Abstract: An imprint apparatus forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate by using a mold, while effecting alignment control of a mold and a substrate with respect to an in-plane direction of the substrate. A mold holding portion holds the mold. A substrate holding portion holds the substrate. A control portion effects control so that the mold and the substrate are brought near to each other while effecting the alignment control, based on a driving profile, after the alignment control is started, to bring the mold and the imprint material into contact with each other. The imprint material is then cured. The control portion changes the driving profile for the alignment control after the alignment control is started and at least one of before and after the mold contacts the imprint material.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus includes a light source, a light absorbing member configured to absorb light radiated from the light source to generate a transmit-ultrasound wave that is a planar wave, a detecting element configured to receive an acoustic wave to output an electric signal, an information processing unit configured to acquire characteristic information on an object using the electric signal. The detecting element receives an ultrasound wave resulting from reflection or scattering of the transmit-ultrasound wave in the object, as an acoustic wave.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus comprises a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate an object with light; a sound generating member arranged between the object and the light irradiation unit and configured to generate a substantially planar ultrasonic wave based on the irradiated light; an acoustic wave probe configured to acquire an acoustic wave generated inside the object due to the light and convert the acoustic wave into a first electric signal; and an information generating unit configured to generate information concerning optical characteristics of an interior of the object, based on the first electric signal, wherein the sound generating member allows a part of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit to pass through the sound generating member to the object.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus includes: an acoustic wave generating member which absorbs light and generates an acoustic wave; an irradiating unit which irradiates an object or the acoustic wave generating member with light; a detector which detects an acoustic wave propagating from the object; a signal processing unit which generates object information that is information of the inside of the object, based on a signal output from the detector; and a switching unit which performs switching between a first mode in which a first acoustic wave generated inside the object due to irradiation of the light is detected by the detector and a second mode in which a second acoustic wave generated by the acoustic wave generating member due to irradiation of the light and having propagated inside the object is detected by the detector.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus performs alignment control of a mold and a substrate. A pattern formed on the mold is transferred onto a pattern forming layer on the substrate. A mold holding portion holds the mold, a substrate holding portion holds the substrate, and a control portion effects control so that the mold and the substrate are brought near to each other during the alignment control. The mold and the pattern forming layer are brought into contact with each other and then the pattern forming layer is cured. The control portion changes a driving profile for the alignment control after the alignment control is started and at least one of before and after the mold contacts the pattern forming layer. The driving profile used to move at least one of the mold holding portion and the substrate holding portion to a target position, and includes at least one of acceleration, speed, driving voltage, and driving current.

Abstract: An imprinting method in which alignment control of a mold and a substrate is effected and a pattern formed on the mold is transferred onto a pattern forming layer provided on the substrate. The imprinting method includes a step in which the mold and the substrate are brought near to each other while effecting the alignment control, after the alignment control is started, to bring the mold and the pattern forming layer into contact with each other, and then, the pattern forming layer is cured, and a step in which the gap between the mold and the substrate is increased, after the pattern forming layer is cured. Further, the alignment control is stopped after the alignment control is started, and at least one of before and after the mold contacts the pattern forming layer.

Abstract: An imprint method for imprinting an imprint pattern of a mold onto a pattern formation material on a substrate so as to realize a high throughput includes the steps of bringing the imprint pattern and the pattern formation material into contact with each other; applying a first pressure between the mold and the substrate to increase a contact area between the imprint pattern and the pattern formation material; and adjusting a positional relationship between the mold and the substrate at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus having a simple configuration capable of correctly detecting malfunction of an OCT apparatus by detecting the states of a light source and a sensor. An image pickup apparatus includes a switching unit that switches between a first mode in which a combined light beam of a return light beam from a specimen and a reference light beam is detectable by a detecting unit and a second mode in which the reference light beam is detectable by the detecting unit. The image pickup apparatus is switchable to the first mode on the basis of an intensity of the reference light beam detected by the detecting unit in the second mode.

Abstract: A tomographic-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a tomographic image in response to a signal input from a signal input unit. Then, a display unit is controlled so as to display the captured tomographic image. An eyeground-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a two-dimensional image in response to a signal input from the signal input unit while the tomographic image is displayed on the display unit. Therewith, the user can more easily perform imaging, and the time load on the subject is reduced.

Abstract: A signal processing method for a plurality of reception signals, wherein a plurality of reception elements are each configured to receive acoustic waves and output a reception signal at a plurality of sampling times, includes generating a representative value signal from the plurality of reception signals, except for reception signals having amplitudes that are larger than a threshold value among the plurality of reception signals at each sampling time, generating a plurality of differential signals indicating differences between the plurality of reception signals obtained at each sampling time and the representative value signal, and generating image data using the plurality of differential signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biopsy support apparatus. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic unit configured to generate an ultrasonic image on the basis of a signal from an ultrasonic probe in contact with a living organism; an optical-image acquisition unit configured to generate an optical image on the basis of a signal from a biopsy probe inserted in the living organism; and a control unit configured to control the ultrasonic unit and the optical-image acquisition unit. The control unit calculates the positional relationship between the biopsy probe and the target by aligning a feature portion in the ultrasonic image and a feature portion corresponding thereto in the optical image and controls the puncture state of the biopsy probe on the basis of the positional relationship.

