Abstract: In a liquid-immersion exposure method and a liquid-immersion exposure apparatus, on the basis of a liquid repellency distribution at a surface which an immersion liquid contacts as a result of a movement of a stage, a path where a movement time of the stage becomes the shortest is calculated, so that the stage is moved along this path.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting an exposure pattern, onto an object to be exposed, and a measuring apparatus for measuring, as an interference fringe, optical performance of the projection optical system, wherein the measuring apparatus includes an optical element having opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has a first measurement pattern, and the second surface has a second measurement pattern and is closer to the projection optical system than the first measurement pattern, and wherein the measuring apparatus introduces light into the projection optical system via first and second measurement patterns.

Abstract: A system is used to perform fast and slow applications, for example fast application can be pulse trimming. The system includes a radiation source, an electro-optical modulator, and a beam splitter. The radiation source is configured to generate a polarized beam of radiation. The electro-optical modulator, formed of crystalline quartz, is configured to modulate the beam of radiation. The beam splitter is configured to direct a first portion of the beam to a beam dump and to form an output beam from a second portion of the beam.

Abstract: A system is used to substantially reduce divergence of a beam traveling between master and power oscillators, for example in a laser beam source. The system comprises the first and second oscillators and a beam conditioning device. The first oscillator is configured to generate a radiation beam. The beam conditioning device is configured to stabilize a position, a direction, a size, or a divergence of the radiation beam to produce a conditioned beam. The second oscillator configured to amplify the conditioned beam to produce an amplified beam.

Abstract: An illumination system (12) of a microlithographic exposure system comprises a plurality of light emitting elements (24) that have light exit facets that are positioned in or in close proximity to a field plane (OP) or a pupil plane and are configured to be individually activated. Light collecting elements, for example microlenses of a fly-eye lens or arrays of cylinder lenses, may be used to collect the light bundles emitted by the light emitting elements (24). Homogenizing means, for example a rod integrator or an optical raster element (40), may be provided for improving the intensity uniformity in a reticle plane (RP).

Abstract: To provide a substrate holding apparatus that can rapidly recover liquid that has infiltrated the rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus comprises: a base; a first support part, which is formed on the base and supports a rear surface of a substrate to be processed; a first circumferential wall part, which is formed on the base and is provided so that it opposes the rear surface of the substrate to be processed and surrounds the first support part; and a first recovery port, which is provided on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part; wherein, the flow of a gas along the first circumferential wall part moves the liquid on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part to the first recovery port, where the liquid is recovered.

Abstract: An embodiment may comprise a camera based target coordinate measuring system or apparatus for use in measuring the position of objects in manner that preserves a high level of accuracy. This high level of measurement accuracy is usually only associated with more expensive laser based devices. Many different arrangements are possible. Other embodiments may comprise related methods of using a camera based target coordinate measuring method for use in measuring the position of objects. Many variations on the methods are possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a range to a coherent light source emitting a coherent light beam, the apparatus including an image sensor and a processor, the processor being coupled with the image sensor, the image sensor including an imaging plane, for capturing an image of the wave front of the coherent light beam, the image including at least one light speckle, wherein the processor identifies the light speckle on the captured image, determines the characteristic diameter of the identified light speckle, and determines the range by squaring the characteristic diameter and dividing the result of the squaring by the wavelength of the coherent light beam and by a proportionality constant.

