Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for exciting particles, and more specifically relates to analyzers or sorters for exciting fluorescently labeled particles with a multimode diode laser and the optics for making high resolution determinations from the multimode diode laser beam excitation.

Abstract: A spectroscopic system may include: a spectroscopic scatterometer; an angular-resolved spectrometer; and a fiber bundle having a two-dimensional input surface and a one-dimensional output surface.

Abstract: A surface position detecting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has a light-sending optical system which makes first light and second light from first and second patterns incident at different incidence angles to a predetermined surface to project an intermediate image of the first pattern and an intermediate image of the second pattern onto the predetermined surface; a light-receiving optical system which guides the first light and the second light reflected by the predetermined surface, to a first observation surface and to a second observation surface, respectively, to form an observation image of the first pattern and an observation image of the second pattern on the first and second observation surfaces; and a detecting section which detects a piece of position information of the observation image of the first pattern and a piece of position information of the observation image of the second pattern and calculates a surface position of the predetermined surface, based on the pieces

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including: but not limited to, critical dimension and overlay misregistration; defects and thin film characteristics; critical dimension and defects; critical dimension and thin film characteristics; critical dimension, thin film characteristics and defects; macro defects and micro defects; flatness, thin film characteristics and defects; overlay misregistration and flatness; an implant characteristic and defects; and adhesion and thickness.

Abstract: A spectral characteristic measuring system includes, a data processing apparatus, and a program, which correct an illumination light variation caused by a temperature rise in a semiconductor light-emitting element due to light emission or in a scanning type color measurement system, which sequentially measures color samples 1n and in which a semiconductor light-emitting element is used as a light source. Spectral distributions of illumination lights which are measured before and after the color sample is measured are interpolated, to estimate a spectral distribution of an illumination light at the time when a spectral distribution of the color sample is obtained. Spectral characteristics of the color sample are identified based on the spectral distribution of the reflected light or the transmitted light reflected by or transmitted through the color sample and the estimated spectral distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for measuring and/or monitoring the chemical composition of a sample (e.g., a process stream), and/or detecting specific substances or compounds in a sample, using light spectroscopy such as absorption, emission and fluorescence spectroscopy. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to spectrometers with rotating narrow-band interference optical filter(s) to measure light intensity as a function of wavelength. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to a spectrometer system with a rotatable filter assembly with a position detector rigidly attached thereto, and, in certain embodiments, the further use of various oversampling methods and techniques described herein, made particularly useful in conjunction with the rotatable filter assembly.

Abstract: A flow cell for use in an arrayed imaging reflectometry detection system is described herein. The flow cell includes: first and second members that are secured together to define a substantially fluid-tight chamber having an inlet and an outlet, at least the second member being light transmissive; and a chip having a substrate, one or more coating layers on the substrate, and one or more probe molecules tethered to the outermost coating layer, the chip being positioned with the outermost coating layer and the one or more probe molecules thereon exposed to fluid in the chamber and facing the second member, whereby light passing through the second member is reflected by the chip.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for detecting a surface plasmon resonance. The apparatus may radiate a polarized beam of light to a device, such as a surface plasmon resonance generator, and may measure variations in a temperature of the device to detect whether a surface plasmon resonance has occurred. The detection of a surface plasmon resonance may be associated with the presence of a particular material such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or materials disrupting ozone, for example.

Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus using an optical fiber to measure the characteristic of an object to be measured arranged along the circumference of a circle includes a first pulley, a second pulley which is turnable on its own axis at a second angular velocity while revolving about the first pulley at a first angular velocity, and the optical fiber which is held by the second pulley and projects detection light on the object to be measured and receives reflected light from the object to be measured. The first angular velocity and the second angular velocity are the same in magnitude and opposite in the direction. Occurrence of a twist in the optical fiber is suppressed, and therefore, the optical measurement apparatus is capable of measuring the characteristics of the object to be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a chip with a microfluidic channel opening onto a chip inlet and a chip outlet. The channel has a sensing area and fluid delivery area. A fluidic adaptor channel opening onto an adaptor inlet and an adaptor outlet can receive a pipette tip through the adaptor inlet wherein receipt of the pipette tip into the adaptor channel creates a direct fluid path between the pipette tip and the channel and wherein the microfluidic system is configured for sensing in the sensing area by interferometry.

