Abstract: The image projection apparatus is disclosed to which plural interchangeable optical units are selectively attachable. The apparatus includes a shift mechanism moving an attached optical unit, which is one of the plural interchangeable optical units that is attached to the apparatus, with respect to a light modulation element in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, an actuator driving the shift mechanism, and a controller controlling drive of the actuator using a control parameter for moving the attached optical unit by a specific movement amount via the shift mechanism. The controller acquires information on at least one of a weight and an optical characteristic of the attached optical unit from a memory provided in one of the apparatus and the attached optical unit, and to change the control parameter using the acquired information.

Abstract: A projection apparatus is capable of changing a lens, and includes a lens shift unit that moves a mounted lens to a reference position in accordance with the mounted lens when the lens is changed.

Abstract: An illumination system and a projection device comprising the same are provided. The projection device comprises an imaging system and the illumination system. The illumination system comprises a first light source, a dichroic element, at least one condensing element, a rotary wheel and a light integrating element. The first light source provides a first wave band light, and the rotary wheel has at least one wave band transforming area and a reflecting area. After passing through the dichroic element and the at least one condensing element, the first wave band light will be focused onto the at least one wave band transforming area to be transformed into a second wave band light or be focused onto the reflecting area that will be reflected. The second wave band light and the reflected first wave band light will be focused on the light integrating element by the at least one condensing element.

Abstract: A decorative plate module for a projector includes a base plate, a first elastic member, a hook member and a second elastic member. The base plate is attached to a periphery of the opening of the front cover and has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. A slide groove is formed on the first end, and the slide groove has an oblique wall. The first elastic member is disposed inside the slide groove and stretches in a first direction, and the hook member is slidably coupled to the slide groove. One end of the hook member leans against the first elastic member, and its another end slidably engages with the front cover. The second elastic member is disposed on a side wall of the slide groove and stretches in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Provided are a developing method and a developing apparatus that can reduce process time and improve throughput in a developing process using a developer containing organic solvent. The present invention relates to a developing method for performing developing by supplying a developer containing organic solvent to a substrate having its surface coated with a resist and exposed. The developing method of the invention includes a liquid film forming step for forming a liquid film by supplying the developer from a developer supply nozzle to a central portion of the substrate while rotating the substrate, and a developing step for developing the resist film on the substrate while rotating the substrate in a state where the supply of the developer from the developer supply nozzle to the substrate is stopped and in such a manner that the liquid film of the developer would not dry.

Abstract: A gas manifold to direct a gas flow between two parallel plates of an optical component of a lithographic apparatus, the gas manifold having an inlet to provide a gas flow to the gas manifold, a lattice comprising a plurality of through holes to homogenize the gas flow, a contractor downstream of the lattice to reduce the cross sectional area through which the gas flow flows, and an outlet downstream of the contractor to provide the gas flow to the two parallel plates.

Abstract: Estimating model parameters of a lithographic apparatus and controlling lithographic processing by a lithographic apparatus includes performing an exposure using a lithographic apparatus projecting a pattern onto a wafer. A set of predetermined wafer measurement locations is measured. Predetermined and measured locations of the marks are used to generate radial basis functions. Model parameters of said substrate are calculated using the generated radial basis functions as a basis function across said substrate. Finally, the estimated model parameters are used to control the lithographic apparatus in order to expose the substrate.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed having a projection system configured to direct a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate and a liquid handling system configured to supply and confine immersion liquid to a space defined between the projection system and a substrate, or a substrate table, or both. A controller is provided to adjust an angle of a lower surface of the liquid handling system relative to the top surface of the substrate during motion of the substrate and/or substrate table relative to the liquid handling system dependent upon a position of the substrate and/or substrate table relative to the liquid handling system and/or a direction of relative movement between the substrate and/or substrate table and the liquid handling system.

