Abstract: Methods and apparatus fix relative rotation between an optical connector about an axis that runs longitudinally through the optical connector and an inspection machine. In one method, an optical connector is releasably secured to a cage member having an extending flange. The optical connector is mounted into an inspection machine by inserting the end surface of the connector into a connector receipt aperture of the machine, and orienting the optical connector with the cage member to position the extending flange within a void of a fixture on the machine. A kit including a cage member and a mounting plate are provided.

Abstract: In an optical measurement probe of the type which incorporates a window configuration suited to on-line process control and other applications this invention provides an improved technique for bonding such a window to probe body or process vessel. In general terms, the improvement arises through the use of a compression ring around the bonding area to maintain a consistent seal. In terms of apparatus, a hollow probe body terminates in a distal end having a flanged portion with an inner and outer wall that extends back into the body. The outer wall of the window is sealed against the inner wall of the flanged portion, with compression material urged against the outer wall of the flanged portion to pressurize the seal between the window and the inner wall of the flanged portion. In the preferred embodiment, the compression material is ring-shaped and exhibits substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient as the window.

Abstract: Disclosed are spectrophotometer systems and methodology for obtaining data of improved precision therefrom, including replacement of data determined to be suspect based on comparison of multiple baselines.

Abstract: Arrangement for measuring physico-chemical properties of liquid, such as solutions, dispersions and emulsions. The arrangement comprises a light source for producing and emitting light in the liquid, a detector for detecting said light after being scattered by said liquid, processing means arranged for receiving an output signal from said detector. The processing means is further arranged to calculate a maximum value of the mean square displacement <&Dgr;rm2> from the autocorrelation function g(2) as a function of time and the value of the property from said calculated maximum value of the mean square displacement <&Dgr;rm2>.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus 27 comprises a chamber 35 capable of processing a substrate 20, a radiation source 58 to provide a radiation, a radiation polarizer 59 adapted to polarize the radiation to one or more polarization angles that are selected in relation to an orientation 33 of a feature 25 being processed on the substrate 20, a radiation detector 54 to detect radiation reflected from the substrate 20 during processing and generate a signal, and a controller 100 to process the signal.

Abstract: An ellipsometer, and a method of ellipsometry, for analyzing a sample using a broad range of wavelengths, includes a light source for generating a beam of polychromatic light having a range of wavelengths of light for interacting with the sample. A polarizer polarizes the light beam before the light beam interacts with the sample. A rotating compensator induces phase retardations of a polarization state of the light beam wherein the range of wavelengths and the compensator are selected such that at least a first phase retardation value is induced that is within a primary range of effective retardations of substantially 135° to 225°, and at least a second phase retardation value is induced that is outside of the primary range. An analyzer interacts with the light beam after the light beam interacts with the sample. A detector measures the intensity of light after interacting with the analyzer as a function of compensator angle and of wavelength, preferably at all wavelengths simultaneously.

Abstract: A mirror device having an optical system of an exposure apparatus for transferring a reticle pattern onto a wafer includes a mirror, a mirror holding portion, a temperature adjustment unit, a control management database, and a timing control unit. The mirror reflects exposure light, and the mirror holding portion holds the mirror. The temperature adjustment unit adjusts a temperature of the mirror and the mirror holding portion. The control management database stores data corresponding to a controlling rule of the temperature adjustment unit necessary to keep the mirror figure constant for an incidence condition of the reflected exposure light. The timing control unit controls the temperature adjustment unit corresponding to the incidence condition of the exposure light. The timing control unit controls the temperature adjustment unit based on the stored data of the control management database to keep the mirror figure constant.

Abstract: This invention provides a spherical lens optical immersion probe for use in analysis of solids, liquids, gases, powders, suspensions, slurries, particles and other homogeneous or heterogeneous samples. The use of a spherical lens in an optical immersion probe confers many advantages over traditional immersion probes including ease of use and accuracy of focus. The probe of this invention has applications to many types of optical spectroscopy methods including ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis), near infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (FTIR), fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy. The spherical lens used in this invention is both the optical and sample interface in the analytical system, and may be used to both focus the excitation source and to collecting signal. Importantly, this invention has broad applications to any optical analytical technology that necessitates an optical immersion probe.

