Abstract: Provided is a method of forming an originating point suitable for splitting a split object by irradiating a laser beam to the split object. With respect to a location for which splitting of the split object M is intended, a laser beam not having strong energy at which a scribe groove can be formed by ablation is irradiated in a state where the focus is defocused ?20 ?m to ?30 ?m, from the top surface of the split object M to the inside thereof. An affected region T having an elongated cross-section shape can be formed through rapid heating due to absorption and the following rapid cooling. At the time of break processing, a good break can be realized with the lowermost end portion of the affected region T as the originating point. Further, if once supplied in advance, to an intended split location, a material having a higher absorptance of the laser beam than the split object M in the wavelength range of the used laser beam, the absorption efficiency of the laser beam can be increased only at the location.

Abstract: A drum scanning type image reading apparatus includes an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system. The illumination optical system is an optical system for irradiating light upon an original. A variable aperture stop is disposed at a conjugate position with the original. In the imaging optical system, a pick-up lens focuses an image of an image reading region of the original on an image focusing surface, and photomultiplier tubes read light passing through one of holes which are formed in a main aperture plate which is disposed on the image focusing surface. To change an image reading resolution in the image reading apparatus, the image reading region and an illumination region are changed by changing the aperture size of the main aperture plate and the size of the variable aperture stop.

Abstract: A setup apparatus constructed separately from an image scanning and recording apparatus. Light from a document is received by a pickup lens disposed above the document, and is branched by suitable optics. One of the branched incident beams is projected to a focusing screen disposed adjacent the pickup lens for displaying an erect image of a setup position. The other beam is passed through an aperture disposed at an optically equivalent position to the focusing screen, from which density level of the setup position is measured for display on a density indicator.