Abstract: A method for the spatially resolved introduction of an intensity pattern of electro-magnetic radiation by at least one optic display system into a photosensitive substance having properties which can be changed by photon exposure. These properties include a first, liquid and at least one second state, with the electro-magnetic radiation being conducted via the optic display system into the photosensitive substance and here being projected on predetermined spatial coordinates, in order to create at or in an area of these spatial coordinates a change of the properties of the substance. A surface of an objective lens of the optic display system, through which the electro-magnetic radiation 4 is emitted, is immersed in the liquid photosensitive substance 2. A corresponding device is provided, and the device and method can be used for the creation of micro or nano-scaled structures.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective for images an object field onto an image field via imaging radiation. The projection objective includes at least one reflective optical component and a measuring device. The reflective optical component, during the operation of the projection objective, reflects a first part of the imaging radiation and transmits a second part of the imaging radiation. The reflected, first part of the imaging radiation at least partly contributes to the imaging of the object field. The transmitted, second part of the imaging radiation is at least partly fed to a measuring device. This allows a simultaneous exposure of the photosensitive layer at the location of the image field with the imaging radiation and monitoring of the imaging radiation with the aid of the measuring device.

Abstract: In an exposure apparatus, a photomask 3 is provided with a plurality of mask pattern columns 15 formed by arranging a plurality of mask patterns 13 at a predetermined pitch in a direction substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction A of an object to be exposed and a plurality of microlenses 14 formed on a side of the object to be exposed corresponding to the mask patterns 13 to project reduced mask patterns 13 on the object to be exposed The photomask 3 is obtained by forming subsequent mask pattern columns 15b to 15d and the microlenses 14 corresponding to them so as to be shifted by a predetermined dimension in an arranging direction of a plurality of mask patterns 13 from a mask pattern column 15a located downstream in the conveying direction A of the object to be exposed.

Abstract: A multi-plane scanner support system includes a bracket and a mirror block. The bracket is configured to be secured in a fixed orientation with respect to a scanner. And the mirror block is arranged to receive a scanning signal from the scanner and to reflect the scanning signal into a plurality of directions to create multiple scanning planes. The scanner can be a laser scanner. The scanner and multi-plane scanner support system can be attached to a material transport vehicle, for example, to provide safety functions. The vehicle can be manned or unmanned.

Abstract: A method comprises generating a laser signal; scanning the laser signal into a field of view; and processing the return signal.

Abstract: An image processing method including: measuring a distance between a medium where an image is to be recorded and an image processing apparatus which stores a relation between irradiation energy and distance previously measured; calculating an irradiation energy from the distance measured in the measuring based on the relation stored in the image processing apparatus; and irradiating and heating the medium with laser beams having the irradiation energy obtained in the calculating to record an image in the medium.

Abstract: An optical blood monitoring system for blocking unwanted light from reaching sensors in a sensor clip assembly fastened to a blood chamber connected in an extracorporeal blood treatment system. The sensor clip assembly includes opposing heads with LED emitters and photodetectors. In one embodiment, lenses in the heads are surrounded by shrouds extending from the lenses so that when the sensor clip assembly is fastened to the blood chamber the shrouds block unwanted light from reaching the photodctectors. Either alternatively or as a complement to the shrouds, the blood chamber includes an opaque portion or a portion colored to attenuate particular wavelengths of light to further enhance the overall ability of the blood chamber and sensor clip assembly to block unwanted light from reaching the photodetectors.