Abstract: A lightwave interference measurement apparatus includes a wavelength-variable laser which periodically performs wavelength scanning between first and second reference wavelengths to emit light beam, a wavelength-fixed laser which emits light beam having a third reference wavelength, a light beam splitting element which splits the light beams into reference light beam and light beam under test, a phase detector which detects a phase based on an interference signal of the reference light beam and the light beam under test, and an analyzer which sequentially determines an interference order of the third reference wavelength based on the third reference wavelength, first and second synthetic wavelengths, an integer component of a phase change amount in the wavelength scanning, and interference orders of the first and second synthetic wavelengths, and calculates an absolute distance between the surface under test and the reference surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining the near angle scattering of a sample reflective surface comprising the steps of: a) splitting a beam of light having a coherence length of greater than or equal to about 2 meters into a sample beam and a reference beam; b) frequency shifting both the sample beam and the reference beam to produce a fixed beat frequency between the sample beam and the reference beam; c) directing the sample beam through a focusing lens and onto the sample reflective surface, d) reflecting the sample beam from the sample reflective surface through a detection restriction disposed on a movable stage; e) recombining the sample beam with the reference beam to form a recombined beam, followed by f) directing the recombined beam to a detector and performing heterodyne analysis on the recombined beam to measure the near-angle scattering of the sample reflective surface, wherein the position of the detection restriction relative to the sample beam is varied to occlude at least a portion of t

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern inspection apparatus includes a light source, a beam splitter, a first optical system, a second optical system, a controller, a phase controller and a detector. The beam splitter splits an emitted light into first and second optical paths. The first optical system delivers the light to a first pattern and delivers a first reflected light from the first pattern. The second optical system delivers the light to a second pattern and delivers a second reflected light from the second pattern. The controller is provided on the optical path, and intensities of the first and second reflected lights are substantially equal. The phase controller is provided on the optical path, and phases of the first and second reflected lights are inverted. In addition, the detector detects a light that the first and second reflected lights are made to interfere with each other.

Abstract: A tomographic optical beam irradiance sensor is disclosed. An optical medium receives an incident beam at a plurality of incident points in the optical medium. A first angular optical sensor assembly senses a first set of ray angles and intensities of a plurality of scatter rays emitted from the incident points. A second angular optical sensor assembly senses a second set of ray angles and intensities of the scatter rays emitted from the incident points. A tomography module determines a plurality of locations and intensities of the incident points in the optical medium based on the first set of ray angles and intensities and the second set of ray angles and intensities.

Abstract: A system and methods for precision marking are presented. A base member is configured to slide over a surface, and a plunger is coupled to the base member and is configured to move in relation to the base member. A location marking device is coupled to the plunger, a magnetic ring is configured to hold a retro-reflector, and a magnetic ring retainer is configured to couple the magnetic ring to the plunger. A spring is coupled to the plunger and is configured to elevate the location marking device away from the surface.

Abstract: A method serves for the determination of the 3D coordinates of an object. An improved method of this kind is characterized in that the object is surrounded by a plurality of reference probes having coded reference marks; and in that a plurality of shots are taken of the object such that a part of the object and a part of a reference probe is in each case included thereon.

Abstract: An image forming system, comprises: an image formation unit for forming an image on a paper; a first paper ejection unit for receiving the paper; a second paper ejection unit for receiving the paper as a sample paper in a state that the sample paper is visually checked when sample paper ejection is performed; a first control section for controlling a switching section to eject the sample paper by switching a paper sending destination from the first paper ejection unit to the second paper ejection unit at a time of the sample paper ejection; a second control section for controlling a display section to display thumbnail images; and wherein the first control section performs the sample paper ejection using the image for sample paper ejection selected by a selecting section for selecting the image for sample paper ejection from the thumbnail images displayed in the display section.

Abstract: A print data generating apparatus generates print data to be sent to a printing apparatus for printing image data. The print data generating apparatus includes an information storage unit for storing print guarantee area information of the printing apparatus, and an editing unit for editing the image data according to the print guarantee area information stored in the information storage unit. With the configuration, it is possible to generate an image data file according to the printing apparatus and print an image without imperfection.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printing job of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit. The method of controlling a printing job includes transforming scanned data into printable data, and determining a time to start driving the image forming unit according to the type of data scanned, starting driving the image forming unit at the determined start time, and printing the scanned data transformed into printable data. The time required to perform a printing job is thereby reduced, and scanned data can be output normally.

