective radiation pulse is then applied to the specific nucleus 1H to generate a single-quantum coherence of the desired nucleus 1H. Thus, a magnetic resonance signal can be acquired from the desired nucleus 1H. The acquisition of the signal is robust, adjustment in the phases of the radio-frequency magnetic pulses is not required, and an acquired spectrum is avoided from being visually complicated.

Abstract: A to-be-cleaned substrate is cleaned by use of an acid liquid agent in a cleaning cup, the remaining acid liquid agent is washed out by use of pure water, then an alkaline liquid agent is emitted to the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate in the same cleaning cup to remove the acid liquid agent remaining on the to-be-cleaned substrate. A neutralization reaction between the acid and alkali is caused by emitting the alkaline liquid agent to the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate so as to efficiently remove the acid liquid agent remaining on the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate.

Abstract: A to-be-cleaned substrate is cleaned by use of an acid liquid agent in a cleaning cup, the remaining acid liquid agent is washed out by use of pure water, then an alkaline liquid agent is emitted to the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate in the same cleaning cup to remove the acid liquid agent remaining on the to-be-cleaned substrate. A neutralization reaction between the acid and alkali is caused by emitting the alkaline liquid agent to the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate so as to efficiently remove the acid liquid agent remaining on the surface of the to-be-cleaned substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet head having ink chambers, energy-generating elements provided in the ink chambers, respectively, and ink outlet ports communicating with the ink chambers, respectively. The ink jet head may be left unused for a time longer than a predetermined time, with a meniscus formed in each ink outlet port. In this case, a drive pulse is applied to each energy-generating element several times, thereby forcing the ink outwards from the ink outlet port and increasing a surface area of the ink from a surface area of the meniscus. Then, a negative pressure is applied in each ink chamber, thereby drawing the ink back toward the ink chamber, thus forming a meniscus again in the ink outlet port. In this condition, a drive pulse is applied to the energy-generating element, thus ejecting an ink droplet from the ink outlet port to record data.

Abstract: Ink-jet heads having respective sets of ink ejection nozzles arranged longitudinally at a predetermined pitch are arranged in the moving direction of a sheet of art paper with a predetermined distance separating them from each other. The pitch Q separating the ink ejection nozzle of one of the ink-jet heads located at an end thereof from the corresponding ink ejection nozzle of the other ink-jet head located at the proximal end of the former ink ejection nozzle is made smaller the predetermined pitch P of arrangement of the ink ejection heads of the ink-jet heads.

Abstract: An image data of M-gradations in a pixel is converted into multivalued image data of N-gradations (M>N>2) in a pixel. A remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined whether to be a predetermined gradation TJ (N>TJ>2) in which a tone jump occurs. When the remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined to be the predetermined gradation TJ, it is determined whether a pixel of the predetermined gradation TJ exists in pixels being adjacent to the remarked pixel. When the pixel of the predetermined gradation exists, the gradation of the remarked pixel is changed to the gradation other than the predetermined gradation so as to prevent the tone jump, and an average density after multivalued image data conversion is preserved.

Abstract: Image data of 256 gradations is converted into that of 4 gradations which can be recorded by a recording head, at a pseudo-halftone processing unit and the converted image data is supplied to a head driving unit. A control signal selector selects a control signal A from a control signal A setting unit when the image data is a natural image, and a control signal B from a control signal B setting unit when the image data is a character or a line drawing. The head driving unit generates an electric signal used to drive the recording head on the basis of gradation information from the pseudo-halftone processing unit and the control signal A or B. With this operation, when the image data is a natural image, recording is carried out with a pixel dot for image formation excellent in gradation property, and when the image data is a character or a line drawing, recording is carried out with a pixel dot for image formation which causes no jaggy or blur to be generated at hatched portions and the like.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance signal is acquired from a JHH-coupled 1H within an object. After application of a wideband first radio-frequency magnetic pulse, a first frequency-selective radiation pulse is applied to a specific nucleus 1H coupled to a desired nucleus 1H through a homonuclear spin-spin coupling (JHH-coupling), thus multiple-quantum coherences between the nuclei 1H being generated. A second radio-frequency magnetic pulse is then applied. A second frequency-selective radiation pulse is then applied to the specific nucleus 1H to generate a single-quantum coherence of the desired nucleus 1H. Thus, a magnetic resonance signal can be acquired from the desired nucleus 1H. The acquisition of the signal is robust, adjustment in the phases of the radio-frequency magnetic pulses is not required, and an acquired spectrum is avoided from being visually complicated.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus having two head units, each having a large number of ink nozzles arranged in a line, assembled so that they overlap with each other, an 8-shade image signal is entered into a correction circuit and a line direction position signal is input into a position signal decision circuit. When the position signal decision circuit decides that the position signal represents the overlapping zone of the head units, the shade level of the image signal is divided between the head units. For example, when the shade level of the image signal is 7, one of the head units is allotted the shade level and the other is allotted the shade level. The overlapping nozzles in a pair eject droplets of ink to form one dot.

Abstract: An ink jet head is provided having ink chambers, energy-generating elements provided in the ink chambers, respectively, and ink outlet ports communicating with the ink chambers, respectively. The ink jet head may be left unused for a time longer than a predetermined time, with a meniscus formed in each ink outlet port. In this case, a drive pulse is applied to each energy-generating element several times, thereby forcing the ink outwards from the ink outlet ports and increasing a surface area of the ink from a surface area of the meniscus. Then, a negative pressure is applied in each ink chamber, thereby drawing the ink back toward the ink chambers, thus forming a meniscus again in the ink outlet ports. In this condition, a drive pulse is applied to the energy-generating elements, thus ejecting an ink droplet from the ink outlet ports to record data.