Abstract: A laser system includes a laser diode that oscillates in a multi-mode and has characteristics in which its oscillation wavelength varies with temperature, a grating that receives a light beam emitted from the laser diode and returns a diffracted beam to the laser diode, a mechanism that changes the wavelength of the diffracted beam returned to the laser diode, a wavelength detector that detects the wavelength of an output beam which is the same as that of the diffracted beam returned to the laser diode, a temperature regulator that maintains the laser diode at a predetermined temperature, and a control unit that controls the mechanism so that the output beam having a predetermined wavelength is output and controls the temperature regulator so that the laser diode oscillates at the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a spectroscopic apparatus is disclosed for investigating heterogeneity of a sample area. The apparatus includes an image acquisition system operative to acquire images of a plurality of sub-areas in the sample area and a sub-area selection interface operative to receive a selection designating one of the sub-areas for which an image has been obtained. A spectrometer has a field of view and is operative to acquire a spectrum of at least part of one of the sub-areas in its field of view, and a positioning mechanism is responsive to the sub-area selection interface and operative to position the field of view of the spectrometer relative to the sample area based on a received selection.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for measurement of industrial chemical processes. The analyzer uses Raman scattering and performs measurement of chemical concentrations in continuous or batch processes. The analyzer operates at a standoff distance from the analyte (or analytes) and can measure concentrations through an optical port, facilitating continuous, non-destructive, and non-invasive analysis without extracting the analyte or analytes from the process. The analyzer can measure one or several solid, liquid, or gaseous analytes, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Raman systems include a radiation source, a radiation detector configured to detect Raman scattered radiation, and a Raman signal-enhancing structure. The Raman signal-enhancing structure includes a first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material, a substantially monomolecular layer of molecules disposed on at least a portion of the first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material, and a second layer of Raman signal-enhancing material disposed on at least a portion of the substantially monomolecular layer of molecules. The second layer of Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on a side of the layer of molecules opposite the first layer of Raman signal-enhancing material. Methods of performing Raman spectroscopy include providing such a Raman signal-enhancing structure, providing an analyte on the Raman signal-enhancing structure, irradiating the analyte and the structure, and detecting Raman scattered radiation.

Abstract: Raman measurement apparatus optimized for gaseous and other low-concentration samples includes a focusing objective that uses only first-surface mirrors instead of lenses, thereby dramatically reducing background noise. In the preferred embodiment, the focusing and collimation functions performed by the objective section are performed by an off-axis parabolic mirror. A spherical first-surface mirror opposing the parabolic mirror re-images the counter-propagating beam back through the same focus for re-collimation by the parabolic mirror. A probe-head section operative to generate the counter-propagating beam has substrates and surfaces arranged such that the excitation beam does not pass through any substrates after it is filtered by the bandpass coating, thereby further decreasing background signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying refractive-index fluctuations of a target are described in this application. One embodiment includes identifying one or more properties of emergent light, the emergent light to be emergent from a target, and determining refractive-index fluctuations of the target based on the one or more properties of the emergent light. The determining refractive-index fluctuations further comprises determining one or more of the variance of the refractive-index fluctuations and the spatial correlation length of the refractive-index fluctuations. The determining refractive-index fluctuations further comprises determining one or more of the variance of the refractive-index fluctuations and the spatial correlation length of the refractive-index fluctuations.

Abstract: Embodiments including color filter arrays are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical system for acquiring fast spectra from spatially channel arrays includes a light source for producing a light beam that passes through the microfluidic chip or the channel to be monitored, one or more lenses or optical fibers for capturing the light from the light source after interaction with the particles or chemicals in the microfluidic channels, and one or more detectors. The detectors, which may include light amplifying elements, detect each light signal and transducer the light signal into an electronic signal. The electronic signals, each representing the intensity of an optical signal, pass from each detector to an electronic data acquisition system for analysis. The light amplifying element or elements may comprise an array of phototubes, a multianode phototube, or a multichannel plate based image intensifier coupled to an array of photodiode detectors.

