Abstract: A device for determining the viewing direction relative to a fixed reference co-ordinate system comprises a detector for detecting electrooculograms so as to detect the viewing direction of the eyes of a user relative to the user's head. Furthermore, an inertial navigation system is provided for detecting the position of the head relative to said fixed reference co-ordinate system. Finally, the device comprises a computation unit for determining the viewing direction of the eyes of the user relative to said fixed reference co-ordinate system from the detected viewing direction of the eyes relative to the head and from the detected position of the head relative to said fixed reference co-ordinate system.

Abstract: The aberration and refraction power data of an eye to be examined obtained from a first light reception unit and cornea data of the eye to be examined are correlated with each other so as to be overlaid accurately. A first signal and a second signal are concurrently captured, and the optical characteristics and cornea shape of the eye to be examined are measured concurrently or almost concurrently.

Abstract: A computer controlled perimetry system, which is easily operated even by an unskilled operator, for accurately measuring a visual field, and with which many patients can be effectively examined, has a dome having a hemispherical inner surface; a projector projecting a light spot onto the inner surface of the dome; an arm for horizontally moving the projector so as to trace a semicircle along the surface of a virtual hemisphere opposite to the dome; a first motor for driving the arm; a second motor for changing the projecting direction of the projector; a liquid crystal display for displaying the light spot projected onto the inner surface of the dome; a monitor display for observing a patient; and a computer storing a program for controlling the rotation of the first and second motors. Thus, the light spot projected by the projector can be swept to any point on the inner surface of the dome.

Abstract: The present invention provides a myopia and/or astigmatism-correcting contact lens for correcting myopia and/or astigmatism based on the alteration in the shape of a patient's cornea. The myopia and/or astigmatism-correcting contact lens comprises a pressure zone having a first surface defined by the inner surface of the contact lens located on the side of the patient's cornea and positioned at the center of the contact lens. The first surface is formed in a concave shape having a curvature less than that of the central surface of the patient's cornea. The contact lens further includes a relief zone having a concave-shaped second surface defined by the inner surface of the contact lens located on the side of the patient's cornea and positioned at the periphery of the pressure zone, and an anchor zone having a concave-shaped third surface defined by the inner surface of the contact lens on the side of the patient's cornea and positioned at the periphery of the relief zone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projector apparatus including a color separation optical system which separates illumination light into a plurality of color light components, a plurality of image forming panels illuminated with the plurality of color light components, respectively, a color synthesis optical system which synthesizes the light components from the plurality of image forming panels illuminated, a projecting optical system which projects light from the color synthesis optical system, and transparent substrates each arranged on at least one of incident and exit surface sides of the plurality of image forming panels, each of the transparent substrates holding a polarizer, wherein a surface area of at least one of the plurality of transparent substrates is larger than those of the remaining transparent substrates.

Abstract: A color-separating and -recombining optical system includes a cubic- or square column-like first to fourth polarization beam splitters having polarization-splitting planes intersecting each other and wavelength-selective polarizing converters for rotating the plane of polarization of a specific-color light component by 90 degrees. One of the converters is placed at a light-incident side of the first splitter and another is placed at a light-emitting side of the fourth splitter. The first and fourth splitters are provided at a light-incident and light-emitting sides, respectively, of the optical system. The first and fourth splitters are arranged diagonally opposing each other. The remaining converters are placed between at least two inner facing planes of the first to fourth splitters. At least the remaining converters and three of the first to fourth splitters are joined to form an optical joint component with a gap between the component and the remaining one splitter.

Abstract: A lamp (1) has a deformed lamp reflector (1b) and a lamp front glass (1c). The deformed lamp reflector (1b) is made by deforming an ellipsoidal of revolution of a conventional lamp reflector (10b) to an aspherical reflection surface rotationally symmetric with respect to an optical axis Z. The lamp front glass (1c) is obtained by deforming at least one of incident plane and outgoing plane of a conventional lamp front glass (101c) to an aspherical lens surface rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis Z. A light flux emitted from the center point (Pf) of the illuminant (1a) is reflected by the deformed lamp reflector (1b), and outputted with a uniform density through the entire of the outgoing plane of the lamp front lens (1c) so that the light flux is condensed at the focus point.