Abstract: In a stress measuring apparatus, reflected light of light emitted to a substrate through an objective lens is received by a light shielding pattern imaging part, to acquire an image of a light shielding pattern positioned at an aperture stop part of an optical system. A control part obtains gradient vectors of the substrate in a plurality of gradient vector measurement areas and surface form of the substrate on the basis of outputs of the light shielding pattern imaging part, to obtain a stress in a film formed on the substrate. Since light directed through the objective lens becomes approximately parallel rays of light on the substrate, measurement can be performed without focusing on each gradient vector measurement area and the surface form of the substrate can be obtained easily and rapidly. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a stress in the film formed on the substrate easily and rapidly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining boundaries between fractions in a fractionated sample. The method includes the steps of providing the fractionated sample in a receptacle, the receptacle having a transparent window, positioning the receptacle in a known position relative to datum means, capturing an image of the receptacle and datum means, and processing the image to determine the position of boundaries between the fractions in the sample relative to the datum means. An apparatus and method for extracting a selected fraction of a fractionated sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for the inspection of the optical quality of a part, object or product having a portion comprising transparent material such as ophthalmologic lenses, protective eyewear, visors, eyewear shield and the like is provided. A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen emits variable patterns of light through the transparent part under inspection to a charged coupled device (CCD) camera that captures the image and transmits the image data to an image processing module. The processed image data are then transmitted to an analysis module which then generally measures the dimensions of the part, the transparency, the colour and the optical strength. The analysis module also advantageously detects and measures the presence of dots, stains, scratches, optical distortions, fingerprints, cloudiness and other optical artefacts and/or defects in the transparent material. Accordingly, the patterns emitted by the LCD screen are designed to measure the optical specifications and highlight potential optical defects.

Abstract: An light-emitting diode (LED) meter capable of analog presentations is disclosed. The LED meter includes an LED and a reflective object. The reflective object is capable of reflecting light emitted from the LED. The reflective object is also capable of being moved to and fro along a path. The LED meter also includes means for selectively enabling the LED to emit light continuously for a duration that is proportional to a magnitude of measurement.

Abstract: This invention allows measuring the spectral state of an object more accurately even at low luminance, and implementing high-precision focus detection. A photometry apparatus includes a diffusing optical member which is inserted in the optical path of a photographing lens and has a diffusing surface, and a light unit which receives diffused light having passed through the diffusing surface, and has a first light receiving portion, and a second light receiving portion whose receivable light energy is smaller than that of the first light receiving portion. The first and second light receiving portions are so arranged as to make the parallax of the second light receiving portion with respect to the optical axis of the photographing lens smaller than that of the first light receiving portion.

Abstract: A defective particle measuring apparatus that irradiates focused laser light on a sample, images scattered light from the sample, and measures defective particles in the sample based on the image result, includes a position deviation computing portion which, based on an in-plane intensity distribution of scattered light of each defective particle that is imaged, obtains a deviation from a focal point position on an image point side of the scattered light of each defective particle and calculates a position deviation amount in a depth direction of the defective particle corresponding to the deviation from the focal point position, a light intensity correcting portion for correcting the light intensity of the scattered light of the defective particle corresponding to the position deviation amount in the depth direction, and a size determining portion for determining the defective particle size based on the light intensity corrected by the light intensity correcting portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compact cavity ring down spectrometer for detection and measurement of trace species in a sample gas using a tunable solid-state continuous-wave mid-infrared PPLN OPO laser or a tunable low-power solid-state continuous wave near-infrared diode laser with an algorithm for reducing the periodic noise in the voltage decay signal which subjects the data to cluster analysis or by averaging of the interquartile range of the data.

Abstract: Improved autofocusing (“AF”) methods and devices for lithography are provided. Some embodiments of the invention provide an AF system that includes one or more interferometers for measuring a distance to a wafer surface or a reticle surface. The invention includes methods and devices for calibrating the interferometer(s) according to known distances to a target. According to some embodiments of the invention, a spatial filter reduces the amount of undesired signal coming from the wafer or reticle surface. In some such embodiments, higher orders of diffracted light from the wafer or reticle multilayer surfaces are eliminated with a pinhole filter oriented to reject light that is not vertically directed. Other embodiments include a spatial filtering system that passes a selected diffraction order, e.g., the first order of diffracted light, from the target.