Abstract: Concentration of a solute in a solution is determined. Light from a light source is received at a chamber containing the solute and the solution. The light is transmitted along an optical path length of the chamber, through the solute and the solution, and output from the chamber. The light output from the chamber is detected by a detector. The optical path length of the chamber is selected to optimize sensitivity of the detector. The concentration of the solute in the solution is determined based on the light received by the detector.

Abstract: A microoptoelectromechanical integrated spectrometer with a photonic element assembly having metal foil removably disposed on a first transparent substrate surface, the substrate having no foil on any other surface. A means is provided for directing source photons that are reflected from or transmitted through a sample, over a range of angles of incidence, into the transparent substrate and onto the metal foil such that source photons are incident at the Brewsters angle. A means is also provided for detecting an induced exponential field in the metal foil. A means is also provided for relating the induced exponential field to a known exponential field for the sample and determining the identity of the sample. The spectrometer performs ultraviolet-to-visible-to-infrared spectroscopy using photon tunneling and surface plasmon excitation.

Abstract: A plasmon resonance sensor has an optically transparent body, a reflective layer on its one face and having a surface sensitive to molecules, a light source for emitting a divergent light through the body onto an inner face of the layer, and a detector assigned to an emerging beam path reflected by the layer and registering an angle of incidence of the light changing as a result of molecule buildups, wherein the light source is assigned a non-pointlike emission face with an extent of at least 10 &mgr;m, and a collimation lens is arranged in the emerging beam path between the optically transparent body and the detector.

Abstract: A depolarizer 11 is inserted between an optical branch unit 2 and a polarization filter 3, a depolarizer 12 and a polarization filter 14 are inserted between an optical phase modulator 5 and a quarter-wave plate 16, and a depolarizer 13 and a polarization filter 15 are inserted between the other branch end of the optical branch unit 4 and a quarter-wave plate 17. The optical branch unit 2 and the optical phase modulator 5 are formed by single mode optical fibers, and single mode optical fibers are used to connect between optical elements, thus providing an arrangement which is inexpensive as a whole.

Abstract: A method and system for indirectly measuring the tilt angle of micromirrors in a micromirror array. The method and system aims a coherent light beam through an aperture in a screen so that it reflects off of the surface of the micromirror array and creates a pattern of reflected light on the screen. The micromirror array is loaded with a pattern that has a uniform power spectral density (such as a random, aperiodic pattern or a frequency chirped sinusoidal spatial pattern) whereby certain micromirrors will be placed in the “on” position and the other micromirrors will be placed in the “off” position. By loading the micromirror array with a pattern having a uniform power spectral density distribution, the discrete nature of the resulting diffraction pattern is reduced and a pair of [sin(x)/x]2 patterns will be generated on the screen.

Abstract: When multiple-size double-side printing in an APS mode has been selected, a system CPU first reads an original which corresponds to a second side of a paper sheet, prints data of the original on the second side of the paper sheet having the same size as the original, and stacks the paper sheet on an automatic double-side unit. Subsequently, the system CPU reads an original which corresponds to a first side of the paper sheet and prints data of the original on the first side of the paper sheet stacked on the automatic double-side unit, thus completing the double-side printing. However, where the size of an original corresponding to a second side differs from the size of an original corresponding to a first side, single-side printing is effected. The original corresponding to the first side is read and data thereof is printed on a paper sheet having the same size as the original and the sheet is discharged (single-side printing).

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide a disk driver which makes it easy for users to set the settings. In a device driver which operates in the computer and has a function where each item of the device is set, when the arrangement information stored in the memory corresponding to a user is read in, the screen shows a display in accordance with it. In the arrangement settings, the user can freely arrange each of the setting items on the screen. Then the arrangement information is maintained in the computer together with the user information.

Abstract: A printing apparatus discriminates whether received print data is print data converted into a job packet constructed by a header portion and a data portion or print data which is not converted into a job packet and switches the processing operation in accordance with the print data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for sending digital images to a recipient using a sender printer. The method comprises receiving a digital camera memory card with the printer and sending an image stored within the memory card to the recipient across a network such that a hard copy of the sent image is automatically printed by a recipient device. In a preferred embodiment, the sender printer is Internet-enabled and the image is sent directly from the sender printer to the recipient device. By way of example, the recipient device can also comprise an Internet-enabled printer. In such an embodiment, printer-to-printer sending is possible.

