Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring light reflections of an object, comprising a light-source illumination-observation assembly, the assembly comprising: (A) an illumination unit comprising an illumination light source and illumination aperture stop being arranged to provide a confined luminous field, an illumination field stop (307) adapted to provide an illumination beam (305) of light from said confined luminous field, an collimating optical element (309) adapted to collimate said illumination beam and to provide an illumination field (313) on an object; (B) an observation unit comprising: at least one observation field stop adapted to provide an observation beam (306) comprising a ray boundary, at least one focusing optical element (309) adapted to focus said observation beam, an observation light receiver; and (C) at least one common optical element (309) arranged so that said illumination beam and said observation beam form an overlap therein; and (D) a unit separation stop (310) adapted to stop light

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensing method and device based on sensing surface plasmon resonance which can be controlled by the electro-optical modulation. In the case of an integrated-optic device according to the present invention, a voltage is applied on an electro-optical crystal substrate surface with waveguides to modulate the surface plasmon resonance condition on the sensing waveguide. Concentrations of chemicals or bio-chemicals contained in a sample placed on the sensing waveguide can be determined by measuring the dependence of the output light intensity on the applied voltage. Because spectrometer is not needed for measuring the surface plasmon resonance wavelength, drawbacks of conventional integrated-optic surface plasmon resonance sensors, like limited sensitivity, high cost and restrictions on circumstances for measuring, are avoided. The present invention can be applied for real-time dynamic analyses on sample's changes.

Abstract: An interferometric technique measures the time-dependent electric field of a periodic or a non-periodic (data-encoded) optical signal under test using samples of its interference with a reference source of short optical pulses. The reference signal is a sequence of optical pulses at a repetition rate different from that of the signal under test. The difference in repetition rates of the two signals performs a scanning of the relative delay between the two signals, i.e. each pulse from the reference signal will overlap with the signal under test at a different time. The real and imaginary part of each of the plurality of interference between the two signals are then measured to determine samples of the electric field of the optical signal under test at each of those times. When needed, various types of averaging are performed on the samples of the electric field.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an absorption spectroscopy method for sensing hydrogen gas in a sample atmosphere and an associated hydrogen sensor. A light beam, having a wavelength corresponding to a vibrational transition of hydrogen molecules from a ground vibration state to any excited rotational vibration state via a quadrupole interaction, is introduced into an optical cavity adapted to receive a sample atmosphere to be tested for the presence of hydrogen gas. The light is introduced into the cavity in an off-axis alignment to systematically eliminate cavity resonances, while preserving the absorption signal amplifying properties of such cavities. Hydrogen absorption is measured is terms of cavity output, as in the ICOS technique.

Abstract: A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a sensing coil with a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction with respect to the geometric axis of the sensing coil. The FOG also includes a plurality of magnetic compensators. Each magnetic compensator is fabricated so as to have a particular magnetic sensitivity magnitude and direction, the magnitude being comparable to that of the sensing coil, with large tolerances relative to the magnitude and direction. The compensators are positioned relative to one another and to the sensing coil such that the combined magnetic sensitivities of the compensators cancel the magnetic sensitivity of the sensing coil.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing the characteristics of a thin film is provided whereby the in-plane birefringence of thin films is determined by measuring the interference fringes in the transmission or reflection spectra using unpolarized light and light linearly polarized along the MD and CD directions. The three spectra can be measured simultaneously or sequentially. The in-plane birefringence data can be used to characterize clear polymer films, which are principally made of biaxial oriented polymer, as the film is being continuously fabricated on a production line.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features assemblies that include a first polarizing beam splitter positioned in the paths of a pair of initial beams, the polarizing beam splitter being configured to combine the pair of initial beams to form an input beam. The assemblies further include an interferometer positioned to receive the input beam and configured to produce an output beam that includes information about an optical path difference between the paths of two component beams derived from the input beam. A second polarizing beam splitter is positioned in the path of the output beam and configured to split the output beam into a pair of secondary output beams that each include information about the optical path difference between the component beam paths.

Abstract: A method for determining a spatial property of an object includes obtaining a scanning low coherence interference signal from a measurement object that includes two or more interfaces. The scanning low coherence interference signal includes two or more overlapping low coherence interference signals, each of which results from a respective interface. Based on the low coherence interference signal, a spatial property of at least one of the interfaces is determined. In some cases, the determination is based on a subset of the low coherence interference signal rather than on the entirety of the signal. Alternatively, or in addition, the determination can be based on a template, which may be indicative of an instrument response of the interferometer used to obtain the low coherence interference signal.

