Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an apparatus to facilitate production at the microscale using metal sheet as feedstock. The additive manufacturing system uses energy from a pulsed laser beam for ejection of metallic droplets to consolidate a part in a layer-by-layer manner. The system may include an enclosure, a stage, a substrate, a feedstock advancement device, an optically transparent support, and a controller.

Abstract: A digital cinematographic and projection process that provides 3D stereoscopic imagery that is not adversely affected by the standard frame rate of 24 frames per second, as is the convention in the motion picture industry worldwide. A method for photographing and projecting moving images in three dimensions includes recording a moving image with a first and a second camera simultaneously and interleaving a plurality of frames recorded by the first camera with a plurality of frames recorded by the second camera. The step of interleaving includes retaining odd numbered frames recorded by the first camera and deleting the even numbered frames, retaining even numbered frames recorded by the second camera and deleting the odd numbered frames, and creating an image sequence by alternating the retained images from the first and second camera.

Abstract: A system for use with quantum system comprises a light source for generating a first light beam, wherein the first light beam is modulated by a data stream. Entanglement circuitry receives the first light beam from the light source and generates at least two second light beams responsive to the first light beam. The at least two second light beams are entangled. Multistate photon processing circuitry processes each of the at least two second light beams to apply n-states to photons within the at least two light beams and create hyperentangled qudits, where n is greater than 2.

Abstract: A device for generating thermal images includes a low resolution infrared (IR) sensor supported within a housing and having a field of view. The IR sensor is configured to generate thermal images of objects within the field of view having a first resolution. A spatial information sensor supported within the housing is configured to determine a position for each of the thermal images generated by the IR sensor. A processing unit supported within the housing is configured to receive the thermal images and to combine the thermal images based on the determined positions of the thermal images to produce a combined thermal image having a second resolution that is greater than the first resolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a die for depositing a conductive fluid onto a substrate, including a structure (11) for supporting at least one fluid (13) which is conductive and the viscosity of which sensitive to the radiation from a light source (5), in order to deposit said fluid (13) onto a substrate (3) so as to form conductive contacts or tracks on the substrate (3). The support structure (11) includes at least one tank (17) for said conductive fluid, the bottom wall (19) of which is to be arranged opposite said substrate (3) during the deposition, and said bottom wall (19) has perforations for enabling the flow (18) of said conductive fluid (13) onto the substrate (3) when said fluid (13) is subjected to the radiation (15) from said light source (5), wherein the perforations are formed according to a pattern of the fluid to be deposited onto the substrate (3).

Abstract: A digital cinematographic and projection process that provides 3D stereoscopic imagery that is not adversely affected by the standard frame rate of 24 frames per second, as is the convention in the motion picture industry worldwide. A method for photographing and projecting moving images in three dimensions includes recording a moving image with a first and a second camera simultaneously and interleaving a plurality of frames recorded by the first camera with a plurality of frames recorded by the second camera. The step of interleaving includes retaining odd numbered frames recorded by the first camera and deleting the even numbered frames, retaining even numbered frames recorded by the second camera and deleting the odd numbered frames, and creating an image sequence by alternating the retained images from the first and second camera.

Abstract: A method for emission testing of a semiconductor device (DUT), by mounting the DUT onto an test bench of an emission tester, the emission tester having an optical detector; electrically connecting the DUT to an electrical tester; applying electrical test signals to the DUT while keeping test parameters constant; serially inserting one of a plurality of shortpass filters into an optical path of the emission tester and collecting emission test signal from the optical detector until all available shortpass filters have been inserted into the optical path; determining appropriate shortpass filter providing highest signal to noise ratio of the emission signal; inserting the appropriate shortpass filter into the optical path; and, performing emission testing on the DUT.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reacquiring a target on a slide in the field of view of a microscope are provided. The methods and apparatus include a housing, a linear potentiometer positioned in the housing, a contact slidably mounted in the housing and adapted to selectively contact the linear potentiometer, wherein a position of the contact on the linear potentiometer determines the signal output by the linear potentiometer; a linkage having a first end operatively connected to the contact and a second end operatively connected to the slide having the target, wherein the slide is translatable in a first direction; and a receiver adapted to receive a signal output by the linear potentiometer and, using the signal, determine a position of the slide. The linear potentiometer may be a membrane-type linear potentiometer. Aspects also include methods and devices for re-positioning a slide on a stage in a predetermined position.