Abstract: A printer in which difference in color tone or contrast between a picture displayed on a display and a picture printed by the printer device is suppressed to a minimum. The display is preferably integrated with the printer. The printer includes an image data inputting unit for receiving input image information, e.g., by reading image data from a digital storage medium or from film, and providing digital image data based thereupon. Display outputting circuitry outputs an image signal corresponding to the digital image data to the display. A picture printing unit prints an image corresponding to the digital image data on a recording medium. A characteristics correction unit corrects a display setting prescribing display image properties of the display and a printing characteristics setting prescribing printing picture properties of the printing unit, so that color tone and/or contrast of the displayed and printed pictures are equalized.

Abstract: From a first threshold mask having threshold values corresponding to the number of gray levels, which is larger than that of an input image, a second threshold mask having threshold values corresponding to the number of gray levels, which is equal to that of an input image, is generated on the basis of tone reproduction characteristics corresponding to the type of paper used in a printer or the printer state. Using the generated second threshold mask, the number of gray levels of the input image is converted, and the converted image is output to an output apparatus. In this manner, a high-quality image can be output by making halftone conversion corresponding to the tone reproduction characteristics of the output apparatus by a small memory size without decreasing the number of gray levels of the input image.

Abstract: A network facsimile apparatus is connected to a local area network, has a function of performing data transmission using electronic mail, and has a function of transmitting facsimile data to and receiving facsimile data from a facsimile apparatus using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure via a public network. A control method of the network facsimile apparatus includes the steps of a) storing at least one distribution file; and b) when an instruction to transmit the distribution file has been given by a user, having the user specify the distribution file to be transmitted, having the user input a transmission-destination mail address, and transmitting the thus-specified distribution file to the thus-inputted mail address using the electronic mail.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a read section inputs image data of an original document including a plurality of character strings indicating document receivers. A control section extracts character strings from an image data of the document and recognizes the document receivers by the character string data. The control section converts the character string data in the image data such that a display format of a character string representing one receiver is different from a display format of character strings representing the other receivers, to thereby obtain new image data addressed to the individual receivers. This apparatus has a printing section, a communication section performing facsimile communications, and another communication section performing network communications, and the control section controls these sections such that for one receiver, one of these sections outputs the newly obtained image data addressed to this receiver.

Abstract: An optical scanner system wherein the central region of the light source is selectively covered up by a mechanically actuated shutter during a transparency scanning mode. By occluding the central portion of the light source, problems with flare and degraded image quality are eliminated. The shutter is actuated to its two positions (normal reflective mode position, transparency mode position) by pins, protrusions, or the scanner walls in the scan module path. When the scan module is driven to the extremes of its travel the shutter is either driven open or closed. A bracket structure is provided to hold the transparent media and a covering light reflective tent, and can include the pin or pins that can protrude into the scanner module path and thus actuate the shutter only when the structure is mounted on to the scanner by the user. The bracket structure can include a lower member that rests directly on the platen glass to align filmstrips, slides, and other transparent media.

Abstract: An image reading unit which is attached onto an image reading apparatus includes a first unit having a photoelectric conversion device for photoelectrically converting the image information of an original, and a second unit which can be engaged with the first unit, wherein the first unit is engaged with the second unit, and after a first plane portion provided in the first unit and a second plane portion provided in the second unit are brought in close contact with each other, the first unit is fixed to the second unit with an adhesive, and wherein a groove into which the adhesive is poured is formed in at least one of the regions where the first plane portion and the second plane portion are adhered to each other.