Abstract: A recursive-reflective photoelectric sensor has a sensor main body and a recursive reflecting part. The sensor main body includes a light projecting part that projects first circularly polarized light and a light receiving part. When a mixture of the first circularly polarized light and second circularly polarized light which is differently polarized from the first circularly polarized light is incident to the light receiving part, only the second circularly polarized light is selectively passed. The recursive reflecting part reflects the first circularly polarized light by converting into reflected light that includes the second circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A marker structure on a substrate for optical alignment of the substrate includes a plurality of first structural elements and a plurality of second structural elements. In use, the marker structure allows the optical alignment based upon providing at least one light beam directed on the marker structure, detecting light received from the marker structure at a sensor, and determining alignment information from the detected light, the alignment information comprising information relating a position of the substrate to the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking concentricity between a barrel holder and a lens barrel rotatably engaging with the barrel holder is provided. The lens barrel includes at least one lens coaxially received therein. The apparatus includes a barrel holder retaining member, a rotating member, a driving unit, a light source, and an image sensor. The barrel holder retaining member is used for fixedly retaining the barrel holder in position. The rotating member is structured for meshing with the lens barrel. The driving unit is used for driving the rotating member to rotate, thereby rotates the lens barrel. The light source is configured for emitting light toward a first end of the lens barrel. The image sensor is arranged to face toward an opposite second end of the lens barrel. The image sensor is configured for sensing the light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling a plurality of individual light sources with varying spectra, wherein a desired resulting light spectrum with three manipulated variables representing a color standard is selected to serve as the basis along with an detected light spectrum to control the plurality of light sources with varying spectra in such a way that at least a part of the plurality of controllable light sources emits a resulting light spectrum that correspond to the desired light spectrum to at least a selectable level of accuracy.

Abstract: In one embodiment, light having a first spectrum is filtered from a mixed light. Light having a second spectrum, different from the first spectrum, is also filtered from the mixed light. An intensity of the light having the first spectrum, and an intensity of the light having the second spectrum, are then sensed. From the sensed intensities of the lights having the first and second spectrums, an intensity of light having a third spectrum is estimated.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to analyte detection methods and to photonic-based sensors that employ photonic crystal gratings to detect analytes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic-based sensor includes a source, a photonic crystal, and a photodetector. The source is configured to output electromagnetic radiation. The photonic crystal includes a photonic crystal grating positioned to receive the electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation interacts with the photonic crystal grating and an analyte situated on or in the photonic crystal grating to produce a transmission spectrum that characterizes the analyte. The photodetector is positioned to detect the transmission spectrum.

Abstract: A test system includes an optical medium, a binding agent capable of capturing a target complex, and a light detector. The optical medium provides a light path, and the binding agent is positioned to hold the target complex in an evanescent field created by propagation of light along the light path. The complex interacts with the evanescent field and emits light that the detector positioned to detect. The optical medium and the detector can be included in an optical integrated circuit where detected light passes through the optical medium transverse to the direction of the light path.

Abstract: An optical transmission system includes a laser, a transmitter and a receiver. The laser is capable of operating on an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition of the active region of the laser. A spectral bandwidth of an output lasing spectrum of the laser is greater than 5 nm and a spectral power density of the laser is greater than 2 mW/nm such that an optical power of the laser is greater than 10 mW. The laser provides a plurality of optical signals at different wavelengths. The transmitter is capable of providing modulation to each lasing wavelength independently and the receiver is capable of providing detection to each lasing wavelength independently.

Abstract: A user-friendly photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) system and process (technique) provides an open-field PAS instrument, unit and device to remotely sense explosives, chemicals and biological agents. The PAS system and process can include: a pulsed tunable laser, such as a CO2 laser, a reflector, such as a parabolic reflector, an acoustic reverberant resonator in which a microphone is installed, and a data acquisition and analysis system.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a power supply and an ignition. A computer includes a mother board with a converting circuit for converting electricity. A switching circuit controls the transfer of electricity to the converting circuit from the power supply. A detecting circuit detects the state of the ignition, sends an ON signal and instructs the switching circuit to conduct the transfer if the ignition is turned on, and sends an OFF signal and instructs the switching circuit to interrupt the transfer if the ignition is turned off. A central processing unit receives electricity from the converting circuit and turns on or off the computer. A south bridge controller receives electricity from the converting circuit and instructs the central process to turn on the computer on receiving the ON signal or turn off the computer on receiving the OFF signal.

Abstract: An entrance aperture of a GFCR system receives light from a scene of interest. The light is focused to form an image at a focal plane. Light associated with a selected field-of-view of the image at the focal plane is then confined to a spectral band at which a gas of interest absorbs. The confined light is split into first and second paths. A calibrating light is selectively produced from within the optical train at the focal plane. A portion of the calibrating light traverses each of the first and second paths. A region that is substantially non-interfering with respect to the spectral band is disposed in the first path. A gas cell filled with the gas of interest is disposed in the second path. The light passed through the region and through the gas cell is independently detected and used to generate output signals indicative of the light so-detected.

