Abstract: A thin film transistor substrate includes a source line and a gate line arranged to cross each other in a grid pattern, and a thin film transistor arranged at the intersection between the source line and the gate line. The source line is covered with an insulating film, and the insulating film is covered with a first alignment film. An opposite substrate includes a protrusion arranged so as to protrude toward the thin film transistor substrate. With the thin film transistor substrate and the opposite substrate arranged to face each other, the protrusion is arranged so as to cover the source line from above and to extend in a direction in which the source line extends. The protrusion has a conductive film arranged on an edge surface of the protrusion near the source line. The protrusion and the conductive film are covered with a second alignment film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device (100A) according to the present invention includes: a thin-film transistor (10); a first insulating layer (9) which has been formed over the thin-film transistor (10); a second insulating layer (11) which has been formed on the first insulating layer (9) and which has a hole (21a); and an opaque layer (12a) which is arranged so as to overlap an oxide semiconductor layer (5) when viewed along a normal to the substrate (1). The opaque layer (12a) has been formed in the hole (21a). The opaque layer (12a) has a raised and curved upper surface and the upper surface of the second insulating layer (11) is located closer to the substrate (1) than the upper surface of the opaque layer (12a) is.

Abstract: An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate including a display region and a non-display region at a periphery of the display region; a common line on the substrate; a data drive integrated circuit in the non-display region; first and second data lines crossing the gate line to define a pixel region in the display region, the first and second data lines having a difference in a distance from the data drive integrated circuit; first and second data link lines connected to the data drive integrated circuit, the first and second data link lines respectively connected to the first and second data lines; a thin film transistor in the pixel region connected to the gate line and one of the first and second data lines; a pixel electrode in the pixel region and connected to the thin film transistor; and a first conductive pattern in the non-display region and connected to the common line such that a common voltage is applied to the first conductive pattern, the first cond

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display which includes a liquid crystal layer between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulator and a semiconductor layer are laminated. A pixel electrode is formed on the gate insulator and metal source and drain electrodes are formed on the semiconductor layer and gate insulator. At least upper surfaces of the source and drain electrode contain Mo. One of the source and drain electrodes is directly laminated on a portion of the pixel electrode, which portion is disposed on the gate insulating film.

Abstract: A backlight module includes a back plate having at least one side and a backlight unit including an optical plate and an optical film. The at least one side has a surface, and the surface is disposed with a supporting member. The supporting member includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extended from the horizontal portion. In addition, the vertical portion includes a plane surface and a protruding piece, and the plane surface is used for supporting the optical plate and the protruding piece is used for positioning the optical film; and a liquid crystal display device has the backlight module.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a frame body that has a lower frame, a mold member, and an upper frame, wherein the upper frame has a box shape with one surface opened along a side wall surface and the other surface forming an opening part, the mold member includes a mounting part that mounts a peripheral part of the display panel and a catching part formed in correspondence with an end surface of the display panel, the catching part of the mold member includes a first catching part having a top part opposite to the mounting part in contact with an inner surface of the upper frame and a second catching part with a projection height from the mounting part lower than a projection height of the first catching part.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate disposed below the liquid crystal panel, and a light source unit which emits light to at least one side surface of the light guide plate. The light source unit includes light source elements which are disposed adjacent to the at least one side surface of the light guide plate, and which emit light that is incident on the at least one side surface of the light guide plate. A printed circuit board is disposed adjacent to a lower surface of the light guide plate and supports the light source elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a display apparatus having the liquid crystal display panel. A second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel includes a second electrode and a plurality of pixel areas. The second electrode has a pixel electrode structure in each of the pixel areas. The pixel electrode structure includes a trunk and a plurality of branches. A distance between the two neighboring branches is an interval. Each of the branches has a width. Each of the pixel areas has at least two widths and at least two intervals.

Abstract: A display device includes a transparent display panel and an adjustable light valve. The transparent display panel and the adjustable light valve are disposed opposite to each other. The transparent display panel includes a plurality of pixels including active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes for generating an image. When the display device operates under a transparent display mode, the adjustable light valve is in a transparent status. When the display device operates under a high color saturation display mode, the adjustable light valve is in a non-transparent status. Thereby, the display device will not be limited to having only a display mode.