Abstract: A document scanner for producing any combination of color or grayscale or bi-tonal document images having a selectable range of resolutions is provided that maximizes image production speed by minimizing the processing required to produce the particular type of images selected. The scanner includes an imaging camera including a high-resolution grayscale CCD sensor in combination with lower resolution red, green, and blue CCD sensors. The scanner further includes an image processing circuit for processing data generated by the grayscale and color CCD sensors into any combination of color, grayscale, or bi-tonal document images having high or low resolution. High-resolution color images are produced by superimposing the high-resolution grayscale image generated by the grayscale sensor with the lower resolution color images generated by the color CCD sensors. The image processing circuit may also produce high or low resolution, color, grayscale or bi-tonal images when selected at respectively lower bandwidths.

Abstract: A system for recording and reading out holograms in a storage medium including a pattern encoder, a first fourier transform lens with a focal length f1, a second fourier transform lens with a focal length f2, a detector array, and a first and second prism. The first prism is located between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens, wherein the optical length between the pattern encoder and the first fourier transform lens through the first prism is equal to a back focal length BFL1. The second prism located between the second fourier transform lens f2 and the detector array, wherein the optical path length between the second fourier transform lens and the detector array through the second prism is equal to a back focal length BFL2.

Abstract: In a scanning optical system including a polygon mirror for dynamically deflecting N laser beams corresponding to N color components and an imaging optical system for converging the laser beams into spot beams on N photosensitive drums respectively, the imaging optical system includes: a front lens group for converging the laser beams principally in a main scanning direction while deflecting the beams to deviate from its optical surface reference axis; and N rear lens groups for converging the laser beams principally in an auxiliary scanning direction respectively. The rear surface of the front lens group and front surfaces of the rear lens groups are formed as two-dimensional polynomial aspherical surfaces. Concretely, the rear surface is formed as a step-like optical surface having N discrete areas of different heights.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a light scanning device capable of suppressing scanning line bending to a low level, which is caused by the arrangement error of a single-element lens serving as an imaging optical element, and an image forming apparatus using the device. In order to achieve the object, according to this invention, an imaging optical system is formed from a single-element lens, and the sectional shapes of the incident and exit surfaces in the main scanning direction are non-arcuated, and the power in the sub scanning direction substantially concentrates on the exit surface. The non-arcuated shape (curvature) of the exit surface in the main scanning direction is so determined as to make the magnification in the sub scanning direction uniform.

Abstract: The tiltable-body apparatus including a frame member, a tiltable body, and a pair of torsion springs having a twisting longitudinal axis. The torsion springs are disposed along the twisting longitudinal axis opposingly with the tiltable body being interposed, support the tiltable body flexibly and rotatably about the twisting longitudinal axis relative to the frame member, and include a plurality of planar portions, compliant directions of which intersect each other when viewed along a direction of the twisting longitudinal axis. A center of gravity of the tiltable body is positioned on the twisting longitudinal axis of the torsion springs.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for imaging and printing a pattern, formed on a first object, upon a second object through a projection optical system. The projection exposure apparatus includes a storing device for storing information related to light intensity distribution on a pupil plane of the projection optical system in a reference state, and a detecting device for detecting a wavefront of the projection optical system in an arbitrary state, on the basis of the stored information.

Abstract: An optical modulator having a good reflection characteristic over a broad band is provided, with a small semiconductor chip area, by use of a semiconductor chip on which a semiconductor optical modulator is mounted. A typical example of the optical modulator has a structure in which a semiconductor chip provided with an electro-absorption semiconductor optical modulator comprising an electrode of traveling wave modulator is mounted on a dielectric substrate provided with a transmission line, and the characteristic impedance of at least a part of the transmission line is set to be greater than the output impedance of a modulator driver circuit and the impedance of an optical modulator portion. By this, a broad band optical modulator with excellent reflection characteristic can be provided by use of a semiconductor chip which is small in area.