Abstract: A motion system includes a first stage that is configured to rotate about a first axis and a second stage coupled to the first stage that includes an object carrier adapted to position an object in at least one other axis. The motion system has a novel arrangement of laser interferometer elements and axes of motion. The arrangement permits accurate and precise measurement of a position of the object carrier in up to three (or more) axes of motion even as the first stage of the motion system is tilted through relatively large angles. The novel arrangement of the axes of motion also enables very precise control of the position of the object carrier even at high tilt angles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus based on optical homodyne displacement interferometry, optical coherent-domain reflectometry (OCDR), and optical interferometric imaging are disclosed for overlay, alignment mark, and critical dimension (CD) metrologies that are applicable to microlithography applications and integrated circuit (IC) and mask fabrication and to the detection and location of defects in/on unpatterned and patterned wafers and masks. The metrologies may also be used in advanced process control (APC), in determination of wafer induced shifts (WIS), and in the determination of optical proximity corrections (OPC).

Abstract: Apparatus for splitting, imaging, and measuring wavefronts with a reference wavefront and an object wavefront. A wavefront-combining element receives and combines into a combined wavefront an object wavefront from an object and a reference wavefront. A wavefront-splitting element splits the combined wavefront into a plurality of sub-wavefronts in such a way that each of the sub-wavefronts is substantially contiguous with at least one other sub-wavefront. The wavefront-splitting element may shift the relative phase between the reference wavefront and the object wavefront of the sub-wavefronts to yield a respective plurality of phase-shifted sub-wavefronts. The wavefront-splitting element may then interfering the reference and object wavefronts of the phase-shifted sub-wavefronts to yield a respective plurality of phase-shifted interferograms. An imaging element receives and images the phase-shifted interferograms.

Abstract: By an insertion/withdrawal mechanism, a wavefront division optical element is inserted to an optical path of a light via an optical system to be examined, or the inserted wavefront division optical element is withdrawn from the optical path. Thus, it becomes possible without using a half mirror to make the light via the optical system to be examined be received at a detector via the wavefront division optical element, or the light via the optical system to be examined be received at the detector without the wavefront division optical element. Therefore, the measurement precision of optical properties obtained based on a detection signal from the detector cannot be deteriorated due to a polarization property existing in the half mirror. Accordingly, optical properties of the optical system to be examined can be detected with high precision.

Abstract: This process includes arranging a grid on the surface a structure to be inspected, directing a light source onto this grid so as to create a shadow on the structure, recording an image of the pattern observed, displaying a graphic representation of the image recorded, and determining a depth of the damage from this representation. The device enabling the implementation of the process includes a grid or screen, a light sources, an image acquisition device, and a display. Once the images are recorded, the invention calls upon processing devices that permit determining the position in space, in particular, a height, of each point of the image and as such of the surface observed.

Abstract: A position detecting apparatus for detecting position of an object disposed in a first space by receiving light from the object with a light receiving element disposed outside said first space, said position detecting apparatus includes an optical system for directing light from the object to the light receiving element, and a first optical element transmitting light from the object, disposed in a partitioning member for partitioning said first space and space outside said first space, wherein said first optical element is located on a position on or near a pupil plane or a plane conjugate to the pupil plane of said optical system.