Abstract: When recording is performed by focusing a short pulse laser on an inside of a transparent medium such as quartz glass, and forming a minute deformed region in which the refractive index is different from that of surroundings thereof, it is difficult to ensure a recording quality. Therefore, a recorded dot length in a depth direction is monitored 111 and a power of the laser light is adjusted based on the monitored recorded dot length, or a difference between a focus position where a region of the recorded dots appears brighter than the surroundings and a focus position where the region of the recorded dots appears darker than the surroundings is measured and the power of the laser light is adjusted based on the difference.

Abstract: A frame-sequential multiwavelength imaging system comprises a wavelength switching device for producing a repeated series of different wavelength profiles, a detector for detecting the dynamic scene and a signal processing unit for synthesizing a dynamic multiwavelength image of the dynamic scene. The signal processing unit may comprise at least one input device at least one logic device and at least one output device. The system can be used in a method to perform multiwavelength imaging of a dynamic scene, typically for surgical purposes.

Abstract: A method includes receiving thermal data of a scene. The thermal data includes a plurality of frames of thermal infrared data. The method also includes generating a temperature map based on at least the thermal data. The temperature map is generated prior to a contrast enhancement process of the thermal data. The method further includes transmitting the temperature map and the thermal data concurrently in a data channel as a data stream.

Abstract: A digital cinematographic and projection process that provides a means of 3D stereoscopic imagery that is not adversely affected by the standard frame rate of 24 frames per second, as is the convention in the motion picture industry worldwide. A method for photographing and projecting moving images in three dimensions includes recording a moving image with a first and a second camera simultaneously and interleaving a plurality of frames recorded by the first camera with a plurality of frames recorded by the second camera. The step of interleaving includes retaining odd numbered frames recorded by the first camera and deleting the even numbered frames, retaining even numbered frames recorded by the second camera and deleting the odd numbered frames, and creating an image sequence by alternating the retained images from the first and second camera.

Abstract: An electro-optical system and method are provided for analyzing images of a scene to identify the presence of a target color, such as human skin tones. The system includes a thermal detector for obtaining a thermal image of the scene within a thermal waveband. The system also includes at least one additional detector for obtaining at least one additional image of the scene at an additional waveband different from the thermal waveband. The system also includes a controller. The controller is configured to: process the thermal image to identify portions of the scene having a temperature exceeding a threshold value; process the additional image to identify portions of the scene having a target color; and output a positive response if a same portion of the scene is identified in the thermal image and the additional image.

Abstract: A solution for evaluating an object using infrared data is provided. In particular, infrared data corresponding to the object is processed to enhance a set of signal features. The infrared data is analyzed to determine whether one or more anomalies are present.

Abstract: A method of fusing two images includes adjusting contrast of (a) a visual image and (b) a thermal image. Also included is modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image to form output brightness levels, by using a transformation curve, and then displaying both (a) the brightness levels of the thermal image and (b) the adjusted contrast of the visual image. Modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image includes using a V-curve as the transformation curve, in which the V-curve includes similar maximum output brightness levels at the coldest and hottest relative temperatures, respectively. The V-curve also includes a minimum output brightness level at a midpoint between the coldest and hottest relative temperatures. Furthermore, the method assigns different hues to the intensity values of the thermal image, ranging from coldest to hottest relative temperatures.

Abstract: A system to detect occupants is provided. The system may rotate the field of views of multiple sensors in order to scan an area. The system may scan the area multiple times. The system may determine the number of occupants in the area based on a comparison of a scan of the area with a scan of the area when the area is determined to be unoccupied. The system may determine the number of occupants in the area based on a maximum number of occupants detected by any of the sensors. The system may also determine a location of an object or an occupant from scans of the area obtained from multiple sensors.

Abstract: This algorithm provides a marker-free approach to establishing the pixel correspondence among the IR images taken at different times, which is the basis for quantitatively characterizing the variation of the heat energy and patterns pixel-wise on a breast surface. The idea is to use the corner points of the heat pattern and the branch points of the skeletons of the heat pattern on the body surface as the initial fiducial points for the longitudinal IR image registration. The Thin-Plate Spline technique is used to model the nonlinear deformation between two IR images taken at two different times. Mutual information between the TPS-transformed image and the target image is employed as the metric quantifying the quality of the longitudinal IR image registration. To optimize the registration, Nelder-Mead simplex method is used to locally modify the pairings of the fiducial points in the source and target IR images to maximize the mutual information.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for nonlinear optical surface sensing with a single thermo-electric detector. In particular, the system includes at least two signal sources that are co-aligned to propagate photons to the same location on a surface. The system also includes at least one focusing element that focuses a sequence of photons that is reflected from the location on the surface. In addition, the system includes at least one frequency selective electromagnetic detector that detects the sequence of photons that are focused from the focusing element(s). When the frequency selective electromagnetic detector senses a photon, the frequency selective electromagnetic detector emits an electrical pulse that has a voltage that is proportional to the energy level of the photon. Additionally, the system includes a processor that processes the electrical pulses, and de-multiplexes the sequence of emitted electrical pulses based on the electrical pulse voltage of the electrical pulses.