Abstract: A system and method for determining parameters such as critical dimension of a patterned structure and best focus condition of a lithographic apparatus, based on measurment of the intensity of a non-zero order of light diffracted from an experimental structure. The experimental structure includes a first array of lines and partially filled spaces having a period longer than the wavelength of the diffracted light. The experimental structure also includes a second array of lines and spaces, where the second array of lines and spaces comprise the partially filled spaces.

Abstract: Three-dimensional shape measuring instrument (white interferometer) for measuring the three-dimensional shape of an object to be measured by using white interference fringes, which detects the position where the amplitude of the white interference fringes takes on a maximum value with high accuracy in a short calculation processing time. An envelope distribution of the amplitude of the white interference fringes produced by the interference between the returning light from a reference mirror (6) and the returning light from an object (7) to be measured is determined, and an approximate position where the contrast of the white interference fringes is the highest is determined using this envelope distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that accurately estimate a post-printing appearance of a color on a substrate. In addition, systems and methods are provided that accurately estimate a post-mixing appearance of several colors mixed on a substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that accurately estimate a post-printing appearance of a color on a substrate. In addition, systems and methods are provided that accurately estimate a post-mixing appearance of several colors mixed on a substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing extensions to an LCDS imaging data stream. An LCDS imaging data stream is modified utilizing existing constructs of the imaging data stream in order to provide extensions to the imaging data stream for full-color rendering capabilities without re-writing or converting the imaging data stream into another format. Modifying an LCDS imaging data stream generally includes modifying one or more palettes associated with the imaging data stream to include a full color standardized approach to specifying colors, configuring one or more ink value associated with the imaging data stream with a full color palette, configuring a convenience specification associated with the imaging data stream to include at least one full-color space, and providing a variable color form capability for the imaging data stream in place of a palette syntax associated with the imaging data stream in order to provide a convenience feature for a user of the imaging data stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending LCDS imaging data stream imaging capabilities. An imaging data stream can be modified to permit the imaging data stream to implement at least one full-color call for rendering full-color forms and full-color jobs via at least one rendering device within a rendering system. This can be accomplished by creating and associating at least one full-color extension with a syntax of the imaging data stream in order to implement the at least one full-color call in an extensible set of color spaces, and also compactly decoding, storing indexing and searching the at least one full-color call within a particular job. In addition, an LCDS imaging data stream can be modified to provide an image substitution pathway to permit at least one full-color image included in said LCDS imaging data stream to be substituted for monochrome images or highlight color images.

Abstract: A data structure comprising a user-maintained list of colors is scanned to determine if a particular color within the user-maintained list of colors has been re-defined. If the particular has been redefined within the user-maintained list of colors, the particular color is searched for and identified in an alternative data structure comprising a user-specified extensible set of alternative colors. The particular color identified in the alternative data structure can then be automatically parsed in order to extract color space and value information associated with the particular color and define image-processing operations involving the particular color. The color space associated with the particular color in the alternative data structure can then be translated to a known color space in order to provide the correct color in the printed output.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a plurality of documents juxtaposed for imposition on a print media sheet without gutters. The document images are rasterized and a band of single or multiple pixels is selected along the image margins and compared to determine if adjacent bands are within a predetermined tolerance value. If so, the images are juxtaposed without a gutter; and, if not, one image is rotated 180° and the comparison repeated. If the comparison still is not within a predetermined tolerance value, the juxtaposed images are imposed with a gutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image compressing unit that creates thumbnail data in page units on the basis of image data of a document scanned by a scanner unit, a first control unit that writes the thumbnail data in page units in a page memory, converts the thumbnail data into thumbnail packets in a unit of thumbnail data of plural pages and reads out the thumbnail packets, and stores the thumbnail packets in a data storage medium, and a second control unit that reads out the thumbnail packets stored in the data storage medium and stores the thumbnail packets in the page memory, selects data of an arbitrary thumbnail packet in response to user operation, and displays a thumbnail image in a unit of plural pages on a display unit of a control panel.