Abstract: A computer network comprises plural computer systems connected to plural printers. Each computer system comprises at least one application program for generating print data for one or more of the printers. One of the computer systems is partially employed as a stock control computer. An application program stored on the stock control computer runs a model of the overall system, including maintaining an up-to-date schedule of all print jobs on the system, and maintains a log of all media resources (i.e., paper) available to each printer. The application program ensures that the printers have suitable media resources and/or that print jobs are allocated to printers where appropriate media resources are available, if possible.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations each having an image carrier and forming an image on the image carrier; a mark detecting unit for detecting a plurality of registration correction marks formed on a recording medium by the plurality of image forming stations; a correction mechanism for correcting a position difference between images formed by the plurality of image forming stations in accordance with a detection result by the mark detecting unit; and a controller for independently controlling an image forming operation of each of the plurality of the image forming stations so that the image density of each of the registration correction marks formed by the plurality of image forming units has a different predetermined image density.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for raster image processing employing partitioning of print jobs are described herein. In one representative embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of determining a page count for a print job expressed in a page description language and specifying a number of partitions of the print job. The method also includes the steps of assigning each of the partitions of the print job to one of a number of raster image processing (RIP) engines for raster image processing, and, re-aggregating a number of raster image processed partitions from the RIP engines into a raster image processed output file. Each of the raster image processed partitions is generated by raster image processing a corresponding one of the partitions with a respective one of the RIP engines.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a scanner unit entering image data, a printer unit printing out input image data, a signature information detection unit detecting additional information including destination information from the image data, and a communication processing unit transmitting information related to printing of image data to the detected destination. Additional information including destination information is detected from the image data. Information related to printing of image data is transmitted to the destination detected from the image data. Accordingly, information related to printing when image data is printed is audited at the destination side.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided in which confidential prints are kept secret from each other even when congested by passwords for a plurality of confidential prints being entered in succession. Pointers are provided at the respective ends of a confidential print job queue and a normal print job queue in a queue management unit 16. New print jobs are stored into the corresponding ends. When a user enters a valid password for a confidential print job A from an input unit 19, a control unit 11 releases the hold status of the confidential print job A. The control unit 11 also refers to the end pointer for confidential print jobs and moves the confidential print job A to the end of the confidential print jobs. When a normal print job a is completed, the control unit 11 skips held confidential print jobs B and D, and processes the confidential print job A which is the first released of the hold status. Then, a normal print job b1 is executed so that no confidential print job follows immediately.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a collating section which collates image information from a scanner with a specific image and determines whether or not there is a same portion, and a line delay section which outputs the image information after delaying the image information in accordance with time spent on collation processing. Because a dedicated memory is unnecessary due to timing between processing of the collation processing section and other processings being coordinated at the line delay section, a large reduction in costs can be realized.

Abstract: A product production system for producing a product ordered by a customer, wherein the product includes an output image for outputting image data received from the customer to another medium.

Abstract: A printer control device includes a joining unit, a transmission unit, and a control unit. The joining unit causes at least one network printer to join a predetermined multicast address. The transmission unit converts print data into packets and multicast transmits the packets to the predetermined multicast address. The control unit monitors transmission/reception status of the packets at the at least one network printer that has joined the multicast address. Based on monitoring results the control unit controls transmission of packets to, waiting for packets from, and retransmission of packets to the predetermined multicast address.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in a computer readable medium for printing using a dynamic print path are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of rendering a document in a computer system into a print ready file without a specification of a destination printer upon which the document is to be printed, specifying the destination printer to which the print ready file is to be transmitted to print the document, and, transmitting the print ready file from the computer system directly to the destination printer using a predefined communications protocol.

Abstract: A printing system for enlarging/printing each document page by using a plurality of print sheets or for printing each page of a document upon superimposing a pattern on each page includes, in a printer driver which supplies print data to a printer, a user interface driver including a pattern setting unit which designates the number of parts divided in enlarging/printing each document page by using a plurality of printing sheets, and a feature of a pattern on a margin to paste up which is set on one side of at least one of the printing sheets and a pattern page creating unit which draws a page including only the pattern and inserting the pattern page prior to document print data, print processor functioning as a pattern page combining unit which creates a composite page by superimposing each page of the document print data and the pattern page, and a printer graphics driver functioning as an image creating unit which creates bitmap data of the composite page and supplies the data to a printing unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generating print history information regarding an electronic document and recording the information into a print history property within the electronic document. Print history information includes details of each print instance, such as the date and time a document is printed, the printer used, and the computer device providing the print job. Advantages of the disclosed system and methods for creating a document print history include an ability to determine particular users who print restricted-access documents and an ability to maintain document databases.

Abstract: Data is input to a printing device such as a multifunction printer. The data is converted to text data if required. An embedded database driver in the printing device converts the data to a format that is compatible with the database.

Abstract: In a system in which color matching is performed upon downloading a profile from a profile management server (100), the profile of a target printer may not be available under the management of the profile management server. In such case the profile management server decides a similar profile based upon information relating to the target printer. This information is composed of colorimetric values obtained on a print sample from the target computer and image data values of the print sample. The profile management server evaluates color differences with respect to color values of profiles under its management and selects a profile for which the color difference is smallest as the similar profile.

Abstract: When printing apparatuses in a print shop cannot realize print setting shown by downloaded print set information, substitute print setting of a smaller difference degree is proposed to the user or a plurality of print settings are proposed to the user, thereby enabling printed matter to be outputted in accordance with desired setting of the user.

Abstract: A system, method, and a computer-readable medium storing a program to execute the method includes a reading unit or step for reading, from a storage medium which stores plural still image information and time information for each still image information, the still image information and the time information, a setting unit or step for inputting start and end times for setting a time period, a unit or step for determining the stored still image information whose time information is within the set time period between the start and end times, and a print unit or step for printing all the still image information read by the reading unit or step whose time information is determined by the determining unit or step to be within the set time period between the inputted start and end times.