Abstract: The present invention features hydrophilic IR-transparent porous membranes, particularly hydrophilic IR-transparent porous polyethylene membranes and methods of preparing the hydrophilic membranes by treatment of hydrophobic IR-transparent porous membranes with plasma. The present invention further features spectroscopic sample holders which incorporate the hydrophilic IR-transparent porous membranes and methods of identifying bacteria and other microorganisms in samples by infrared spectroscopy.

Abstract: A solution for evaluating a vehicle using infrared data is provided. In particular, evaluation data for the vehicle is obtained, which includes infrared data for a plurality of sides of the vehicle as well as vehicle identification data for distinguishing the vehicle from another vehicle. The infrared data is processed to enhance a set of signal features. Additional non-infrared based data also can be obtained for evaluating the vehicle. The evaluation data is analyzed to determine whether one or more anomalies are present. The anomaly(ies) can be correlated with a possible problem with a component of the vehicle. Data on the anomaly, problem, and/or vehicle identification can be provided for use on another system, such as a remote inspection station, maintenance system, and/or the like.

Abstract: A solution for evaluating a vehicle using infrared data is provided. In particular, evaluation data for the vehicle is obtained, which includes infrared data for a plurality of sides of the vehicle as well as vehicle identification data for distinguishing the vehicle from another vehicle. The infrared data is processed to enhance a set of signal features. Additional non-infrared based data also can be obtained for evaluating the vehicle. The evaluation data is analyzed to determine whether one or more anomalies are present. The anomaly(ies) can be correlated with a possible problem with a component of the vehicle. Data on the anomaly, problem, and/or vehicle identification can be provided for use on another system, such as a remote inspection station, maintenance system, and/or the like.

Abstract: Feature points (41, 42, 43) in the heat image (10) of a casting die (1) are extracted and a predetermined geometrical conversion processing is performed on the heat image (10) such that the feature points are superimposed on the reference feature points (61, 62, 63) set in a reference heat image (30) picked up previously to generate a corrected heat image (20). A difference image (40) is generated by superimposing the corrected heat image (20) and the reference heat image (30) such that the corrected feature points (51, 52, 53) in the corrected heat image (20) is superimposed on the corresponding reference feature points (61, 62, 63). With such an arrangement, a highly reliable difference image can be generated even when the imaging field of vision slips off among a plurality of heat images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a finger-motion detecting apparatus and method and includes a sensing unit to be disposed on a wrist of a subject person, said sensing unit being configured to output a measurement signal into the wrist of the subject person and to receive a reflected signal of the measurement signal according to the motion of tendons in the wrist of the subject person, a signal control unit configured to control whether the measurement signal is outputted and to adjust the measurement signal on the basis of the reflected signal, and a finger-motion recognizing unit configured to detect finger motion of the subject person from the reflected signal. According to the present invention, since a sensor capable of detecting finger motion is worn on a wrist, the problem of inconvenience in existing methods is resolved.

Abstract: A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus and a method of making an electronic device using the same are disclosed. The LITI apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support, a contact frame, and a laser source or oscillator. The LITI apparatus transfers a transferable layer from a film donor device onto a surface of an intermediate electronic device. The LITI apparatus uses a magnetic force to provide a close contact between the transferable layer and the surface of the intermediate device. The magnetic force is generated by magnetic materials formed in two components of the LITI apparatus that are spaced apart interposing transferable layer and the surface of the intermediate device. Magnets or magnetic materials are formed in the two following components of the LITI apparatus: 1) the intermediate device and the film donor device; 2) the intermediate device and the contact frame; 3) the substrate support and the film donor device; or 4) the substrate support and the contact frame.

Abstract: A finger vein authentication apparatus includes an image pickup device that creates two kinds of picked-up images by performing line scanning in both of a direction along a lengthwise direction of a finger and a direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the finger, and an imaging range detection unit that detects a relative position of an imaging range of the finger by using at least one of a crease pattern near a first joint and a crease pattern near a second joint of the finger existing in at least one of two kinds of vein patterns.