Abstract: An infrared analysis apparatus may include a first head and a second head. The first head may include a plurality of light sources each of which irradiates rays of infrared light having different wavelengths on a test object, and an optical element that is disposed between the plurality of light sources and the test object, the optical element making intensity distribution of the infrared light uniform. The second head may include a detector that detects the infrared light transmitted through the test object.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of detecting a defect of a semiconductor exposure mask includes acquiring a background intensity from a surface height distribution of the mask, acquiring a standard background intensity distribution from the background intensity, making light of an arbitrary wavelength incident on the mask, and acquiring an image at a position of interest of the mask, acquiring background intensity raw data, based on a signal intensity of the acquired image at the position of interest and a mean value of image intensity data in a peripheral area of the position of interest, finding a correction coefficient of the signal intensity, based on a ratio of the background intensity raw data to the standard background intensity distribution, correcting the signal intensity by multiplying the signal intensity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for aligning a collimator tube with an alignment ring used to hold a film or sensor aligned with the collimator tube. The disclosed alignment system includes a light source, a light detector, and a reflective surface, where, when the collimator and alignment ring are aligned, light emitted from the light source reflects off the reflective surface and is received by the light detector.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an oblique illuminator. The oblique illuminator includes a light source emitting a light beam, a first reflective surface, and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface has a convex cylindrical shape with a projected parabolic profile along the non-powered direction which is configured to reflect the light beam from the light source and which defines a focal line. The second reflective surface has a concave cylindrical shape with a projected elliptical profile which is configured to reflect the light beam from the first reflective surface and which defines first and second focal lines. The focal line of the first reflective surface is coincident with the first focal line of the second reflective surface. The first and second focal lines of the second reflective surface may be a same line in which case the elliptical curvature is a projected spherical profile. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A laser scanner measuring system is disclosed, which has a laser scanner and a calibration target. The laser scanner comprises a light emitting element for emitting a pulsed laser beam, a rotary projecting unit for projecting the pulsed laser beam, a distance measuring unit, and a control unit for driving and controlling the light emitting element and the distance measuring unit. The calibration target has a reflection sector with a known shape and with high reflectance and is installed at a known position. In use, there is a step for judging a reflected pulsed laser beam from the reflection sector by detecting a level of light quantity, a step for determining a center position of the reflection sector based on the result of the judgment, and a step for calibrating the laser scanner measuring system based on the determined center position and on the known position.

Abstract: Laser scanning microscope or spectral detector having a detection beam path and first imaging optics which image spectrally dispersed sample light in a Fourier plane such that the individual spectral components of the sample light are spatially separated from one another therein. A micromirror arrangement is provided in this plane, and a spectrally selective change in direction of the detection beam is carried out by controlling the micromirrors, where a useful light component of the detection beam arrives on a detector. At least one second micromirror arrangement and a 1:1 imaging of the first micromirror arrangement in the second micromirror arrangement is provided. Alternatively, the same micromirror arrangement is passed at least twice, where, in the light path between the first pass and second pass, a spatial offset of the light beam of at least the first pass and second pass is generated on the micromirror arrangement by optical means.

Abstract: Hyperspectral imaging system and methods that may be used for imaging objects in three-dimensions are disclosed. A cylindrical lens array and/or a slit array may be used to re-image and divide a field of view into multiple channels. The multiple channels are dispersed into multiple spectral signatures and observed on a two-dimensional focal plane array in real time. The entire hyperspectral data cube is collected simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating the quantity of light scattered by a heterogeneous participating media, the light being transmitted by a light environment comprising a plurality of light sources. In order to improve the display while minimising the required calculation time, the method comprises steps for: estimation of first projection coefficients in an orthonormal basis of spherical functions, said first projection coefficients being representative of the reduction of light intensity in a point of said media, said estimation of first projection coefficients being carried out for each point of a first set of points of said media, and estimation of the quantity of light scattered by said media, according to at least one scattering direction of the light, using said first estimated projection coefficients.

Abstract: A biosensor includes a light transmissive optical component (18) comprising a plurality of optical fibres fused side-by-side, the fibres extending between and terminating at opposite faces of the component for transmission of light through the component. A gold film (20) is coated on one face of the optical component, and a plurality of nanohole arrays are formed in the gold film.