Abstract: A LCD is provided. The LCD device includes a cover bottom, a light guide panel, a liquid crystal panel, a LED assembly, a guide panel, and a case top. The light guide panel is disposed at the cover bottom. The liquid crystal panel is disposed over the light guide panel to display an image. The LED assembly is disposed at a lateral side of the light guide panel in the cover bottom to irradiate light to a side of the light guide panel. The guide panel guides the light guide panel and supporting the liquid crystal panel, a slide hole, into which the LED assembly is inserted, being formed in the guide panel. The slide hole cover covers the slide hole. The case top is coupled to the cover bottom, and surrounds a top of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: The present provides a backlight module comprises a waveguide. A reflective film is disposed under the waveguide. A backframe includes a backboard and sidewall arranged along peripheral of the backboard, the reflective film is arranged on a top surface of the backboard, and the waveguide is supported onto the reflective film with a side surface facing the sidewall of the backframe. A printed circuit board is disposed on the sidewall of the backframe located adjacent to the waveguide, and includes a first circuit board extending vertically, and a second circuit board extends horizontally from top or lower end of the first circuit board. A semi-conductor light source is disposed onto a portion of the first circuit board located adjacent to the waveguide; and wherein each of the first and second circuit boards has a reflective surface facing toward the semiconductor light source. The present invention further provides a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A display device including: first, second and third substrates, where the second substrate is between the first and third substrates; a light amount controlling layer between the first and second substrates; a color providing layer between the second and third substrates; a light source unit which provides light; and a light guide plate disposed below the first substrate, where the light guide plate guides the light from the light source to the first substrate, where the light amount controlling layer and the color providing layer include pixels corresponding to each other, light from the light guide plate and passed through a pixel of the light amount controlling layer to pass through an adjacent pixel of the color providing layer, and the pixels of the color providing layer include a color conversion region and a transparent region.

Abstract: A backlight module and its corresponding liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The backlight module has a light guide plate and an LED light source. The light guide plate has an incident surface, a light-outputting surface and two side surfaces. The light-outputting surface has a plurality of micro-structures formed thereon for converging lights. Each of the side surfaces has a light-absorption material mounted thereon for absorbing lights outputted from the side surfaces. The backlight module can reduce the crosstalk phenomenon of brightness.

Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light incident surface to which light is incident as incident light, an opposite surface formed opposite to the light incident surface, a light emitting surface through which the incident light is emitted, a rear surface formed opposite to the light emitting surface and including a prism pattern which reflects the incident light to the light emitting surface, and lateral surfaces, wherein a diffuse reflection pattern is formed on at least any one of the light emitting surface and the lateral surfaces to diffuse-reflect light incident to the lateral surfaces, thus rendering a brightness at both the opposite surface and the light incident surface substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nanophosphor includes: contacting a nanophosphor raw material and a flux to form a mixture, sintering the mixture to form a nanoprecursor, ball-milling the nanoprecursor, and drying the ball-milled nanoprecursor to form the nanophosphor, wherein an average particle size of the nanophosphor is equal to or more than about 50 nanometers (nm) and equal to or less than about 7 micrometers (um).

Abstract: An electronic device includes a liquid crystal display device having a first substrate, a second substrate bonded to the first substrate, with liquid crystal material held between the first substrate and the second substrate, and an upper polarizing plate affixed to the second substrate. A protective member is disposed over the upper polarizing plate, and an adhesive member is disposed between the protective member and the upper polarizing plate without an air layer between the protective member and the upper polarizing plate. The protective member is configured as a protective cover of the electronic device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The second substrate includes a buffer layer, and the buffer layer includes a recessed portion. A spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, such that a portion of the spacer is extended into the recessed portion. A bottom surface of the recessed portion contacts an upper surface of the spacer. A shortest line crossing a center of the bottom surface of the recessed portion is longer than a longest line crossing a center of the upper surface of the spacer, by about 14 micrometers to about 20 micrometers.