Abstract: An entrance aperture of a GFCR system receives light from a scene of interest. The light is focused to form an image at a focal plane. Light associated with a selected field-of-view of the image is then confined to a spectral band at which a gas of interest absorbs. The confined light is split into first and second paths. A region that does not substantially interfere with the spectral band is disposed in the first path. A first two-dimensional array of optical detection elements is disposed in the region along with a first diffuser. The first diffuser assures that each portion of the light from the selected field-of-view of the image is identically distributed across the first array. A gas cell filled with the gas of interest, a second two-dimensional array of optical detection elements, and a second diffuser are disposed in the second path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes combining a first light beam and at least a second light beam to form a combined light beam, introducing a sinusoidal phase shift with a frequency f between a phase of the first light beam and a phase of the second light beam, recording at least one interference signal based on a modulation of the combined light beam in response to the sinusoidal phase shift, where the interference signal includes at least three different frequency components, and outputting the information. For each interference signal, information related to the difference in optical path lengths of the first and second light beam is determined by comparing the intensity of the at least three different frequency components of the interference signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for testing interferometric modulators. The interferometric modulators may be tested by applying a time-varying voltage stimulus and measuring the resulting reflectivity from the modulators.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a directional coupler comprising at least a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is in optical communication with the second port and with the third port such that a first optical signal received by the first port is split into a second optical signal that propagates to the second port and a third optical signal that propagates to the third port. The optical sensor further includes a Bragg fiber in optical communication with the second port and with the third port. The second optical signal and the third optical signal counterpropagate through the Bragg fiber and return to the third port and the second port, respectively.

Abstract: An interferometery system for making interferometric measurements of an object, the system including: a beam generation module which during operation delivers an output beam that includes a first beam at a first frequency and a second beam at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency, the first and second beams within the output beam being coextensive, the beam generation module including a beam conditioner which during operation introduces a sequence of different shifts in a selected parameter of each of the first and second beams, the selected parameter selected from a group consisting of phase and frequency; a detector assembly having a detector element; and an interferometer constructed to receive the output beam at least a part of which represents a first measurement beam at the first frequency and a second measurement beam at the second frequency, the interferometer further constructed to image both the first and second measurement beams onto a selected spot on the object to produce

Abstract: Provided herein are systems, methods, and compositions for optical coherence tomography implementations.

Abstract: Reflectance systems and methods are described that use information of an intermediate reference signal to continuously monitor, detect and/or compensate for drift in a metrology system. The intermediate reference signal is present regardless of whether a sample is being measured. The reflectance system comprises components including a transmission element coupled to a sample area and a receiver. The transmission element is configured to route signals between components of the system. The signals include an illumination signal, and a sample signal resulting from interaction of the illumination signal with a sample when the sample is present in the sample area. The signals also include the reference signal that results from interaction of the illumination signal with one or more components of the system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed which includes: using a scanning interferons dry system, generating a sequence of phase-shifted interferometry images at different scan positions of an object comprising a buried surface, identifying a scan position corresponding to a position of best focus for the buried surface based on the sequence of phase-shifted interferometry images of the object, and generating a final image based on the phase-shifted interferometry images and the scan position, where the interferometric fringes in the final image are reduced relative to the interferometric fringes in the phase-shifted interferometry images.

Abstract: A method of measuring topology of functional liquid in a pixel, in which thickness or volume of the functional liquid in the pixel is measured by a surface topology measuring apparatus comprising: measuring surface topologies in which surface topology of the functional liquid in the pixel and surface topology of the bank are measured by the surface topology measuring apparatus, and measurement parameters regarding the surface topologies are generated; adding a bank height in which a height parameter of a height of the bank is added to the measurement parameter of a surface of the functional liquid in the pixel of the measurement parameter generated; and calculating topology in which the thickness or the volume of the functional liquid in the pixel is calculated based on the added measurement parameter of the surface of the functional liquid in the pixel and the measurement parameter of the surface of the bank.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometric method for measuring a height of a first region on a first surface, the first surface having first areas having first optical properties and second areas having second optical properties, the method comprising the steps of generating of first and second coherent light beams, reflecting at least the first coherent light beam from the first region into a first return beam and reflecting the second coherent light beam from a second region into a second return beam, measuring at least a first reflectivity of the first region, determining a topography-dependent phase shift of the first and second return beams for the height measurement based on the first reflectivity.