Abstract: A printing method which dynamically loads a filter, a recordable medium with a program to execute the printing method, and a host apparatus. The printing method uses filter setting information having at least one filter corresponding to a print option of a print document, the printing method can include selecting a print option, changing the filter setting information corresponding to the print option, and applying the printing option according to the changed filter setting information and transmitting print data.

Abstract: A method and system for matching distributed users with distributed MFDs is disclosed, which incorporates a MFD cloud, a back end unit, and a client application. The MFD cloud is composed of a large number of geographically distributed MFDs and can be logically divided into a public cloud and a private cloud. The back end unit maintains a persistent state of each MFD associated with the MFD cloud. The client application permits the distributed users to submit a rendering job in association with a job criterion to the back end unit which responds with a sorted list of nearby available MFDs that meet the job criterion. The user can select a MFD from the list and turn-by-turn directions from a user's current location to the selected MFD can be provided for collecting the rendering job. The system data can be kept current by periodically sending a status associated with each MFD.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus includes a user interface to display at least one of pre-stored hierarchical printing options if a command to print an XPS file is received, an analysis unit to analyze a hierarchical structure of the XPS file, an applying unit to apply a pre-stored hierarchical printing option selected from among the at least one displayed hierarchical printing options to the hierarchical structure of the XPS file, and a communication interface to transmit the XPS file to which the hierarchical printing option is applied to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a user can hierarchically set frequently used hierarchical printing options in a convenient manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a processing device to carry out a predetermined process to a sheet in which an image is formed, the processing device requiring a warm-up of a predetermined time, a control unit to specify a warm-up completion time, to input a plurality of jobs according to a predetermined inputting operation of an operator, to specify whether the inputted job is a first job or a second job, to specify a processing time of the second job which is inputted, and to decide an execution order of the plurality of jobs so that the second job is to be executed in preference to the first job until the warm-up completion time elapses from start of a job execution and an image forming unit to orderly execute the jobs according to the execution order of the plurality of jobs which is decided by the control unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming unit, an image reader unit, an ejecting space to catch the recording medium, a pickup opening to expose the ejecting space, and a frame assembly to hold the image forming unit and the image reader unit. The housing includes an operation unit, which is configured to form an upper edge of the pickup opening. An enhancement member extending along a widthwise direction to bridge over the ejecting space is arranged in a lower position in the operation unit. The frame assembly includes a first support member and a second support member, which are arranged in widthwise ends of the ejecting space. The enhancement member is connected to the first support member and to the second support member at the widthwise ends thereof.

Abstract: To keep track of which process each process job currently exits and when it comes in own charge or which job must be processed, it is necessary to use a workflow system on a PC, and this necessitates to move back and force between the PC and the apparatus, thereby leading to the deterioration of the operational efficiency. An object of the invention is to provide a system in which the apparatus and the workflow server are connected, and by moving forward the processing by using the operation unit of the apparatus, the workflow of the operator in the centralized copy room and the print center of the company can be smoothly moved forward.

Abstract: A printing device includes a user interface, a print module, memory and a device agent. The device agent is configured to modify usage information stored in the memory of the printing device. Based on values in the usage information, one or more processes operating on the printing device may be suspended. If so suspended, a user may contact an administrator who operates the device agent to modify the usage information, and permit the one or more processes to resume.

Abstract: A print controlling device is provided with a print process executing unit capable of concurrently executing a plurality of printing processes for a plurality of printing devices, respectively. Each of the plurality of printing processes is a process for generating print data to be transmitted to a printing device. The print controlling device includes a first judging unit configured to judge whether a number of concurrently executed ones of the plurality of printing processes exceeds a first restriction value, and part of the concurrently executed ones of the plurality of the printing processes is temporarily stopped when the number of concurrently executed ones of the plurality of printing processes exceeds the first restriction value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine an abnormal state of the image forming apparatus, a storage unit configured to store information indicating a state of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of output units configured to output the stored information by different output methods. The image forming apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display information regarding each of the plurality of output units, and a selection unit configured to select an output unit designated by a user using the displayed information. The image forming apparatus outputs the stored information using the selected output unit.