Abstract: A display system (10) for digital color images using six color light sources (12) or two or more multicolor LED arrays (212, 213) or OLEDs (220, 222) to provide an expanded color gamut. Apparatus (10) uses two or more spatial light modulators (20, 21), which may be cycled between two or more color light sources (12) or LED arrays (212, 213) to provide a six-color display output. Pairing of modulated colors using relative luminance helps to minimize flicker effects.

Abstract: An achromatic flat-panel projection display comprises a video projector 2a, a condensing lens (26) and a tapered transparent slab spreading the image input from the projector over the area of the slab. To compensate for dispersion in the slab a dispersive prism is used at the input edge of the slab, whose dispersion cancels out the dispersion of the slab. The prism can be a separate part of simply a bevel in the input edge, i.e. the thick end of the slab.

Abstract: An image display projector includes a lens element for focusing a light beam from a lamp light source, a reflecting mirror for reflecting a light beam emitted from the lens element, an elliptical mirror for reflecting a light beam emitted from the reflecting mirror, a light valve for modulating a light beam reflected by the elliptical mirror, thereby forming an image light, and a projection lens for projecting the image light onto a screen. In this image display projector, a light focusing point, where the light beam emitted from the lens element is focused, is symmetric to one of the two focal points of the elliptical mirror with respect to the reflecting mirror, and the center of an entry pupil of the projection lens is symmetric to the second focal point of the elliptical mirror with respect to the light valve.

Abstract: A method for exposing photographic paper is disclosed that utilizes existing DPE processing labs. The method comprises illuminating a light transmittance device, the light transmittance device being controlled to display a digital image to be printed onto the photographic paper. The photographic paper is then exposed with the light transmitted through said light transmittance device.

Abstract: A pattern enlarged from a transfer pattern is divided into patterns (Pi) of a plurality of master reticles (Ri). Images of the patterns (Pi) of the plurality of master reticles (Ri) reduced by a projection optical system are successively projected and exposed on the surface of a blank (mask substrate) while stitching. Marks (M1, M2) indicating identification information for identifying a master reticle from another master reticle, transfer positions, etc. are formed on the master reticles (Ri). These marks (M1, M2) are detected before the exposure and exposure is performed in accordance with the information on the transfer position etc. shown by the marks (M1, M2) or reticle information (exposure conditions, various correction values, etc.) relating to the master reticles stored and held in advance corresponding to the identification information. The number of work steps when producing a working reticle using the plurality of master reticles is reduced and occurrence of work errors can be prevented.

Abstract: An alignment system for aligning a reticle having a pattern and an alignment mark with a photosensitive substrate to which the pattern of the reticle is to be transferred, is disclosed. The alignment system includes a movable substrate stage for holding the substrate, and a light-transparent plate having a mark for relative positioning with respect to at least one of the reticle and the substrate stage, wherein positioning of at least one of the reticle and the substrate stage is performed on the basis of the mark provided on the light-transparent plate.

Abstract: This invention provides a relay imaging optical system which is composed of a small number of lenses and can be miniaturized and reduced in weight with maintaining required optical characteristics. This relay imaging optical system is provided for forming an image of a first plane (10) on a second plane (M), and comprises a first lens group G1 which is constructed so that an image plane thereof is positioned within a limited range, a second lens group G2, and a third lens group G3, from the first plane side. At least two lens groups of the first lens group through the third lens group have at least one aspheric surface respectively; and the total number of lenses which constitute this optical system are ten or fewer.

Abstract: An EUV optical projection system includes at least six mirrors (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6) for imaging an object (OB) to an image (IM). At least one mirror pair is preferably configured as an at least phase compensating mirror pair. The system is preferably configured to form an intermediate image (IMI) along an optical path from the object (OB) to the image (IM) between a second mirror (M2) and a third mirror (M3), such that a first mirror (M1) and the second mirror (M2) form a first optical group (G1) and the third mirror (M3), a fourth mirror (M4), a fifth mirror (M5) and a sixth mirror (M6) form a second optical group (G1). The system also preferably includes an aperture stop (APE) located along the optical path from the object (OB) to the image (IM) between the first mirror (M1) and the second mirror (M2). The second mirror (M2) is preferably convex, and the third mirror (M3) is preferably concave. The system preferably forms an image (IM) with a numerical aperture greater than 0.18.