Abstract: A measuring system for the optical measurement of an optical imaging system, which is provided to image a pattern arranged in an object surface of the imaging system in an image surface of the imaging system, comprises an object-side structure carrier having an object-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the object side of the imaging system; an image-side structure carrier having an image-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the image side of the imaging system; the object-side measuring structure and the image-side measuring structure being matched to each other in such a way that, when the object-side measuring structure is imaged onto the image-side measuring structure with the aid of the imaging system, a superposition pattern is produced; and a detector for the locally resolving acquisition of the superposition pattern. The imaging system is designed as an immersion system for imaging with the aid of an immersion liquid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometric method for measuring a height of a first region on a first surface, the first surface having first areas having first optical properties and second areas having second optical properties, the method comprising the steps of generating of first and second coherent light beams, reflecting at least the first coherent light beam from the first region into a first return beam and reflecting the second coherent light beam from a second region into a second return beam, measuring at least a first reflectivity of the first region, determining a topography-dependent phase shift of the first and second return beams for the height measurement based on the first reflectivity.

Abstract: At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by an interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto. In various aspects: a data processor gates the signal to provide a range-responsive measurement; the light signal is multiplexed; a circle-to-line interferometer optic transforms an at least partially circular fringe pattern to a substantially linear fringe pattern; or a CCD detector provides for recording a range-resolved image by successively transferring charges from one adjacent row of photosites to another.

Abstract: At least one second beam of light from a first beam of light generated by a laser is directed into an atmosphere. Light therefrom scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal, which together with a reference beam from the first beam of light are simultaneously processed by a Fabry-Pérot etalon, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector adapted to output a resulting at least one signal responsive thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element.

Abstract: Described is an interferometric surface contour measurement system for projecting structured light patterns onto an object. The measurement system includes an interferometric projector, an imager, and a processor. The imager is rigidly coupled to the projector to maintain a stable relationship to the projected, structured light pattern. The imager receives the structured light pattern and together with the processor, determines whether the projected image includes a positional error. In some embodiments, the projector is a multi-channel projector, each channel having an optical axis spatially separated from the others, one of the channels including the imager and dedicated for determining positional error. In other embodiments, the projector is a single-channel projector projecting a structured light pattern onto the object, a portion of the structured light pattern being tapped-off for determining positional error.

Abstract: A method including: providing a low coherence scanning interferometry data for at least one spatial location of a sample having multiple interfaces, wherein the data is collected using a low coherence scanning interferometer having an illumination geometry and an illumination frequency spectrum, and wherein the data comprises a low coherence scanning interferometry signal having multiple regions of fringe contrast corresponding to the multiple interfaces; and determining a distance between at least one pair of interfaces based on a distance between the corresponding regions of fringe contrast and information about the illumination geometry.

Abstract: An unevenness elimination end-point detection apparatus for a CMP apparatus which polishes a film to be polished formed on a wafer surface includes: light irradiation means for irradiating a light on a polishing surface of the wafer during polishing of the wafer; photoelectric conversion means for converting a light intensity of a reflected light from the polishing surface into an electric signal to output the electric signal as a light intensity signal; and determination means for determining an elimination end-point of the initial unevenness of the wafer on the basis of the light intensity signal output from the photoelectric conversion means. The irradiated light is white light and the white light is split and input to the photoelectric conversion means, and light intensity signals are output in units of wavelengths of split lights. In this manner, an elimination end-point of the initial unevenness can be optically detected during wafer polishing.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a process window for a lithography process using a reflective mask. The method begins by selecting a target Critical Dimension (CD) of a feature in an image pattern to be formed on a wafer and a corresponding CD tolerance. A CD of the feature formed on the wafer is determined as a function of exposure and focus position of light used in the lithography process. A shift in position of the image pattern is determined as a function of the exposure and the focus position. For the selected target CD and the selected corresponding CD tolerance, an Exposure-Defocus-Shift of pattern position (EDS).

Abstract: A measuring instrument for a wafer for measuring the thickness of a wafer held on a chuck table using a laser beam includes a condenser for condensing and irradiating the laser beam on the wafer held on the chuck table, a light reception unit for receiving reflected light of the laser beam irradiated upon the wafer, a convergence light point changing unit for changing the convergence light point of the laser beam, and a control unit for measuring the thickness of the wafer based on a change signal from the convergence light point changing unit and a light reception signal from the light reception unit. The control unit stores a thickness control map. The control unit controls an angle adjustment actuator, provided for adjusting the installation angle of a pair of mirrors, to change the installation angle and detects two peaks of the light amount based on the reception signal from the light reception unit.