Abstract: A probe having a probe head in which is formed an opening for receiving a sample to be analysed, the head comprising a pair of optical interfaces disposed at an opposing inner surface of the opening to delimit a path for optical radiation through the opening, wherein one of the pair of optical interfaces comprises a transparent element adapted to permit optical radiation in one or more wavelength regions of interest to travel between the probe head and the opening, the optical probe comprising a movable diaphragm in which one of the pair of optical interfaces is located for movement therewith and an actuator operably connected to the diaphragm to control its movement so as to vary the path length wherein the probe head comprises a hinge system cooperable with the actuator to move the optical interface in the movable diaphragm in an arc to vary the path length.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a gas concentration in a flowing gas mixture, wherein the flowing gas mixture includes solids having a defined size distribution, wherein by way of an optical spectrometer the concentration of a gas is measured in the flowing gas mixture, which includes a measurement beam of the optical spectrometer being conducted during the measurement through a measurement channel having walls made of a gas-permeable material. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sample chamber used for monitoring the concentrations of components of additives in a printing process liquid for maintaining predetermined desired concentrations of components of additives in a printing process liquid, wherein the actual concentrations of components are determined followed by redosing of measured components to a predetermined desired concentration.

Abstract: System and method for fluorescent light excitation and detection from samples to enhance the numerical aperture and/or reduce the cross-talk of the fluorescent light.

Abstract: An optical ingredient-measuring apparatus is provided for measuring a concentration of an optically rotative substance. The apparatus includes a sensor main body which detects a phase difference between linear polarized light beams that propagate through an optical fiber loop in opposite directions, a circular polarized input component interposed in the middle of the optical fiber loop having first and second converters that convert the linear polarized light propagating through the optical fiber loop into left-hand and right-hand circular polarized light, and a concentration detector, installed in the sensor main body, which calculates the concentration of the substance in the sample based on the detected phase difference.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of one or more analytes in a sample. A plurality of optical cantilevered waveguides (200a, 200b) are optically coupled to an optical circuit between an input and an output of the circuit. Each of the optical cantilevered waveguides (200a, 200b) have an analyte selective coating, at least two of the waveguides having different analyte selective coatings. A detection module (304) analyses the output of the circuit to detect the presence of analytes in the sample.

Abstract: An image forming method uses an optical coherence tomography as to an optical axis direction of plural pieces of image information of an object. First image information of an object is obtained at a first focus with respect to an optical axis direction to then object. A focusing position is changed by dynamic focusing from the first focus to a second focus along the optical axis. The second image information of the object is obtained at the second focus. A third image information, tomography image information of the object and including a tomography image of the first focus or the second focus, is obtained by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. A tomography image or a three-dimensional image of the object is formed in positional relation, in the optical axis direction, between the first image information and the second image information using the third image information.

Abstract: An optical imaging device which receives an optical collimated input beam, the device having a pair of axicon lenses through which a beam is directed to generate a collimated ring beam, wherein the ring beam is scattered from a substance to generate a return beam, and to bypass a reflector that redirects the return beam to prevent the return beam from interfering with the input beam; and a detector which detects an image projected by the return beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of one or more analytes in a sample. The apparatus comprises a cantilever (205) and a grating coupled resonating structure (210). The cantilever (205) comprises an analyte selective coating that is selective to the one or more analytes. The grating coupled resonating structure (210) is positioned adjacent to the cantilever (205). The first grating coupled resonating structure comprises a first interrogating grating coupler (220) which together with the cantilever forms an optical resonant cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring the thickness of a transparent film by broad band interferometry, comprising the steps of preparing a correlogram of the film by an interferometer, applying a Fourier transformation to said correlogram to obtain a Fourier phase function, removing a linear component thereof, applying a second integral transformation to the remaining non-linear component to obtain an integral amplitude function of said non-linear component, identifying the peak location of said integral amplitude function and determining the thickness of the film as the double value of the abscissa at said peak location considering a refractive index of a film which is dependent on wavelength. The last two steps may be replaced by identifying the peak locations of said integral amplitude function and determining the thickness of the films as the double values of the abscissas at the peak locations.