Abstract: A process is provided to prepare production data for a print job. The production data includes an electronic document defined by a page description language (PDL). The electronic document is stored in a PDL image file, such as a Postscript file, a PDF file, or the like. A still image proxy, which may be a JPEG file, a GIF file, a PNG file, or the like, is created of the PDL image file. An image display of the still image proxy is electronically manipulated. In addition, production specifications may be appended to the image display of the still image proxy. Information about the manipulations and production specifications are recorded and subsequently used to revise the PDL image file so as to match the PDL image file to the manipulations made to the image display of the still image proxy and to match the production specifications appended to the image display of the still image proxy.

Abstract: A facsimile device includes a printing unit for printing an image by using an expendable component, and a communication circuit connectable to a supplier of the expendable component via a communication network. Particularly, the facsimile device further includes an order controller for confirming that maintenance of the expendable component is required a number of times corresponding to an order-unit quantity, and for controlling the communication circuit such that order information for ordering the expendable component of the order-unit quantity is transmitted to the supplier.

Abstract: To facilitate the use of portable digital devices such as cell phones, printer processing stations are proposed for printing the information that is accessible through the portable digital devices. In general, the portable digital devices have easy access to an enormous amount of information but are equipped with a relatively small display screen without an on-board printing capability. To solve the above dilemma, readily available printer stations allow the user to print a selectable portion of the information at one of the predetermined locations and conveniently charge the user for a print fee.

Abstract: Communication between a micromechanical printhead interface and a printer processor involves the exchange of numerous operational parameters. A register is provided to allow the processor to parameterize a print as well as received print progress feedback from the printhead interface. Printhead feedback parameters that are stored in the register include: printhead nozzle temperature; actuator voltage; actuator heater resistivity; and actuator heater width.

Abstract: Image plus event information printing system, which comprises an image data inputting means for inputting a datum of original image, an event information database which memorizes the data of current and/or passing events information being sorted with one or more items, wherein one of the items consists of the occurrence time of the event, an event information retrieval means for extracting any event information within a predetermined range being in correlation to the time which is related to the original image, by retrieving from the sorted data in the event information database with using one or more of the items, an image editing means for preparing a datum of an image plus event information, from the datum of original image and the extracted event information, and a printing means for printing the image plus current events information in accordance with the datum prepared by the image editing means.

Abstract: Providing an information processing apparatus or the like for reusing generally used index data that has been registered. In order to generate index data that is to be printed on the tabbed area of tabbed paper, data selected from a data group including the registered index data is read and data for performing printing is generated.

Abstract: A print control system for controlling a print of print target data containing color specifying information includes a data distinguishing module (12) for distinguishing between pieces of element data contained in the print target data, and a color adjusting module (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) for adjusting a mix of color materials based on the color specifying information according to a category of the element data.

Abstract: A print apparatus which receives image data from a digital camera, PC card, or PC to print an image on a storage medium outputs print data based on image data from the PC to a printer engine via a USB hub, and prints an image. The apparatus has a DSP which receives compressed image data from the digital camera or PC card, decodes the received data, and parallelly executes, for the decoded image data, at least color space conversion processing, size change processing, and color conversion processing. The apparatus generates print data on the basis of the image data processed by the DSP, outputs the generated print data to the printer engine, and prints an image.

Abstract: A secondary color is used for printing an image with a printer so as to reduce the granularity of the printed image, particularly the light image area. Data of magenta and cyan color components of image data is subjected to under-removal processing to generate blue ink image data as the mentioned secondary color. A blue ink dot is printed in accordance with the blue ink data obtained by the under removal processing to replace the magenta and cyan data. As a result, it is possible to reduce the granularity that would otherwise be caused by localized distributions of magenta and cyan dots.

Abstract: In a halftone module, it is judged whether or not the value “rate” for each pixel is greater than zero (0). In other words, it is judged whether or not the eight-bit input data Iin of each pixel is around a half of the relative density value for a small dot of a corresponding color. If the eight-bit input data Iin of the subject pixel is near to a half of the relative density value for a small dot, noise is added to the threshold values Ta, Tb, and Tc. The noise-added threshold values Ta?, Tb?, and Tc? are used in the comparing process.

Abstract: A method for using a page description language to electronically express colored patches on the border of contract proofs, such that a user can quickly and easily evaluate whether the color of prints produced using a color printer are correct. The verification is performed by visually comparing the test patches added to a print with color patches in publicly available standard color sample swatches.