Abstract: The present invention accomplishes an evaluation of image formation performance in which the influence of a coat is accurately reflected. According to the present invention, for the evaluation of image formation performance of an optical system obtained is a pupil transmittance distribution (a distribution of light transmittance on an exit pupil surface) of a light beam that enters an image point to be evaluated of the optical system. At least one of a rotational symmetrical component, an odd symmetrical component, and an even symmetrical component is extracted from the obtained pupil transmittance distribution as an evaluation index.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for measuring distances. A measurement device emits a beam that reflects on the surface of an object. The measurement device determines the distance to the object, based on the time of flight of the beam from transmission to capture by the measurement device. The measurement device derives feedback reference pulses from pulses in the emitted beam and injects them into the device's receive path creating a receive waveform that includes one or more feedback reference pulses and corresponding pulses in the return beam. The device uses the pulses in the waveform to measure time of flight. The measurement device can attenuate the feedback reference pulses to intensities similar or equal to the intensities of the return pulses. The measurement device can include a histogram processor that collects waveform samples at varying comparison thresholds.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for measuring distances. A measurement device emits a beam that reflects on the surface of an object. The measurement device determines the distance to the object, based on the time of flight of the beam from transmission to capture by the measurement device. The measurement device derives feedback reference pulses from pulses in the emitted beam and injects them into the device's receive path—creating a receive waveform that includes one or more feedback reference pulses and corresponding pulses in the return beam. The device uses the pulses in the waveform to measure time of flight. The measurement device can attenuate the feedback reference pulses to intensities similar or equal to the intensities of the return pulses. The measurement device can include a histogram processor that collects waveform samples at varying comparison thresholds.

Abstract: The invention is based on a laser range finder that has a transmitter unit (10) with at least one laser, a receiver unit (12), and a single sideband modulation unit (14) that can use a first single sideband modulation frequency (ZF1) generated by an oscillator unit (16) and a carrier frequency (T1) to generate a modulation frequency (S1) of the transmitter unit (10).

Abstract: A ranging apparatus 1 comprises a laser light emitter 3 for emitting pulsed laser light, a reflected light receiver 4 for receiving reflected light, a distance computer 10 for finding the distance from the elapsed time until the reflected light is received, and a distance display 8 for displaying this distance. The distance computer 10 has a counter 11 for counting the frequency when the reflected light satisfies a specific condition, a table production component 12 for producing a frequency distribution table corresponding to distance by adding up the counts, a distance determiner 13 for determining as the distance to the object of measurement the point when the frequencies in the frequency distribution table exceed a threshold, and a distance selector 15 for selecting a specific distance when a plurality of distances are determined, and displaying this distance on the distance display 8.

Abstract: A system and method that effectively measures the polarization dependent gain of an optical amplifier without significantly introducing error into that measurement is provided. A saturating optical signal source generates an optical signal capable of saturating the optical amplifier. A slow polarization scrambler then randomly polarizes the optical signal to yield a polarized optical signal, which is used as an input signal of the optical amplifier. The output signal of the optical amplifier is then transferred to a fast polarization scrambler, resulting in a PDG measurement signal, which is then presented to an optical signal analyzer that measures the intensity level of each channel of the PDG measurement signal. Alternately, a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) polarization mixer is employed to mix the polarization states of WDM channels of the polarized optical signal from the slow polarization scrambler with respect to each other, yielding the input signal for the optical amplifier under test.

Abstract: A system for testing a fiber comprises a light source, such as a laser, that transmits light pulses into the fiber while the fiber is not carrying payload data, and a monitor photo diode that measures reflections from the light pulses. A driver system for the laser, comprises a driver circuit that operates a laser for transmitting data, a pulse generator for causing the laser to generate a series of pulses, and a switch for selecting either the driver circuit or the pulse generator to control the laser.

Abstract: A protective device for securing to a component movable along a track and for the monitoring of a protected zone moving with the component includes a light transmitter for the radiation of a divergent transmitted light beam into a spatial zone containing the protected zone, a light receiver for the reception of at least some of the light of the transmitted light beam of the light transmitter radiated into the spatial zone and for the emitting of corresponding received signals, and a restriction device which is arranged in the direction of a transmitted light path after a section of the transmitted light path which contains the protected zone and by means of which the transmitted light beam can be restricted to a less divergent received light beam defining the width of the protected zone in at least one direction.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring of polymer in a liquid state, such as a polymer melt or resin, to detect inhomogeneities therein, such as the presence of other phase objects, especially gels in a matrix formed of the liquid state, the polymer in a liquid state flowing past an inspection point is monitored. At the inspection point, electromagnetic radiation in the form of UV light or polarised electromagnetic radiation is passed through the flow chamber (1) and received by a detector (8), and the absorption of the UV light or the changes in the state of polarisation of the electromagnetic radiation caused by the inhomogeneities are used to observe them.