Abstract: A processing apparatus which is capable of releasing priority use of apparatuses that are reserved for priority use but are not actually used, even when a plurality of apparatuses are used by priority during a particular time period. Reservation records about reservations for priority use of apparatuses are stored in a master machine. In the master machine, it is determined whether or not all the apparatuses on a reservation cooperation list are exclusively reserved during the same time period, by referring to the reservation records. When all the apparatuses which are reserved for priority use during the same time period, the master machine sends an exclusive release permission command to each subordinate machine reserved for priority use during the same time period among all the apparatuses.

Abstract: An integrated picture-management and printing apparatus is provided that includes many of the components and functions included in conventional commercial picture kiosks in a single printer housing suitable for home use. Accordingly, hardware redundancies present in conventional commercial kiosks are reduced. Further, the printer housing is provided with a display, such as a touch screen display, that may be large relative to the size of the printer housing. Having a large display relative to the printer housing provides additional functionality and makes the execution of functionality more efficient than in conventional devices that have smaller screens.

Abstract: A document processing and managing system is provided and includes a document processing apparatus and a document management apparatus including: an acquisition history holding unit that holds an acquisition history, the acquisition history including information for identifying a first user and information for identifying the electronic document; an information holding unit that holds utilization permission information to determine document processing allowed for the first user and for a second user; and an information providing unit that receives from the document processing apparatus the information for identifying the user and the information for the identifying the electronic document, refers to the acquisition history to decide whether the user is the first user of the electronic document, and transmits the utilization permission information to the document processing apparatus, so as to control the instructed document processing in accordance with a result of the decision and the utilization permission

Abstract: A Multi-Functional Peripheral (MFP) comprising: a registration adjuster for making a registration adjustment by adjusting an image forming position of each color; a detector for detecting an intensity of a vibration; a transmitter for transmitting the image data to another apparatus via a network; and a controller for (i) interrupting an image formation if the intensity of the vibration is judged to be larger than a first threshold, (ii) instructing the transmitter to transmit the image data of the interrupted image formation to the another apparatus if the intensity of the vibration is judged to be larger than a second threshold that is larger than the first threshold, and (iii) after the vibration has ceased, instructing the registration adjuster to make the registration adjustment and then restarting the interrupted image formation.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a printing device for executing print processing based upon document data, comprises: an input unit adapted to input document data; a storage control unit adapted to store the input document data in a storage device; an authentication unit adapted to authenticate a user; a determination unit adapted to determine, for every user authenticated by the authentication unit, whether or not it is necessary to perform printing based upon the document data that has been stored in the storage device; a decision unit adapted to decide the number of copies of document data to be printed, based upon the determination made by the determination unit; and a printing control unit adapted to cause the printing device to execute printing of the decided number of copies with regard to the document data that has been stored in the storage device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus where an application level function is implemented by one or more basic functions is disclosed. The disclosed image processing apparatus includes a log recording unit configured to record basic function logs of the basic functions according to log formats of the basic functions, the basic function logs being associated with an application level function log of the application level function.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing managing apparatus which can set an appropriate use restriction according to using situation of a user, based on the result of analysis of use history of an image processing device. An external server, connected to the image processing device by way of a LAN, comprises a communicating portion that receives a job processing result from the image processing device, a data holding portion that stores the job processing result as use history data of the image processing device, and a data control portion. The data control portion analyzes the using situation for each user who has executed job processing, based on the use history data stored in the data holding portion, and performs setting of the use restriction of the image processing device for each user, based on the result of the analysis.

Abstract: An output processing apparatus comprises a first storage that stores image data in a predetermined block unit, a second storage that stores a head address of each of the image data stored in the block units, and a controller that reads, from the first storage, the same line of the image data of the plural continuous blocks on a line-by-line basis based on the head address stored in the second storage, and outputs the plural lines of the readout image data to a recorder as one line of continuous image data.