Abstract: The present invention is a laser irradiation apparatus which is capable of selecting among a plurality of laser lights L having different wavelengths a laser light of a wavelength according to a purpose of irradiation and irradiating an object Ob to be irradiated with the laser light having the wavelength. The laser irradiation apparatus includes: on an optical path of a mixed light beam of the plurality of laser lights L having different wavelengths, a slit having a width corresponding to a diffraction limit of the laser light having the shortest wavelength among the plurality of laser lights L having different wavelengths; and an objective lens for focusing a laser light that has passed through the slit, on the object Ob to be irradiated.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate, a spacer and an image display layer. The spacer includes a main spacer, a first sub-spacer and a second sub-spacer. The main spacer has a height greater than that of the first and second sub-spacers. The second sub-spacer has an area wider than that of the main spacer and the first sub-spacer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel and method are disclosed for increasing optical efficiency in the panel by using a reflector with a high fill factor and arranging an array of transparent pixel electrodes between the reflector and a layer of liquid crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal display element, the liquid crystal display element including: a pair of alignment films provided on mutually facing sides of a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer which is provided between the pair of alignment films and contains a liquid crystal molecule having a negative dielectric anisotropy, wherein at least one of the pair of alignment films contains a cross-linked compound obtained by crosslinking a polymer compound having a cross-linkable functional group as a side chain, the liquid crystal layer further contains a molecule which has a ring structure and a spacer linking the ring structure, and the liquid crystal molecule is given a pre-tilt by the cross-linked compound.

Abstract: A process for making eyeglasses frames (1), where at least one front rim (2) or a pair of sidepieces (3) of the eyeglasses frame (1) is decorated, comprises the steps of decorating a film, inserting the film into the mould (4) and injection moulding the front rim (2) and/or the sidepieces (3) with the film applied to it/them; before the step of injection moulding the front rim (2) and/or the sidepieces (3), there is a step of thermoforming and trimming the film to form and shape the film according to a profile corresponding to a wall (7) of the mould (4), in such a way that the film (5) inserted in the mould is shaped like a surface of the front rim (2) and/or of the sidepieces (3) to be formed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ophthalmic lens with a low reflection both in the ultraviolet region and in the visible region, comprising a substrate provided on its rear main face with a multilayered antireflective coating (3-7 layers) comprising a stack of at least one layer with a high refractive index and at least one layer with a low refractive index, having a mean reflection factor on the rear face in the visible region Rm lower than or equal to 1.15%, a mean light reflection factor on the rear face in the visible region Rv lower than or equal to 1%, a mean reflection factor RUV on the rear face between 280 nm and 380 nm, weighted by the function W(?) defined in the ISO 13666:1998 standard, lower than 5%, for angles of incidence of 30° and 45°, the antireflective coating outer layer being a silica-based layer. The lens according to the invention does especially prevent the reflection of the UV radiation produced by light sources located behind the wearer.

Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including at least one siloxane monomer and at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer, or at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer, or both, wherein, when the at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, and when the at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses and methods for their design and use involve displacement functions based on the sum of a continuous cosine function and a continuous sine function, optionally over a plurality of echelettes. Exemplary monofocal and multifocal diffractive ophthalmic lenses provide reduced light scatter and/or improved light energy distribution properties. Such properties can be provided by diffractive profiles, often having subtlety shaped echelettes with appropriately curving profiles. Light scatter may be generated by the sharp corners associated with vertical steps between adjacent conventional diffractive echelettes. Smooth diffractive profiles of the invention reduce light scatter. Light energy directed toward non-viewing diffractive orders may have a unwanted effects on vision quality. Diffractive profiles as described herein may limit the light energy in certain, selected orders, thereby improving viewing quality and mitigating unwanted effects such as dysphotopsia.

Abstract: A method for measuring the parameters for manufacturing spectacle lenses and a device for realizing the same. The measuring method can precisely and easily measure the parameters for manufacturing spectacle lenses by reflecting the measurement subject's physical features and spectacle-wearing habits through the naturally captured image of the measurement subject who looks at the infinite distance focus. The device for measuring the parameters for manufacturing spectacle lenses can be easily manufactured and manipulated through various simple modules, such as the infinite distance focus providing means, the near distance focus providing means, the camera means, the flash means, and so on, can be manufactured in a small size in such a fashion that a user can carry it. The auxiliary device for measuring the parameters for manufacturing spectacle lenses can accurately and easily measure various parameters for manufacturing spectacle lenses by being connected with the portable tablet computer.