Abstract: A LTHC layer for use in radiation induced thermal transfer includes a modified pigment.

Abstract: A non-destructive evaluation system and method is provided for detecting flaws in an object. The system includes a lamp for impinging the object with optical pulses and a focal plane array camera configured to capture the images corresponding to evolution of heat due to an impact of the optical pulses in the object. The system also includes an image acquisition system for capturing data corresponding to the images from the focal plane array camera. Both transmission mode imaging and reflection mode imaging techniques are used in an exemplary embodiment. A time of flight analysis system is also provided for analyzing the data from both transmission mode imaging technique and reflection mode imaging technique. The data from transmission mode imaging is used to determine thickness values at different points in the data and for determining location of flaws using the thickness values. The data from reflection mode imaging is used for determining depth of these flaws.

Abstract: A topographic optical infrared tomography system for biophysical imaging includes a thermal camera operably disposed adjacent a body part equipped for obtaining thermal data readings from the body part and apparatus operably connected to the thermal camera for correcting thermal emissivity variations in the thermal data readings to provide corrected thermal data. A method for obtaining physiological data using the thermally corrected data is also provided.

Abstract: Method and system for optical detection of nano-objects in a refracting medium. A nano-object (n_oi) and the refractive medium are illuminated (A) with a periodically amplitude modulated coherent electromagnetic heating wave (HB(?)), to generate a specified temperature and refractive index profile in the vicinity of the nano-object, and with a coherent electromagnetic probe wave (PB) to generate an emerging probe wave (EPB(?)) having at least one intensity component amplitude modulated by a beat at the modulation frequency of the coherent heating wave. The intensity component amplitude modulated by a beat is detected (C) in the emerging wave (EPB(?)), to distinguish and represent this nano-object in the refractive medium. The invention is useful in the detection of nano-objects in an industrial, physiological or intracellular medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides for simple and streamlined boresight correlation of FLIR-to-missile video. Boresight correlation is performed with un-NUCed missile video, which allows boresight correlation and NUC to be performed simultaneously thereby reducing the time required to acquire a target and fire the missile. The current approach uses the motion of the missile seeker for NUCing to produce spatial gradient filtering in the missile image by differencing images as the seeker moves. This compensates DC non-uniformities in the image. A FLIR image is processed with a matching displace and subtract spatial filter constructed based on the tracked scene motion. The FLIR image is resampled to match the missile image resolution, and the two images are preprocessed and correlated using conventional methods. Improved NUC is provided by cross-referencing multiple measurements of each area of the scene as viewed by different pixels in the imager.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device including: a substrate; and an array of thermally tunable pixel elements for generating a thermal image, each thermally tunable pixel element including: a plurality of thermally tunable filter islands, each of which has a thermally tunable optical filter, wherein each of the plurality of tunable filter islands within that pixel element is thermally isolated from the other tunable filter islands within that tunable pixel element; an absorption structure for absorbing incident optical thermal energy; and a mechanical structure supporting the plurality of tunable filter islands and the absorption structure on the substrate.

Abstract: A laser patterning apparatus for handling a donor film and improving compression uniformity between the donor film and an acceptor substrate is provided. The laser patterning apparatus includes: a stage that supports an acceptor substrate; a shielding mask that is placed on the acceptor substrate to form a pattern and is attached to a donor film on one surface thereof; a laser gun that is disposed at an upper part of the stage to radiate laser light to a portion of the donor film through the pattern of the shielding mask; a pressing member that corresponds to a portion of the shielding mask; and an actuator that is connected to one side of the pressing member to press the pressing member.

Abstract: The present invention provides, e.g., methods to recycle and/or reduce plastic, non-plastic, or a combination thereof, from a waste stream. The methods of the present invention include contacting the plastic waste with infrared (IR) energy at one or more frequencies and at one or more intensities, over a period of time effective to heat plastic present in the plastic waste.

Abstract: The presently described embodiments comprise a system that includes a color changing medium, an erasing device using heat or long wavelength infrared light as the erasing source, a writing device that can imagewise apply a UV light to write the image on the media, and a transport to transport the media along a paper path to be seen by the erasing device and the writing device. The system could also function in an alternative way. The image could be “erased” to the all dark state using light (e.g. ultraviolet light) and then heated or illuminated using, for example, infrared light in imagewise fashion to produce the image.