Abstract: In a line by line image forming apparatus, line switching information which depends on scan line curve and an overlap data length to be read that overlaps across a plurality of lines before and after a switching position instructed by line switching information are set in a register. If switching to the line above or below is instructed by the line switching information, an address generating unit, when reading image data from an image memory, generates the read address and read data length of the image memory in accordance with the line switching information and the overlap data length, and reads image data corresponding to a current line and the line above or below the current line in accordance with the generated data.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide for a direct submit application module adapted to process image-only portable document format (PDF) documents, encrypted PDF documents, and image documents. The DSA, based on an output device's features or capabilities, adaptively performs host-based emulation so as to provide users with an expanded set of features, which may not be supported by an output device. In some embodiments, the DSA may perform an image-bypass PDF processing, perform processing on an image document so as to provide an expanded set of image formats, and/or perform decryption, if appropriate, on encrypted PDF documents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines whether or not setting for image editing, such as negative/positive inversion or mirror image processing, has been performed for read original image data. Then, in accordance with the determination of whether or not encoded image data exists in the original image data, the image forming apparatus performs image editing, such as negative/positive inversion or mirror image processing, for the entire original image data or for an area of the original image data not corresponding to the encoded image data, and outputs the processed original image to a sheet.

Abstract: An approach is provided wherein a banner page is detected and modified to insert information appropriate for a fax cover page. According to one embodiment, a user submits a document to the OS printing sub-system with a banner page option enabled. The banner page is processed by a fax cover filter which detects the banner page and modifies the banner page to include fax cover page information. The banner page and the document are then rendered to a specified document format by the printing subsystem and faxed, for example by a MFP.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel section where a plurality of pixels for effecting photoelectric conversion are two-dimensionally arranged, having an effective pixel section consisting of pixels for receiving object light and a reference pixel section consisting of pixels shielded from light; a first scanning circuit for sequentially setting to the pixel section the pixels to be read out a signal; a noise suppressing circuit for suppressing noise components of signals from the pixels based on a first control signal associated with sampling and holding of signals from the pixels and a second control signal associated with setting of clamping potential that are applied at respective predetermined timings; a second scanning circuit for sequentially reading signals of each pixel suppressed of the noise components; and a reference signal control section for applying the first and second control signals to the noise suppressing circuit so that it is brought into one or the other of a first conditio

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reference member, a reading unit, a first reference value setting unit, a detecting unit, a second reference value setting unit, a determining unit, and a pixel value setting unit. The reading unit scans an image on a document to obtain image data and scans the reference member to obtain reference data. The first reference value setting unit sets a first reference value based on the reference data. The detecting unit detects a usage state of the reading unit. The second reference value setting unit sets a second reference value in accordance with the usage state of the reading unit. The determining unit determines whether or not the first reference value is in a predetermined condition The pixel value setting unit sets a pixel value.

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes: a sheet processing tool that generates piece-like sheet wastes by processing for sheets; and a sheet waste housing device that houses sheet wastes generated by the sheet processing tool, the sheet waste housing device including: a waste receiver that is provided freely movably between a setting position where the sheet wastes are received and a non-setting position where the sheet wastes received at the setting position are disposed of; and an auxiliary waste receiver that is temporarily located at an auxiliary setting position where the sheet wastes is received in place of the waste receiver under the condition that the waste receiver has been moved from the setting position, and that retreats from the auxiliary setting position under the condition that the waste receiver is located at the setting position.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: a first reader that reads a first side of a document; a second reader that reads a second side of the document; a reducer that reduces in the sub-scanning direction image data read out by said first reader from the first side of the document and image data read out by said second reader from the second side of the document; a storage that stores therein the respective image data reduced by said reducer, which originate from the first and second sides of the document; a judger that judges based on the respective image data stored in said storage, which originate from the first and second sides of the document, whether or not the document is a particular document; and a controller that prohibits said respective image data originating from the first and second sides of the document, from being outputted, depending on a judgment result drew by said judger.