Abstract: A fundus imaging apparatus includes: an interference optical system configured to detect, with a detector, an interference state between a reference light and a measurement light that is reflected at a fundus; an optical scanner configured to scan the fundus with the measurement light; an optical member configured to adjust an optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light; an imaging unit configured to photograph a tomographic image of the fundus based on an output signal from the detector; a first optical path length adjuster configured to move the optical member, based on a light-receiving signal output from the detector corresponding to a position of the optical member; a second optical path length adjuster configured to readjust a position of the optical member; and an optical system adjuster configured to adjust the interference optical system between adjustments by the first and second optical path length adjusters.

Abstract: A highly portable wearable apparatus is provided to capture high-quality image data of eye movement used for eye-tracking. The wearable apparatus comprises a coupling member adapted to securely couple the apparatus to an eyewear frame, an arm assembly having a distal end and configured to enable vertical and lateral of movements of the distal end, and an imaging assembly disposed on the distal end. The imaging assembly, via vertical and lateral movements of the distal end, can be disposed in a position close to an eye of a user that is suitable for eye-tracking when the user wears an eyewear frame with the apparatus deployed thereon. The imaging assembly is configured to capture infrared-illuminated eye and wirelessly transmit captured image data. A configuration in connection with infrared source placement is provided to achieve optimal glint-tracking used to track head movement for improving quality of eye-tracking.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes: a main unit including a unit for observing or photographing an examinee's eye; a movable part in which the main unit is mounted; a vertical movement mechanism provided with a drive part to move the movable part up and down; an operating member to be operated by an examiner to move the movable part up and down; a sensing part to detect an operation signal of the operating member; and a driving control part to convert the operation signal detected by the sensing part to a drive signal to move the movable part up and down, and drive the drive part based on the drive signal, wherein the drive part includes a motor having a hollow portion about a rotation axis thereof, the motor being controlled by the driving control part to rotate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for integrating optical coherence tomography (OCT) and very high frequency ultrasound (VHFU) imaging systems. An OCT probe and reference arm are mounted along with an ultrasound probe on a carriage capable of rotational, linear, and/or arcuate motion. The probe carriage may be immersed in water or other suitable medium. The OCT and VHFU probes move about the cornea surface such that the probe axes are substantially perpendicular relative to the cornea surface throughout a scan. The probes are able to be scanned in an arcuate path across the entire cornea surface. The method and apparatus disclosed are also directed towards providing a positioning mechanism and scan head comprising an arcuate guide track wherein only an OCT probe is mounted on the probe carriage. This embodiment allows the OCT probe beam to remain substantially perpendicular to the cornea and lens surfaces.

Abstract: A device for capturing images where the incident light passes through a modulator that adjusts to provide a selected image. Imagewise light is received in a sensor which is in communication with a processor that implements an optimization algorithm. The processor is in communication with the modulator and controls functioning of the modulator to optimize and to obtain the selected image.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for recording a depth profile of a biological tissue, in particular a frontal eye section of a human eye, according to the principle of optical coherence tomography, comprising a light source adapted to generate a bundle of light rays, an interferometer arrangement having a beam splitter device adapted to spatially separate the bundle of light rays into a reference beam and a measurement beam directed toward the tissue, a reference beam deflection device adapted to deflect the reference beam, a beam superpositioning device adapted to spatially superimpose the deflected reference beam onto the measurement beam deflected by the tissue into a superpositioned beam, and a detector arrangement for detecting information in the superpositioned beam associated with the difference of the optical path length of the reference beam and the measurement beam.