Abstract: A tomographic-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a tomographic image in response to a signal input from a signal input unit. Then, a display unit is controlled so as to display the captured. tomographic image. An eyeground-image pickup unit is controlled so as to capture a two-dimensional image in response to a signal input from the signal input unit while the tomographic image. is displayed on the display unit. Therewith, the user can more easily perform imaging, and the time load on the subject is reduced.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus is used that includes: an ultrasound probe that receives an acoustic wave propagating from an object and outputs an electric signal; and a processor that generates an image of the inside of the object, using the electric signal. The processor creates a frequency distribution of pixel values included in a region of interest including a point of interest in the image, classifies the point of interest on the basis of the shape of the frequency distribution and the position of the point of interest in the frequency distribution, and determines a pixel value of the point of interest on the basis of a classification result of the point of interest.

Abstract: There is provided an ophthalmologic apparatus having a tracking function that can select a fundus image that is less affected by eye motion to reduce burdens on an operator/a patient in fundus imaging, wherein the ophthalmologic apparatus picks up a first fundus image (202), extracts a characteristic point as a template from the first fundus image (203), executes pattern matching on a second fundus image (205) to determine presence/absence of eye motion, and decides a tracking template image (207).

Abstract: A tomographic imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an optical splitter unit for splitting light from the light source into reference light and measuring light; a reference optical system including an adjustment unit for adjusting an optical path length of the reference light; a spectral unit for spectrally splitting combined light of the reference light and the return light obtained by irradiating an object to be inspected with the measuring light so as to acquire an interfering signal; a detection unit for detecting an optical path length when a tomographic image of the object is photographed; a storage unit for recording data about a refractive index of a refracting element of the object; and a calculation unit for calculating image data from the interfering signal acquired by the spectral unit based on an actual size using data about the optical path length and the refractive index.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomography apparatus which acquires a tomogram of a target object based on a light intensity detected for each wavelength by combining return light of measurement light from the target object with reference light corresponding to the measurement light, the apparatus comprising: a normalization unit adapted to normalize the light intensity detected for the each wavelength based on a transfer function corresponding to the wavelength resolution; and an image formation unit adapted to form a tomogram of the target object from the light intensities normalized by the normalization unit.

Abstract: Provided is a method for easily improving image quality in an optical tomographic imaging apparatus. An optical tomographic image generation method of generating a tomographic image of an object includes: acquiring a signal; performing Fourier transform; and obtaining the tomographic image. The optical tomographic image generation method further includes one of the steps of combining a plurality of the signals acquired within a predetermined time and combining a plurality of the signals acquired within a predetermined time after performed the Fourier transform thereon.

Abstract: A patterning process includes preparing a first mold having a first uneven pattern at a patterning surface thereof and a second mold as a peripheral shot mold having a second uneven pattern at a patterning surface thereof. A wafer includes a peripheral area along an entire peripheral edge and a non-peripheral area positioned inside the peripheral area and spaced from the edge. The first mold is used to imprint a non-peripheral pattern group completely within the non-peripheral area. The non-peripheral pattern group includes a plurality of non-peripheral pattern units each corresponding to an individual imprint of the first mold. The second mold is used to imprint a peripheral pattern positioned completely within the peripheral area. The peripheral pattern includes a shape having straight line segments corresponding to and outlining corners of a plurality of the non-peripheral pattern units and having a curved line corresponding to the peripheral edge of the wafer.

Abstract: An optical tomographic image photographing apparatus having a tracking function, capable of appropriately controlling a scan in acquiring a tomographic image. The optical tomographic image photographing apparatus according to the invention includes a fundus image photographing section which photographs fundus images of an eye to be inspected and a tomographic image photographing section which photographs tomographic images of the eye to be inspected. A control method of the optical tomographic image photographing apparatus includes the steps of: calculating coordinate values matching a plurality of previously-acquired characteristic areas in the fundus image; calculating a spatial variation between the plurality of coordinate values; and controlling the scan of a measuring light by the tomographic image photographing section for acquiring the tomographic images on the basis of a result of the calculation.

Abstract: A light transmissive mold used for imprinting a pattern onto a material applied on a semiconductor workpiece. The mold includes a first surface having an area of a pattern to be imprinted onto the material, a second surface located opposite from the first surface, and a third surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface, at a position inwardly away from the first surface. The third surface is arranged opposite to an area of the workpiece subjected to dicing. An alignment structure, provided for alignment between the mold and the workpiece, is formed in the third surface.