Abstract: A system accurately performs function restriction on a user-by-user basis, even in the case of an image processing function that is realizable with use of a plurality of apparatuses. To accomplish this, the image processing system includes a user restriction information management apparatus that has function restriction information and an image processing apparatus that has related restriction information. The image processing apparatus performs a user-designated function based on restriction content of the function restriction information and the related restriction information. There are cases where a restriction function, which is a function that is restricted by the function restriction information, can be realized by combining a plurality of other functions that are different from the restriction function, and related restriction information refers to information for restricting the usage of such other functions.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when embedded information, which is information embedded into received image file, is to be printed, the embedded information is extracted from the image file, form data for preparing a form that includes an information-embedding area where extracted embedded information is to be arranged and an image-data area where the image data in the received image file is to be arranged is prepared, a combined image is generated by combining the extracted embedded information in the information-embedding area and the image data in the image-data area, and the combined image is printed.

Abstract: A supplier PC transmits a print job together with information on the recipient of the print job and print setting to a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus receives the print job, transmits a notification that print preparation is completed to the recipient PC to accomplish notification. The recipient PC displays pre-print notification, based on the notification contents. The user of the recipient PC views the notification contents, and comes to know that a document addressed to him/her has been transmitted and about to be printed. The recipient PC accepts a change in print setting and the like, and starts printing. Thus, the user of the supplier PC can pass a print to the recipient.

Abstract: In a method for processing of a plurality of document processing jobs in a computer-aided document processing system, job chaperone data are generated that identify a preferred job processing apparatus relative to other job processing apparatuses of a same type in a job provider computer with respect to a document processing job.

Abstract: An computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for controlling printing, the process includes: accepting a first printing instruction; accepting a second printing instruction; storing, when the first printing instruction is accepted, a first print job corresponding to the first printing instruction in a storage unit; and outputting, to a printing apparatus, when the second printing instruction is accepted, both (i) a second print job corresponding to the second printing instruction and (ii) the first print job stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a print controller which generates image data based on a print job; and an image forming apparatus which controls the print controller and performs a printing operation based on the image data, wherein the image forming apparatus includes: a first interface section which connects with a first line for receiving the image data from the print controller; a second interface which connects with a second line with which a client can connect, the second line for communicating with the print controller; and a control section which executes a first control which, through the first line, executes an initial setting which enables the print controller to be used through the second line, and a second control which executes of the print controller after the initial setting is executed through the second line.

Abstract: A display control device includes: a request receiving unit that receives a request to display a first image, in which a stack order of images in a visual direction of a user is specified; an obtaining unit that obtains a display priority of an image group to which the first image belongs; a display layer identifying unit that identifies a display layer from among plural display layers divided from a near side to a far side in the visual direction, a position of the display layer becoming nearer in the visual direction as the obtained display priority increases; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display a screen in which the first image and a second image belonging to an image group identical to the image group to which the first image belongs are arranged in the identified display layer in the specified stack order.

Abstract: When input print data is data for normal printing, a hot folder control manager changes information on the property rights of the print data to a holder to whom a quota of a shared folder is not set (holder on whom use limit is not imposed). Then, the hot folder control manager moves print data changing information on the property rights to a normal printing hot folder.

Abstract: A host apparatus connected with an image forming apparatus and a web page printing method thereof. The method of printing a displayed web page includes capturing at least one area on the displayed web page, displaying the at least one captured area in a first area disposed adjacent to the displayed web page, editing the at least one captured area displayed in the first area, and executing the at least one captured and edited area. With this, it is convenient for a user to select, edit and print a desired area from a web page.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and suppresses generation of radiation noise without increasing the cost. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The image forming apparatus performs distributed control. The image forming apparatus determines the operating frequencies of the salve control units in accordance with loads controlled by the salve control units. The image forming apparatus compares the operating frequencies of the slave control units. Based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus changes the operating frequency of a slave control unit that is equal to the operating frequency of another slave control unit.

Abstract: A gateway converts a signal between a transmitting terminal capable of transmitting printable print contents in accordance with a FAX protocol and a receiving terminal capable of receiving the print contents in accordance with an HTTP protocol and printing the print contents.

Abstract: A method and system for managing print jobs in a printing system, including assigning one or more printing resources including at least one printer to a print value stream, the print value stream capable of printing one or more parts from one or more print products, maintaining a prioritized queue of print jobs to be processed by the print value stream, dynamically updating a cadence rate that indicates the maximum number of print units to be printed by the print value stream during a specified period of time, and providing the print jobs from the prioritized queue in priority order to the print value stream at a rate so as not to exceed the cadence rate. The approach is related in principle to Takt Time or Taktzeit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are employed to quantify resource usage for review by a user. Marking engine data contains information related to a print job sent to the marking engine and community data relates to resource usage by members of a plurality of communities within a system. A resource profiling component receives the marking engine data and the community data to evaluate resource usage by a user compared to one or more of a user within their community. A visualization component receives the evaluation from the resource profiling component, generates a graphic associated with the evaluation and presents and distributes the graphic to one or more recipients.