Abstract: A micro mirror structure and a projection apparatus using the same are provided. The micro mirror structure suitable for being used in a digital micro mirror device of a projection apparatus. The micro mirror structure includes a micro mirror, a pair of main posts and a pair of landing posts. The micro mirror is configured to swing about a swinging hinge, wherein the swinging hinge is extended along a first axis parallel to a first side of the micro mirror and the length of the swinging hinge is greater than the length of the first side of the micro mirror. The main posts are respectively disposed on two opposite ends of the swinging hinge for supporting the swinging hinge and the micro minor. The pair of landing posts are respectively disposed at two opposing sides of swinging hinge along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: An adjustable supporting mechanism and a projector therewith are disclosed. The adjustable supporting mechanism is disposed in an apparatus casing includes a clamping part, an adjustment part, a constraining part, and a releasing part . The clamping part is fixedly disposed on the apparatus casing and has a passage extending in a direction. The adjustment part is disposed through the passage and is capable of protruding out of the apparatus casing. The constraining part is disposed to be capable of selectively urging the clamping part to clamp the adjustment part or being urged by the releasing part to release the clamping for releasing the adjustment part. Therefore, the exposed length of the adjustment part is adjustable, so that the disposition angle of the projector can be easily adjusted.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a plurality of individually controllable radiation source units each providing a portion of a patterned beam of radiation, a control system configured to monitor a parameter of performance of each of the individually controllable radiation source units, and a replacement mechanism configured to replace one of the individually controllable radiation source units with a replacement unit responsive to the control system determining that a criterion has been met based on the monitored parameter of performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser radar device including a modulated light beam generator that emits light beams to a target, a photodetector that receives reflected light; a reflected light condenser that condenses the reflected light; a rotator that rotates around a rotation axis; and mirrors included in the rotator that scan the light beams, and guide the reflected light to the reflected light condenser, wherein an angular detection range in a vertical direction is divided into a plurality of layers, wherein mirror surfaces of the mirrors are tilted by corresponding tilt angles relative to the rotation axis, the tilt angles being different from each other, wherein the modulated light beam generator emits the light beams in the vertical direction, the light beams having different emission angles, and wherein a difference between the emission angles corresponds to the angular detection range of one layer in the vertical direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a pool cleaner control system including a laser range finder with a first laser line generator, a second laser line generator, and a camera. The first laser line generator and the second laser line generator are positioned to emit parallel laser lines and the camera is positioned to capture an image of the laser lines projected on an object. The control system also includes a controller in communication with the laser range finder and configured to control operation of the laser line generators to emit the laser lines and to control the camera to capture the image. The controller is also configured to receive the image from the camera, calculate a pixel distance between the laser lines in the image, and calculate the physical distance between the camera and the object based on the pixel distance.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a position of a communication platform involves a first communication platform and a second communication platform. The first communication platform is in communicative contact with the second communication platform, and the communication connection is a focusable communication connection. The direction and/or orientation of the focusing of the communication connection is determinable and, by determining tho focusing of the communication connection, a position of the second communication platform is determinable.

Abstract: A device for the interferometric measuring of an object, including a source to generate a source beam, a beam splitting device to split the source beam into a measuring beam and a reference beam, an optic interference device and a first detector, which cooperate such that the measuring beam reflected by the object at least partially is at least partially interfered as the receiver beam and the reference beam on a detector area of the first detector. The beam splitting device splits the source beam into a measuring beam, a first partial reference beam, and at least one second partial reference beam. There is at least one second detector embodied such that the first receiver beam is interfered with the first partial reference beam on a detection area of the first detector and the second partial receiver beam with a second partial reference beam on a detection area of the second detector, each with the formation of an optic interference.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a concentration of an additive in a mixture is provided. The apparatus for determining the concentration of an additive in a mixture comprises a distillation system, a filtration system, a detection system and a fluid transportation system. An alternative apparatus is a portable apparatus comprising a distillation system, a filtration system, a detection system and a fluid transportation system removably coupled to a portable container. A method for determining the concentration of the additive in the mixture includes concentrating the additive in the mixture, removing the additive from a fraction of the mixture and measuring a spectral signature of both the non-additive fraction of the mixture and the mixture. A spectral signature value of the non-additive fraction of the mixture to the mixture is determined and then compared to spectral signatures of a plurality of reference mixtures containing known concentrations of the additive.

Abstract: A device detects multi-spectral imaging by using scan elements. The device may include an illumination module and a detection module to detect light scattered from an object illuminated by the illumination module. The device may also include an array of light sources to produce light at a plurality of different wavelengths, and create a line of illumination with each of the different wavelengths. The light detection may be applied to authenticate and validate documents, such as banknotes moving along a document conveyer.