Abstract: Input print data can assume one of a RGB color space, CMYK color space, and Gray color space. When graphic arts are principally to be printed, data of these color spaces is converted into CIE Color Space XYZ as a standard color space, and data of the standard color space is converted into a CMYK color space according to the Output Profile of a printer, which then prints the converted data. On the other hand, when office documents are principally to be printed, conversion into the standard color space is skipped, and input color space data is directly converted into a print color space CMYK, and the converted data is then printed.

Abstract: A halftone dot printed product which imparts an anti-forgery function to a continuous-tone image by using four colors of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, and a method of printing the same are disclosed. The product and method include a first halftone region having m×m pixels and a second halftone region having n×n pixels, where halftone dots to express a continuous-tone image are printed, are laid out. A plurality of first halftone regions in independent regions are disposed tightly around one second halftone region. A plurality of second halftone regions are laid out along the outer periphery of one first halftone region at an equal interval. An embedded image is formed by at least one color ink containing no infrared absorptive dye and is laid out by using halftone dots in the first halftone region 1. An embedded image is formed by black ink containing an infrared absorptive dye and is laid out by halftone dots 3 in the second halftone region.

Abstract: A scanner system for imaging a transparent media object comprising an illumination source for concurrently illuminating a first and second scan line of a media object, and a carriage comprising a photosensitive device located within the carriage and a light pipe affixed to a surface of the carriage is provided. The carriage is configured to receive on a first region of the photosensitive device light passed through the first scan line and the light pipe is adapted to redirect light passing through the second scan line onto a second region of the photosensitive device. The photosensitive device is operable to sample light directed onto the first and second regions.

Abstract: An optical module with movable reflective mirrors is provided in the invention. The optical module, which is set in a scanner for the scanning of documents, comprises the following elements: a first carriage comprising a first reflective mirror, a lens and a photoelectric sensing device, wherein the first carriage moves along the scanning direction to scan the document to be scanned; a second carriage comprising a second reflective mirror, a lens and a photoelectric sensing device, wherein the second carriage can make relative movement corresponding to the first carriage along the scanning direction; and a third carriage comprising a third reflective mirror, a lens and an photoelectric sensing device, wherein the third carriage can make relative movement corresponding to the first carriage along the scanning direction.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining ink jet printing system parameters by selecting an appropriate linearizing transformation for application to images to be printed on a printing system for a specific substrate. These transformations can be any transformation capable of being applied in graduated increments and having a corresponding incremental visual influence on the printed output. The present invention allows the user to determine multiple parameters for the printer, including for example, tone scale correction, determination of upper ink limits, amount of under color removal, and allows the user to identify the proper ink level for optimum quality of graphics and/or text printing.

Abstract: A method of writing a spatially heterodyne hologram having spatially heterodyne fringes includes: passing a single write beam through a spatial light modulator that digitally modulates said single write beam; and focusing the single write beam at a focal plane of a lens to impose a holographic diffraction grating pattern on the photorefractive crystal, the holographic diffraction grating pattern including the spatially heterodyne hologram having spatially heterodyne fringes, wherein only said single write beam is incident on said photorefractive crystal without a reference beam.

Abstract: An optical layer comprises a sheet of material having a surface. The surface comprises a plurality of optical elements. The optical elements are comprised of microscopic patterns in the surface that cooperate to produce an image. Each of the elements has a focal length. At least some of the focal lengths are significantly different from other focal lengths, such that some portions of the surface appear to be closer to a viewer than other portions of the surface.

Abstract: A light receiving apparatus comprises a holographic optical device having a plurality of holograms recorded in a light receiving surface thereof. The holographic optical device is configured to diffract light of a predetermined wavelength incident thereon from different directions onto a common focal area. The holographic optical device is shaped such that a first vector normal to the light receiving surface at a first location thereon is oriented along a first direction and such that a second vector normal to the light receiving surface at a second location thereon is oriented along a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction.

Abstract: A personal monitoring system to be worn by an individual in a hazardous situation comprises an enclosed face mask which includes a transparent shield over at least the eves a sensor module secured to the individual which includes a plurality of sensors, a microprocessor and an RF transmission means operable to transmit data obtained by the sensors. The face mask includes a heads-up display comprising a housing containing an electroluminescent display panel, an optical lens, a microprocessor, and an RF receiver operable to receive data from the sensor module. The housing is configured to allow the mounting of the display panel and optical lens in a spaced-apart arrangement so that the display panel is viewed through the lens. The system of the invention also includes a central Incident Commander Module comprising an RF transceiver and a display panel which can receive and display sensor data from a plurality of head-worn devices.

Abstract: A fiber optic wafer probe that includes a fibre optic cable for approaching a device under test.