Abstract: A film thickness measurement apparatus 1A includes a measurement light source 28 which supplies measurement light containing wavelength components over a predetermined band to a semiconductor film 15, a spectroscopic optical system 30 and a photodetector 31 which detect intensities of output light formed by superimposing reflected light components from an upper surface and a lower surface of the semiconductor film 15 at each time point by wavelength, and a film thickness analysis section 40 which obtains a temporal change in film thickness d of the semiconductor film 15.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measurement apparatus is provided that calculates the height of solder accurately. An approximation surface of a wiring pattern is prepared for an inspection block prior to the application of solder. Furthermore, an approximation surface of lands is prepared for an inspection block prior to the application of solder. Then, based on the prepared approximation surface Sr of the wiring pattern and the approximation surface Sl of the lands, an offset, that is, the distance between the approximation surface Sr of the wiring pattern and the approximation surface Sl of the lands is calculated. Then, the calculated offset is stored in a RAM or the like. Then, after the application of solder, the stored offset is read out, and the height of the solder is calculated.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method for position determination of an object (25) in a spatial area (28) is provided in which the object (25) is illuminated with at least one light beam (22, 27). The light beam (22, 27) does not cover the complete spatial area (28) and is guided into a part of the spatial area in which the object (25) is present depending on the position of the object (25). In another aspect a method for measuring a surface is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the safe detection and position determination of objects by means of an optoelectronic scanner. In this method an external reference target is provided in the field of vision and the actual signal level of the reflections from the reference target is detected. A desired degree of reflection of the reference target is calculated from the measured distance from the reference target, from a scanner-specific distance-dependent reception characteristic of the light receiver and from the currently measured received signal on the reference target. Since the degree of reflection of the reference target is not fixedly predefined and is e.g. not taught, but is rather fixed by the aforesaid calculation on the putting into operation, the safety apparatus in accordance with the invention has an exactly defined detection capability even if soft targets such as fog, rain, snow or other air pollution are present.

Abstract: A laser projector for chassis alignment has a laser light source emitting a laser light beam, an optical element which generates a structured laser light pattern when it is irradiated by the laser light beam, a detector which is situated in such a way that it is irradiated by a sub-area of the structured laser light pattern and generates an output signal which is correlated with the radiation, and an evaluation unit which compares the output signal generated by the detector with at least one predefined setpoint value and turns off the laser light source if it detects a significant deviation of the output signal from the setpoint value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires image data expressing an image region included in an image with a first value and a background region included in the image with a second value; a segmenting unit that segments the image region into multiple segments arranged in a fast scanning direction; a converting unit that converts a value of at least one of the segments into the second value; an output unit that generates an image signal on the basis of the image data and outputs the image signal; an exposure unit that exposes a charged image bearing member to light according to the output image signal by scanning the light thereto in the fast scanning direction so as to form a latent image; and a developing unit that forms the image by developing the latent image using an invisible toner that absorbs infrared light or ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A computer program for and a method of generating 1-bit image data from multiple-bit image data, by a process which comprises the steps of: receiving multiple-bit image data comprising multiple-bit pixel values; and deriving from the multiple-bit pixel values 1-bit image data comprising “on” and “off” pixel values, each pixel value of the 1-bit image data corresponding to a pixel of an output medium, which pixel an output device would attempt to mark when printing the 1-bit image data if the pixel value were “on”, the 1-bit image data producing when printed an image constituted by a plurality of densities of dot, the dots are arranged such that, at least for densities of dots greater than a first threshold density, at least a majority of dots form a pair with at least one horizontally or vertically adjacent dot, and for densities of dots less than a second threshold density, the image is substantially free of blocks of 2*2 horizontally and vertically adjacent dots, the second threshold density being greater t

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which reads a test pattern formed by ejecting liquid droplets onto a recording medium to adjust an ejection timing of the liquid droplets is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit; a reading unit; a relative movement unit; an intensity data obtaining unit which obtains intensity data on a reflected light which is received from a scanning position of a light by a light receiving unit while the light moves over the test pattern; and a position detection unit which applies a line position determining operation on the intensity data in the vicinity of a point of inflection included between an upper-limit threshold value and a lower-limit threshold value, and detects a position of a line.