Abstract: A wavefront aberration measuring apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system provided to an incident side of a test lens; and a measuring optical system provided to an exit side of the test lens, the illumination optical system including an aperture stop capable of being opened and closed, and the illumination optical system being movable along an optical axis of the illumination optical system so as to adjust positions of the aperture stop and an entrance pupil of the test lens to have an optically conjugate relation with each other. Accordingly, it becomes possible to provide a wavefront aberration measuring apparatus capable of suppressing errors in measured result.

Abstract: A method is presented for use in fabrication of metal islands on an oxide substrate. The method comprises: depositing a selected metal on the oxide substrate by evaporation of said selected metal; and annealing a film of the selected metal on said substrate at temperatures including an annealing temperature being less than 50° c lower than a glass transition temperature, thereby forming the metal islands partially embedded in said substrate.

Abstract: In order to enable inspections to be conducted at a sampling rate higher than the pulse oscillation frequency of a pulsed laser beam emitted from a laser light source, without damaging samples, a defect inspection method is disclosed, wherein: a single pulse of a pulsed laser beam emitted from the laser light source is split into a plurality of pulses; a sample is irradiated with this pulse-split pulsed laser beam; scattered light produced by the sample due to the irradiation is focused and detected; and defects on the sample are detected by using information obtained by focusing and detecting the scattered light from the sample. Said defect inspection method is configured such that the splitting a single pulse of the pulsed laser beam into a plurality of pulses is controlled in such a manner that the peak values of the split pulses are substantially uniform.

Abstract: A surface inspecting apparatus rotates a semiconductor wafer 100 (inspection object) as a main scan while translating the semiconductor wafer 100 as an auxiliary scan, illuminates the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 with illuminating light 21, thereby forms an illumination spot 3 as the illumination area of the illuminating light 21, detects scattered or diffracted or reflected light from the illumination spot, and detects a foreign object existing on the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 or in a part of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the vicinity of the surface based on the result of the detection. In the surface inspecting apparatus, the translation speed of the auxiliary scan is controlled according to the distance from the rotation center of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the main scan to the illumination spot.

Abstract: A birefringent filter includes an EM directing element in optical alignment with a first surface of the birefringent plate. A polarimetric imager includes a birefringent filter including a birefringent plate formed of a birefringent material and an EM directing element in optical alignment with a first surface of the birefringent plate. The imager further includes a detector in optical alignment with a second surface of the birefringent plate. A projection system includes an EM directing element and a birefringent filter. The filter includes (1) a birefringent plate formed of a birefringent material and having a first surface in optical alignment with the emissions source, and (2) an EM directing element in optical alignment with a second surface of the birefringent plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in sensing applications includes a substrate and a plurality of clusters arranged in an aperiodic configuration on the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of clusters is formed of a plurality of Raman-active material nano-particles, and wherein each of the Raman-active material nano-particles is positioned in a substantially ordered configuration with respect to each other in each of the respective plurality of clusters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate the wafer; a collection subsystem configured to collect light scattered from the wafer and to preserve the polarization of the scattered light; an optical element configured to separate the scattered light collected in different segments of the collection numerical aperture of the collection subsystem, where the optical element is positioned at a Fourier plane or a conjugate of the Fourier plane of the collection subsystem; a polarizing element configured to separate the scattered light in one of the different segments into different portions of the scattered light based on polarization; and a detector configured to detect one of the different. portions of the scattered light and to generate output responsive to the detected light, which is used to detect defects on the wafer.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined.

Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement device includes a variable wavelength interference filter provided with a first reflecting film, a second reflecting film, and an electrostatic actuator for changing a gap amount of a gap between the first reflecting film and the second reflecting film, a detection section adapted to detect the light intensity of the light taken out by the variable wavelength interference filter, a voltage setting section and a voltage control section for applying an analog voltage varying continuously to the electrostatic actuator, a voltage monitoring section for monitoring the voltage applied to the electrostatic actuator, a storage section for storing V-? data, and a light intensity acquisition section for obtaining the light intensity detected by the detection section at a timing at which the light transmitted through the variable wavelength interference filter has the measurement target wavelength based on the voltage monitored by the voltage monitoring section.