Abstract: A pattern inspection apparatus includes a light source irradiating a plate having a pattern with light, a photoelectric device photoelectrically converting the optical image of the pattern, a detected pattern data generator generating detected pattern data based on a photoelectrically converted signal, a reference pattern data generator generating reference pattern data from designed data, a comparator comparing the detected pattern data with the reference pattern data, a light intensity sensor detecting a light intensity of the light, a barometric pressure sensor detecting a barometric pressure in the apparatus, a status detector detecting at least one of the light intensity and barometric pressure deviating from predetermined ranges, a data memory storing the detected and reference pattern data at the same time when the abnormal status is generated in synchronization with position data and detected values of the light intensity and barometric pressure and an output device which outputs these.

Abstract: Method for fabricating and inspecting small holes in a material are disclosed. The method includes directing light onto the material and through the holes formed in the material, and then collecting the light passing through the holes in the material onto a detector. The methods further include analyzing the light for properties of the holes, and modifying the process based these detected properties.

Abstract: An optical spectrometer comprises at least two coupling apertures with different mode field diameters, a means for dispersing the light beams exiting each of the coupling apertures along a dispersion axis and at least two decoupling apertures on which the dispersed light beams are imaged and whose mode field diameters each correspond to the mode field diameters of the associated coupling apertures. Due the enlarged mode field diameter, a larger spectral fraction of dispersed light beams, i.e., light of a larger spectral bandwidth, can be coupled into the decoupling aperture than into the decoupling aperture.

Abstract: Particles in a liquid medium are detected by directing a source of laser light through a container containing a liquid sample with a concentration of microscopic particles in suspension. An optical detector located off the optical axis receives scattered light from the particles and provides a signal with a dc component and a varying component. The DC component is removed to provide a filtered signal representing the varying component. Movement is produced in the sample liquid, e.g., by convective stirring, to extend the band of frequencies of the varying component towards higher frequencies. The apparatus can be used for growth curve detection of biological samples and provides increased sensitivity.

Abstract: A flow cytometer for the analysis of large particles or small multicellular organisms may experience unstable flow because of the large diameter of the flow chamber. The use of a sheath fluid or a sheath and sample with addition of a viscosity-increasing agent to give a viscosity higher than that of water ensures that flow in the pre-analysis section will be fully developed laminar flow, and that the flow in the analysis section will be laminar. This allows accurate analysis and sorting of large particles or analysis and sorting of smaller particles at an increased rate of speed. Water-soluble polymers are preferred because they increase fluid velocity with negligible osmotic effects. A 0.9 weight % solution of polyvinyl pyrollidone with an average molecular weight of 1.3 million is particularly effective. Use of viscosity-increasing agents that cause minimal increases in surface tension of the fluid is also preferred.

Abstract: A multiplexed, absorbance-based electrophoresis system for analyzing multiple samples simultaneously without use of a mask or slit comprising a light source, a planar array of capillary tubes and a detector positioned off-axis with the light source and positioned on-axis with and parallel to the planar array of capillary tubes. Other embodiments include vacuum use attached to the capillary tubes to increase the speed of detection.

Abstract: A vector representation of polarization dependent loss (PDL) is introduced so that the true PDL of a composite optical system having more than one optical component in combination may be measured using a Mueller Matrix method. An optical source having four input states of polarization is measured at each polarization state to generate the first row of values for the Mueller Matrix for the optical source alone derived from the transmission coefficients. The first row of values is converted into a PDL vector for the optical source alone. The output of the composite optical system having the optical source as input is measured at each polarization state to generate the first row of values for a Mueller Matrix for the composite optical system including the optical source. The first row of values is converted into a PDL vector for the composite optical system in combination with the optical source.