Abstract: An image scanner includes first and second carriages, a body, a power source, a power supplier, and a tensioner. In the first carriage moving at a predetermined speed, a light source emits light onto an original. A first mirror deflects the light reflected by the original. In the second carriage moving at a half speed of the first carriage, second and third mirrors deflect the light deflected by the first and second mirrors, respectively. The body holds the first and second carriages. The power source drives the light source. The power supplier is connected to the power source and the light source to supply power from the power source to the light source. The tensioner provided on the second carriage contacts the power supplier at a position outside an optical light path and applies tension to the power supplier.

Abstract: A copier includes an ADF that transports electronic paper and a paper medium to a read position. The ADF includes a medium type detector, a controller, a communication reader, and an optical reader. The medium type detector discriminates between electronic paper and a paper medium. The controller controls transport of electronic paper and a paper medium. The communication reader reads electronic data stored in the electronic paper at the read position. The optical reader optically reads an image on a paper medium at the read position to obtain electronic data.

Abstract: An image data transmission apparatus which are capable of improving reliability of log files by ensuring proper storing of log information about transferred image data. A preceding log, which includes information about the transmission of image data, is transmitted to a log file server connected with a scanner via a network. In the scanner, it is determined whether the log file server has succeeded in receiving or storing the preceding log. If the log file server has succeeded in receiving or storing the preceding log, the image data is transmitted to a designated destination of image data transmission.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which the position of the boundary between an image of an original and a background image, as well as a skew and the size of the image of the original, can be accurately detected even with dust on a line image sensor or on an opposing member opposite to the line image sensor. An image formed on an original is read by a reading unit, and an opposing member is arranged at a position opposite to the reading unit. A plate glass distances the original from the opposing member. Shadow portions of the read image is detected from changes in a sub-scanning direction of pixel data of a read image generated based on output from the reading unit, and boundary coordinate data of the image of the original is obtained.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing processing for converting a color space of image data includes a color conversion section which acquires wide color gamut image data and converts the wide color gamut image data into image data in a standard wide color gamut space, and a transmission section which transmits the image data converted by the color conversion section to a display section capable of displaying the image data in the standard wide color gamut space.

Abstract: A color processing device includes a color range conversion component, a control component and a color conversion and clipping component. The color range conversion component performs a color range conversion of input color signals in accordance with a specified color range conversion condition. The control component excludes from objects of the color range conversion by the color range conversion component a color value, of the input color signals, of which a position in a predetermined color space is outside a color reproduction range and which satisfies a predetermined condition. The color conversion and clipping component, after a color space conversion, applies clipping to a color value that falls outside the color reproduction range of the designated device in the color space dependent on the designated device, including rounding off such that the color value falls in the color reproduction range.

Abstract: A color processing apparatus determines, based on output color gamut information, the color gamut conversion condition for converting the image data so that the color gamut of image data on the predetermined color space may fall within the output color gamut, converts the color gamut of input image data according to the set color gamut conversion condition, determines the limiting condition of the color gamut conversion, changes the color value of the specified color so that the color value of the specified color out of the input image data may be converted into the color corresponding to the output satisfying the limiting condition, and pre-processes so as to change the color value other than the color value of the specified color out of the input image data according to the relation between the color value before change of the specified color and the color value after change.

Abstract: An optical pattern generator includes one or more multi-faceted rotating optical elements that introduce an offset that is rotation insensitive. The component that generates the offset is rotationally symmetric around the rotational axis of the optical element. Thus, as the optical element rotates, the effect of the offset component does not change. In addition, rotating optical elements may be designed to counteract unwanted optical effects of each other.

Abstract: An image display device including a plurality of laser light sources arranged to produce angularly offset beams of light, and scanning optics configured to raster scan the angularly offset beams of light simultaneously across separate parallel lines of pixels of a display surface to form an image, wherein each beam of light scans substantially the entire display surface.