Abstract: In lithography applications, it is desirable to control, for example, a position or width of a printed line. An effective method of controlling these patterns and their resolution is by having as many grayscale levels as possible. The present invention comprises methods of grayscaling wherein modulation of the exposure time increases the number of grayscale levels on an object. In addition, the present invention comprises methods of grayscaling wherein modulating the power of an exposure beam provides additional grayscale levels.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates and a lamination adhesive layer and a layer of a solid electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the lamination adhesive layer having a volume resistivity, measured at 10° C., which does not change by a factor of more than about 3 after being held at 25° C. and 45 percent relative humidity for 1000 hours. The electro-optic material is preferably an encapsulated electrophoretic material. Other desirable characteristics of lamination adhesives for use in electro-optic displays are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising cells which are filled with charged particles dispersed in a solvent and are individually sealed with a polymeric sealing layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display device which includes an array of sealed microcups containing particles of a designated electric and magnetic characteristic suspended in a solvent wherein a surface of a plurality of the sealed microcups constituting a transparent surface. The display device further includes an electromagnetic image writing/drawing pen for manually applying an electromagnetic field on the particles of the designated electric and magnetic characteristic in the microcups to form an image viewable from the transparent surface. More particularly, the particles of the designated electric and magnetic characteristic are charged particles and the writing and drawing pen is an electrical writing/drawing pen.

Abstract: An optical mirror module has an interface port that is spaced from a corresponding die. More specifically, the optical mirror module includes a substrate and a die having at least one mirror and circuitry to control the at least one mirror. The optical mirror module defines a plane that is substantially parallel to the die. The optical mirror module further includes the noted interface port, which is adapted to electrically couple the circuitry with a device external to the optical mirror module. As suggested above, the interface port is located on the substrate and spaced from the die on the plane.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a network topology for OCDM signals. Coding splitters combining both coding and splitting functions are provided. The coding splitters themselves can be made from cascaded Mach Zehnder filters which are located somewhere in the network and which can be integrated using planar waveguide technologies. Each OCDM transceiver as well as the network is connected to the splitter via a pair of fibers for the two transmission directions. This set-up has the advantage that the same splitter can be used for both directions to and from the transceivers on one side and to and from the network on the other side.

Abstract: Amulti-wavelength generating apparatus generates a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal by modulating light with a single central frequency and an electric signal having a particular pulse repetition frequency. The resulting optical spectrum configuration is conntrollable so that a Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) or Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) requirement may be achieved. A modulated or pulsed light source in used to obtain a descrete spectrum with particular mode spacing, which is then modulated to permit dynamic power control for specific modes of the discrete spectrum.

Abstract: A wavelength converting method and apparatus which converts wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light, having a plurality of channels, by four-wave mixing the WDM signal light with at least one pump lightwave. Wavelength conversion of the WDM signal is accomplished without producing noise by FWM the WDM signal with a pump lightwave, wherein the pump lightwave frequency is separated from the WDM signal by an interval equal to or greater than the bandwidth of the WDM signal. Two pump lightwaves can be used instead of one, wherein one of the pump lightwaves has a frequency on one side of the bandwidth of the WDM signal, and the average frequency of the two pump lightwaves is on the other side of the WDM signal bandwidth.

Abstract: A method of creating a varying second order non-linearity profile along a waveguide, comprising: providing a waveguide structure with a waveguiding core and a surface adjacent to the waveguiding core; structuring the surface to produce a structured surface defining a varying distance between the structured surface and the waveguiding core along the waveguide; and thermally poling the waveguide structure to generate a varying second order non-linearity profile along the waveguide-derived from the varying distance between the structured surface and the waveguiding core. By the surface structuring the modulation of the second order non-linearly induced by the thermal poling can be enhanced. The waveguide structures can be used for making a variety of quasi-phase-matched (QPM) devices.

Abstract: A plurality of Raman amplifiers are positioned on a transmission line over which a multi-wavelength light is transmitted. Each of the Raman amplifiers uses a plurality of pump lights &lgr;1 through &lgr;4. When a fault occurs in a pump light source producing the pump light &lgr;3 in a particular Raman amplifier among the plurality of Raman amplifiers, the power of the pump light &lgr;3 is raised in another or other Raman amplifiers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid component and method capable of simultaneously combining and depolarizing two pump laser diodes of different wavelengths with linear polarized output. The beam combiner is a Wellstone prism which is used to combine two linear-polarized pumping beams, and the depolarizer has three different embodiments: a single stage high birefringent waveplate; two stages high birefringent waveplates; a quarter waveplate or a three-quarter waveplate plus a single stage high birefringent waveplate. The Polarization Beam Combiner (PBC) and the depolarizer are integrated into one single hybrid component, in which two orthogonal pumping lights with different wavelengths are combined and depolarized simultaneously. Therefore, the hybrid component and method makes it simpler and cheaper to design a Raman amplifier and will propel Raman amplifier market penetration in optical communication systems.