Abstract: Systems and methods for color conversion from one CMYK color space to another CMYK color space. The system receives a color defined by a first coordinate in the first CMYK color space. The system converts the color to a second coordinate for the second CMYK color space, and determines a location in a perceptual color space for each of the first coordinate and the second coordinate. The system further identifies a distance between the locations in the perceptual color space, and reduces the distance in the perceptual color space between the two locations by iteratively revising the second coordinate in the second CMYK color space while holding the black level of the second coordinate constant.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for converting a color portion of an image to monochrome, and/or for converting a monochrome portion of an image to color.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts a line segment included in an image, and includes a density gradient direction determining section that determines a direction, in which density changes, of each processing unit composed of a predetermined number of pixels of an image, and an line segment extracting section that regards a couple of processing units whose density gradient direction are opposite each other as a processing unit pair and extracts a processing unit group including a plurality of processing unit pairs allocated in a row in a direction perpendicular to the density gradient directions as a line segment.

Abstract: With an apparatus according to the present invention, when an input color gamut is compressed to an output color gamut, based on the difference value between the lightness of paper white and the lightness at the maximum chroma in the output color gamut of a predetermined hue, if the lightness difference is below a predetermined threshold value, a compression convergence point is set at a position at which lightness is lower than or equal to the lightness at the maximum chroma in the output color gamut. This suppresses reduction of the gradation in the direction of input chroma, and makes it possible to compress the input color gamut to the output color gamut such that excellent color reproduction is achieved while the gradations of lightness and chroma in the input color space are maintained.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of cores that carry out binarization processes while shifting a target pixel from the first pixel in a processing line in order toward the last pixel in the processing line in accordance with a diffusion of error that takes unprocessed pixels surrounding the target pixel including the pixels of the following line of the processing line as a diffusion range; of the plurality of cores, the core that processes the following line carries out the binarization process in order while delaying the target pixel at least by an amount equivalent to the diffusion range relative to the target pixel of the core that processes the previous line. Accordingly, the lines can be processed in parallel while reflecting the error appropriately on the unprocessed pixels, and thus the binarization process using error diffusion can be carried out more quickly.

Abstract: Provided is a printing control device capable of: a reception process of receiving designation of a printing medium; an adjustment process of adjusting a printing apparatus in accordance with a printing result of a first test pattern; a color conversion table generation process of generating a color conversion table for the designated printing medium; and a profile generation process of generating a device profile of the printing apparatus on the basis of a colorimetric value of a second test pattern by performing color conversion on data, which represents the second test pattern, through the color conversion table, and by causing the printing apparatus to print the second test pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for creating one of a plurality of test decks to qualify and test forms processing systems, including preparing a handprint snippet data base containing labeled handprint image snippets representing a unique hand, preparing a form description file and a data content file, selecting handprint snippets from the handprint snippet data base to formulate a form using the data content file, creating a form image using the selected snippets according to the form description file and printing the form image.

Abstract: An approach is provided for printing electronic documents that provides support for all types of printer models and PDL. A printer driver is configured to interact with Web print services that provide model-specific device capabilities and render PDL on behalf of the printer driver. A printer driver receives application data from an application program. The printer driver causes the application data to be transmitted to one or more Web print services that render the application data and generate print data in a format supported by a specified printing device. The printer driver receives the print data from the one or more Web print services and causes the print data to be transmitted to the specified printing device, wherein processing of the print data at the specified printing device causes a printed version of the electronic document to be generated.