Abstract: An optical method and system for measuring characteristics of a sample using a broadband metrology tool in a purge gas flow environment are disclosed. In the method a beam path for the metrology tool is purged with purge gas at a first flow rate. A surface of the sample is illuminated by a beam of source radiation having at least one wavelength component in a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) range and/or at least one wavelength component in an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) range. A flow rate of a purge gas is adjusted between the first flow rate for metrology measurements made when the source radiation is in the VUV spectral region and a second flow rate for metrology measurements made when the source radiation is in the UV-Vis spectral region. The system includes a light source, illumination optics, collection optics, detector, a purge gas source and a controller.

Abstract: A universal print driver allows an application program to print to any printer available on a network without the user having to perform the configuration that is required in conventional printing arrangements. The universal print driver includes functionality for performing printing device discovery to determine printing devices that are available to process print data. The universal print driver allows users to manage options and settings for printing devices through the universal print driver. The universal print driver may also be configured with a “best fit” matching function that selects an available printing device to process print data that has characteristics that most closely match user-specified characteristics. The universal print driver generates a graphical user interface that allows users to view printing devices available to process print data and to select options and settings for printing devices.

Abstract: An image processor according to the present invention includes a reference information acquisition unit that acquires reference information for specifying a reference source and a reference target associated with the reference source from an electronic document having the reference information indicated therein, and a print instruction information production unit that produces print instruction information including an instruction for causing a printing device to print a reference source index for representing a reference source in a margin region located at a peripheral edge of a reference source page specified based on the reference information, and an instruction for causing the printing device to print a reference target index for representing a reference target in a region overlapping the region where the reference source index is printed in a margin region located at a peripheral edge of a reference target page specified based on the reference information.

Abstract: Upon designating bookbinding print, preview images are displayed in a layout after bookbinding. When “store” of intermediate data is designated in a print process, a spooler (302) stores intermediate data and an output job setup file in a spool file (303). When the stored job is selected, a previewer (306) displays a list of jobs, and displays a print preview image. In this case, upon setting bookbinding print, pages are displayed in a spread state and order after bookbinding. Also, the open direction (right or left open), and the bookbinding unit are also expressed on preview images.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method therefor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part, which forms printed and alternate printed images including different developing agents to a recording medium; and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a the printed and alternate printed images according to a comparison of number of pages of a print job and a reference number of pages, and a whether the images of the print job are of a single color.

Abstract: This invention suppresses accidental change of an adjustable parameter that influences a print job. For this purpose, when the print data of a certain job exists in a storage unit, change of the adjustable parameter by a user interface is inhibited.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an image document creation apparatus is provided so as to be connectable to a plurality of image forming apparatuses that have been arranged on a network, and has a configuration provided with an acquisition means that acquires color gamut information possessed by the image forming apparatuses; an identification means that identifies colors included in document data and/or image data saved in the image document creation apparatus; a color difference calculation means that calculates, for each of the image forming apparatuses, a color difference between the colors identified by the identification means and the color gamut information acquired by the acquisition means; an apparatus selection means that selects an image forming apparatus as a print target based on the calculated color difference; and a printing means that instructs the selected image forming apparatus to print the document data and/or the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs conversion and a first compression on upper bits in image data, thereby generating a first compressed data set, and performs a second compression on lower bits in the image data, thereby generating second compressed data. The image processing apparatus then performs a first decompression on the first compressed data set, thereby generating a first uncompressed data set, and performs a second decompression on the second compressed data, thereby generating second uncompressed data. Finally, the image processing apparatus interpolates the first uncompressed data set based on the second uncompressed data.

Abstract: A specified specific color is input, and a patch pattern that contains a large number of patches corresponding to a color adjacent to the specific color is read by a front-side scanner and a back-side scanner. The color difference between read values for the front side and read values for the back side is corrected.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing amount index calculation unit configured to analyze content of image data that is independent of print resolution and to calculate a processing amount index indicating a processing amount necessary in converting the image data into a bitmapped image, a storing unit configured to store the calculated processing amount index as additional information associated with the image data, and a sending unit configured to send the image data and the additional information.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an acquiring section, a recording section, and a width setting section. The acquiring section acquires print data indicative of an image having a size including a recording surface of a recording medium. The recording section records a borderless image on the recording medium based on the print data while the recording medium is conveyed in a conveying direction. The recording medium has an upstream side and a downstream side with respect to the conveying direction. The width setting section sets width of the image in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The width of the image increases from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the conveying direction.