Abstract: A high-gain, saturated output, double-pass, fault-tolerant optical amplifier has an extended range of stability, output power, and efficiency and fall back modes of operation. The optical amplifier is typically configured in a two-stage polarization maintaining configuration, employing erbium-doped fibers as the gain media in both of the stages. At least one optical element in a loss-insensitive region of the amplifier can have a loss substantially higher than optical elements in the gain paths outside of the loss-insensitive region without substantially reducing the overall output power and efficiency of the amplifier. These elements can influence the amplified signal waveform, spectrum, signal-to-noise ratio, or subsequent performance in an optical network, as well as amplifier characteristics, such as output power, stability, efficiency, and reliability. The optical amplifier is suitable for both free-space and fiber optic network applications.

Abstract: A microscope assemblage, in particular for confocal scanning microscopy, having a light source (1) for illuminating a specimen (6) to be examined and at least one fluorescent-light detector (11, 14) for the detection of fluorescent light (10, 13) generated in the specimen (6) and at least one transmitted-light detector (16) for the detection of transmitted light (15) passing through the specimen (6), is configured and developed, with a view toward reliable performing a wide variety of experiments with a high level of detection in each case, such that the fluorescent-light and transmitted-light detectors (11, 14; 16) are arranged in such a way as to make possible simultaneous detection of fluorescent and transmitting light (10, 13; 15).

Abstract: A scanning confocal microscopy system and apparatus, especially useful for endoscopy with a flexible probe which is connected to the end of an optical fiber (9). The probe has a grating (12) and a lens (14) which delivers a beam of multi-spectral light having spectral components which extend in one dimension across a region of an object and which is moved to scan in another dimension. The reflected confocal spectrum is measured to provide an image of the region.

Abstract: A solid immersion lens device and method of making. A solid immersion lens device is provided having a plurality of solid immersion lenses. The solid immersion lenses are provided in a predetermined pattern and secured so as to cause them to be in a fixed position with respect to each other.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element includes a first layer having a relief-type grating, a second layer having a relief-type grating, and a third layer having a relief-type grating. The first, second and third layers are formed of different materials. The diffractive optical element has at least three diffraction optical parts in the boundary areas of the respective layers. The diffractive optical element is set so that at least wavelengths, the diffraction efficiency thereof for diffracted light of a predetermined order may be maximum. The three wavelengths are substantially coincident with the main wavelengths of the three primary colors.

Abstract: In a multilayered optical thin-film filter having multiple quarter wavelength thick optical thin films with different refractive indices, the filter includes a plurality of unit cavities that are stacked multiple times via a connection layer, each unit cavity including a first reflector layer, a spacer layer in contact with the first reflector layer, and a second reflector layer in contact with the spacer layer. The first reflector layer is a layered body and the second reflector layer is a layered body. The spacer layer is a multilayered optical thin film with a high refractive index obtained by layering even number of films, or is composed of a multilayered optical thin film with a low refractive index. The connection layer is a multilayered optical thin film with a low refractive index obtained by layering odd number of films.

Abstract: A color shifting multilayer interference film is provided which may be used to produce foils or flakes for use in pigment compositions and colorants having color shifting properties. The flakes can be interspersed into a pigment medium to form paints, inks, or cosmetic preparations which can be subsequently be applied to objects, papers, or people. Three and five layer designs of the interference film include alternating layers of a dielectric material and carbon in various configurations. The dielectric layers are formed to have an optical thickness at a design wavelength that provides a color shift as the angle of incident light or viewing angle changes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integral film comprising a base bearing a pattern of complex lenses on a surface thereof wherein the complex lenses comprise two or more distinct layers.

Abstract: A protected lenticular product includes a lenticular substrate having an index of refraction NL, the substrate having a lenticular surface with a plurality of peaks and valleys forming a plurality of respective lenticule lenses. An optical medium is provided on the lenticular surface, the medium having an index of refraction NC substantially less than NL.