Abstract: The invention concerns an ellipsometer comprising: a source (2) capable of emitting a broadband ray (4), a polarizer (10) for producing a polarised incident beam (12) adapted to illuminate a sample (16) according to at least a selected angle; an analyzer (24) providing an output beam (28) in response to said reflected beam (20) and at least a reflecting optical element (14) arranged between the source (2) and the sample (16) and/or between the sample (16) and the sensor, and capable of focusing the incident beam (12) and/or the reflected beam (20) according to a selected spot The ellipsometer further comprises at least a first refracting optical element (22) arranged between the sample (16) and the sensor and/or between the source (2) and the sample (16) to collect and focus said reflected beam and/or said incident beam, thereby enabling to provide at least a refracting element (22) and a reflecting element (14) on either side of the sample (16) and hence to place the source and the sensor on the same side re

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and system for determining the position and alignment of a plane in relation to an intersecting axis and using that known position and alignment to allow for corrections to be made when using the plane as a reference plane. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for determining the angle of tilt of a planar surface in relation to a laser beam, and using the determined angle of tilt to calculate a correction factor to be applied to the laser beam. Briefly stated, the method and system ultimately calculates a correction factor, z-offset, that is applied when using the laser beam in a procedure.

Abstract: At least two identical combined transmitter/receivers are used to perform a measurement task to be carried out. Each combined transmitter/receiver utilizes a combined exit/entrance window. The identical configuration of the transmitter/receiver yields major cost advantages in the production of these articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of analyzing multiple samples simultaneously by absorption detection.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a simple biochemical sensor making use of the light interference effect of an optical film which is capable of measuring binding of biochemical substances at a high throughput. In the present invention, a solution containing samples 18 is passed through the sensor having probes 17 provided on an optical film with a refractive index of not less than 1.8 and not greater than 3 on a substrate, and binding of the probes 17 and samples 18 is detected from the change of intensity of the reflected light. This makes it possible to measure binding of biochemical substances at a high throughput with high precision.

Abstract: A light L from a light source 3 is transmitted through a sample cell S and is made incident into a spectroscopic portion 13. The spectroscopic portion 13 comprises interference filters 31-39 which transmit light components different in wavelengths and photodiodes 41-49 corresponding to the respective interference filters. Dielectric films to compose an interference filter have relatively satisfactory features to reflect a light component of wavelengths other than a light component of a wavelength to be transmitted. At each interference filter, an incident light is split into a light component to be transmitted and a light component to be reflected. By making the reflected light component into an incident light into a following-order interference filter, light components of nine wavelength types are detected.

Abstract: A heterodyne polarimeter is disclosed where a polarization state is measured by using a polarization diversity receiver employing a polarization beam splitter to output two heterodyne signals. The amplitude and relative phase of the two detected heterodyne signals uniquely determine the polarization state.

Abstract: An integrated imaging element for an interferometer generates at least one image that includes multiple interference portions with different relative phase shifts interleaved in a pattern having a high spatial frequency in the image. The interleaved pattern is at least partially determined by the pattern of a high density polarizing array used in the integrated imaging element. In various embodiments, the multiple interference portions are interleaved in a checkerboard pattern across the entire surface of a detector device. As a result, various non-common mode errors present in various interferometers that generate separate non-interleaved images for each relative phase are reduced or eliminated because multiple phase-shifted interference image information for a small region of an object is provided within a small region on the detector device.

Abstract: Wavelength reference apparatus for use in calibrating a tunable Fabry-Perot filter or a tunable VCSEL, whereby the device may be tuned to a precise, known wavelength, the wavelength reference apparatus comprising an LED, where the LED is chosen so as to have an emission profile which varies with wavelength; an etalon, where the etalon is chosen so as to have a transmission profile which comprises a comb of transmission peaks, with each transmission peak occurring at a precise, known wavelength; and a detector for detecting the light emitted by the LED and passing through the etalon; whereby when a tunable Fabry-Perot filter or tunable VCSEL is positioned between the etalon and the detector, and the device is swept through its tuning range by varying the tuning voltage applied to the device, the known transmission wavelengths established by the LED and the etalon can be correlated to counterpart tuning voltages of the device, whereby to calibrate the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the determination of a condition or state of an object based on quasi-elastic interaction between the object and light transmitted to the object, the apparatus comprising a diffractive optical element having a diffracting region comprising a first diffracting structure for diffraction and focussing of a first light beam to the object, and a second diffracting structure that is laterally displaced relative to the first diffracting structure for diffraction and focussing of a second light beam to the object. The first and second diffracting structures focus the first and second light beams in the same focussing plane, the focussing plane being substantially perpendicular to propagation directions of the first and second light beams. The diffracting region further comprises a receiving diffracting structure for diffraction of light from the light beams that has interacted with the object. The diffracted light is diffracted in a diffraction angle.