Abstract: When attribute information for a user has been acquired by authentication using an authentication apparatus, a restriction on a useable function is imposed according to the attribute information. When a fee has been collected by a fee collection apparatus, a restriction is imposed on preset functions. In either of these cases, use of the image forming apparatus by another user is prohibited until use by the first user in the useable state is finished.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit forming an image on a medium based on image data; a first storage storing image forming conditions; an input device storing image forming conditions set by a user input setting the image forming conditions in the first storage; a second storage storing a history of input operations by the user; a registering device registering, if the history stored in the second storage satisfies a predetermined condition, the image forming conditions stored in the first storage as image forming conditions that can be called by a unique identifier; and a calling device, responsive to a user input designating an identifier, the corresponding image forming conditions from the registering device and storing in the first storage.

Abstract: A print document conversion apparatus includes plural software-based conversion units and a controller. The plural software-based conversion units perform a software-based conversion process for converting print document data described in a page description language into page image data having a bitmap image format. Each of the software-based conversion units requests a hardware-based image processing apparatus to execute specific image processing in the software-based conversion process, and generates the page image data including a result of the specific image processing in response to the request. The controller activates an additional software-based conversion unit that performs the software-based conversion process when there is a possibility that a state where at least one of the software-based conversion units waits for the hardware-based image processing apparatus to complete the image processing occurs.

Abstract: In a conventional technique, it was impossible to execute processings up to an arbitrary processing among a series of registered processings depending on the situation from time to time. Thus, the only option in such a case was to newly register a new workflow depending on the need changing and depending on time. To solve this, a series of registered processings are displayed as a menu so that a user can select up to which processing in the series of processings should be executed. A not selected remaining processing can be executed by the user by allowing the user to later select a document once subjected to operations.

Abstract: To provide a mechanism in which a browser appropriately notifies a user of a change in the state without waiting for an instruction from a server and displays an appropriate operation screen upon reception of the instruction from the server in an information processing apparatus executing a process based on a request from the server. Upon detection of a change in the state, a service provider 340 notifies a Web browser 330 of the state and content information corresponding to the state. The Web browser 330 displays a screen in accordance with the content information included in the notification of the change in the state from the service provider 340. In addition, the Web browser 330 accesses an URL in accordance with an instruction from a Web server 102 to acquire an appropriate operation screen and displays the operation screen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a connector unit to which an external memory device is connected; a detecting unit configured to detect whether the external memory device is connected to the connector unit or not and output a detection result indicating that the connector unit is in a connected state or an unconnected state; a printing unit configured to execute a printing according to data from the external memory device connected to the connector unit; and a suspending unit configured to suspend operation of the printing unit according to a predetermined timing in response to a change in the detection result from the connected state to the unconnected state.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spot color area detection unit, an erasing determination unit and a drawing control unit. The spot color area detection unit detects a spot color area in image information. The erasing determination unit determines, based on designation regarding drawing of the spot color area, as to whether or not a non-spot color area overlapping the spot color area is to be erased. The drawing control unit outputs an instruction of erasing the spot color area and determines a drawing range of the non-spot color area based on a determination result of the erasing determination unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided with an area sensor which is formed by arranging sensor components for a pixel in a two-dimensional array and is attached in an inclined manner with respect to a reference installation position. The apparatus has a sensor unit which reads, from the sensor components which are determined based on an inclination angle indicating an inclination of the area sensor from the reference installation position and have been arranged within the area sensor, image data in which the inclination has been corrected; an image obtaining unit which obtains a plurality of frames of image data having a shift of less than one pixel, by scanning an original document image once by the sensor unit; and a high resolution conversion unit which obtains image data with a resolution higher than resolutions of the sensor components by using the obtained image data to perform interpolation processing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a color information generating unit that generates information of color values in input image data; an Index table generating unit that generates an Index table in which a first identification information according to a hash value is associated with a first predetermined number of color values; a drawing unit that generates a second identification information according to the hash value for each color value in the input image data and performs, when the second identification information is different from the first identification information associated with a color value in the Index table having a same value, drawing according to the color value, and when the second identification information is the same as the first identification information, drawing according to the first identification information; and a converting unit that converts an image drawn by the identification information into a color value.