Abstract: An apparatus to determine the three-dimensional shape of an array under water using a CCD camera with a field-of-view directed towards the array and a plurality of LED light sources attached to the array which emit light near the attenuation minimum of the water and towards the camera. The camera obtains images of each light source individually from which the x and y co-ordinates of the images of each light source can be determined. Pressure sensors on each light source and camera determine the difference in depth between the camera and the light sources and, with the x and y co-ordinates, the apparatus determines the three-dimensional position of each light source.

Abstract: A process for controlling focus parameters in a lithographic process used in manufacture of microelectronic circuits. The process comprises initially providing a lithographic mask having a target mask portion containing a measurable dimension sensitive to defocus, projecting an energy beam through the target mask portion onto a first location of a substrate at a first focus setting, and lithographically forming a first target on the substrate corresponding to the first focus setting, the first target containing a measurable dimension sensitive to defocus. The process then includes projecting an energy beam through the target mask portion onto a second location of the substrate at a second focus setting, lithographically forming a second target on the substrate corresponding to the second focus setting, the second target containing a measurable dimension sensitive to defocus, and measuring the defocus sensitive dimension for each of the first and second targets on the substrate.

Abstract: A gallery of seed profiles is constructed and the initial parameter values associated with the profiles are selected using manufacturing process knowledge of semiconductor devices. Manufacturing process knowledge may also be used to select the best seed profile and the best set of initial parameter values as the starting point of an optimization process whereby data associated with parameter values of the profile predicted by a model is compared to measured data in order to arrive at values of the parameters. Film layers over or under the periodic structure may also be taken into account. Different radiation parameters such as the reflectivities Rs, Rp and ellipsometric parameters may be used in measuring the diffracting structures and the associated films. Some of the radiation parameters may be more sensitive to a change in the parameter value of the profile or of the films then other radiation parameters.

Abstract: This invention aims to measure film thickness and film thickness distribution to high precision in a wide range of transparent films. As one example, in a CMP process, the film thickness of an outermost surface layer formed on a step pattern of an actual product can be measured so that high precision film thickness control can be performed. To achieve an increase of processing throughput, the film thickness of an optically transparent film formed on an actual device pattern is controlled to high precision by incorporating a film thickness measuring unit, which performs frequency analysis of a spectral distribution, in a polishing apparatus. As a result, an increase of processing throughput is realized.

Abstract: A color laser printer 10 compares a pervious printer, which a toner cartridge 40 has been attached to immediately before attachment to the current printer, with the current printer. In the case where the previous printer is different from the current printer, the color laser printer 10 obtains setting information on the previous printer, which is stored in a storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40, and applies the obtained setting information for the current printer. The various settings in the previous printer are thus turned over to the current printer, when the toner cartridge 40 is detached from the previous printer and is attached to the current printer. This arrangement ensures smooth printing operations without requiring any troublesome settings to use the current printer.

Abstract: A gray balancing technique wherein color data values are modified only if the color data values include a gray component.

Abstract: A gray balancing technique wherein gray balancing curves are determined by interpolating the primary color data values of color samples to determine discrete combinations of primary colors that substantially match predetermined targets, and performing a curve fitting procedure on the discrete combinations of primary colors to produce gray balancing curves.

Abstract: For each combination of color material signals corresponding to an input image signal, a total color material use amount is calculated. On the other hand, on the basis of a predetermined target color, total color material use amounts are set which vary smoothly in accordance with a variation in the target color. Then, one of all the combinations of color material signals determined as described above is selected and determined which corresponds to one of the set total color material use amounts which is the same as the total color material use amount corresponding to the input image signal. This combination is outputted to a printer as the optimum combination of color material signals corresponding to the input image signal.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises a synthesis unit and a selection unit or an image processing unit or both units. The synthesis unit synthesizes image data of a plurality of images obtained by taking a same scene under different exposure conditions or image data of a plurality of optimal images selected by the selection unit to generate synthesized image data of a composite image. The selection unit selects the plurality of the optimal images for synthesis among the image data of the plurality of images described above. The image processing unit for subjecting the synthesized image data by the synthesis unit to dodging processing. The apparatus can secure a sufficient dynamic range of the image data even when the scene having a high contrast is taken by a digital camera that has a narrow photographing latitude and also output prints reproducing high-quality images.