Abstract: The infrared image generation device, method and system generate realistic infrared images to accurately test infrared sensors. The device and system include a laser light source, at least one scanner, a processor and a target plate. The scanner(s) receive and redirect the laser light. The processor controls operation of the scanner(s) to generate at least one infrared image and the target plate receives the redirected light from the scanner(s) and, as such, the infrared image(s) are generated on the target plate. For instance, the target plate may display an infrared image having at least one portion that represents a temperature of at least 1000 Kelvin. The target plate may be made of a transparent heat sink layer facing the scanner(s), an insulator layer adjacent to the transparent heat sink layer, and an emissive layer that is at least opaque and is adjacent to the insulator layer.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device including: a substrate; and an array of thermally tunable pixel elements for generating a thermal image, each thermally tunable pixel element including: a plurality of thermally tunable filter islands, each of which has a thermally tunable optical filter, wherein each of the plurality of tunable filter islands within that pixel element is thermally isolated from the other tunable filter islands within that tunable pixel element; an absorption structure for absorbing incident optical thermal energy; and a mechanical structure supporting the plurality of tunable filter islands and the absorption structure on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides for simple and streamlined boresight correlation of FLIR-to-missile video. Boresight correlation is performed with un-NUCed missile video, which allows boresight correlation and NUC to be performed simultaneously thereby reducing the time required to acquire a target and fire the missile. The current approach uses the motion of the missile seeker for NUCing to produce spatial gradient filtering in the missile image by differencing images as the seeker moves. This compensates DC non-uniformities in the image. A FLIR image is processed with a matching displace and subtract spatial filter constructed based on the tracked scene motion. The FLIR image is resampled to match the missile image resolution, and the two images are preprocessed and correlated using conventional methods. Improved NUC is provided by cross-referencing multiple measurements of each area of the scene as viewed by different pixels in the imager.

Abstract: The presently described embodiments comprise a system that includes a color changing medium, an erasing device using heat or long wavelength infrared light as the erasing source, a writing device that can imagewise apply a UV light to write the image on the media, and a transport to transport the media along a paper path to be seen by the erasing device and the writing device. The system could also function in an alternative way. The image could be “erased” to the all dark state using light (e.g. ultraviolet light) and then heated or illuminated using, for example, infrared light in imagewise fashion to produce the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a landscape fabric comprising a nonwoven web wherein the web is configured in a pattern wherein the pattern is derived from an optical representation of an earth covering material, such as bark mulch or nuggets, crushed stone, wood chips, gravel, pebbles, grass, leaves, and sand. The landscape fabric may be formed from spunbond or staple fibers or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A system for determining presence or absence of one or more thermally distinguishable objects in a living body is disclosed. The system comprises a combined image generator configured for combining non-thermographic three-dimensional data of a three-dimensional tissue region in the living body with thermographic two-dimensional data of the tissue region so as to generate three-dimensional temperature data associated with the three-dimensional tissue region. In a preferred embodiment the combined image generator comprises a computing device configured for calculating the location and/or orientation of the thermally distinguishable object in the three-dimensional tissue region, based on the three-dimensional temperature data.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a near-infrared absorption film having excellent near-infrared blocking properties and visible light transparency over a wide wavelength range, and attractive appearance. It further aims to provide a near-infrared absorption film having excellent near-infrared blocking properties, visible light transparency, good appearance and excellent durability such as anti-deterioration properties. The film may comprise a transparent substrate, and a near-infrared absorption layer containing a cyanine compound represented by the formula (1), and a diimonium compound. wherein, in the formula (1), A is a divalent bonding group comprising ethylene. R1 and R2 are monovalent groups comprising a carbon atom. X? is a monovalent anion. The film may also comprise a transparent substrate, and a near-infrared absorption layer containing a layer containing the cyanine compound represented by the formula (1) and a layer containing a diimonium compound.

Abstract: In a method for displaying an image: a polarization inversion pattern is produced in a ferroelectric member in accordance with image information so as to produce a surface charge pattern corresponding to the polarization inversion pattern; and an image contrast is produced in a contrast production member by the influence of the surface charge pattern, where the contrast production member is joined to the ferroelectric member. The polarization inversion pattern may be produced by heating the ferroelectric member so as to produce a heat distribution corresponding to the image information in the ferroelectric member. Further, the ferroelectric member may be heated by applying infrared light carrying the image information to the ferroelectric member.

Abstract: A heat developing method having the steps of: initially making the overall surface of a heat developing photosensitive material or a photosensitive and thermosensitive recording material (hereinafter called a “heat developing recording material”) to a predetermined temperature not lower than a glass transition temperature and not higher than heat development start temperature; and performing heat development.

Abstract: A method for determining magnitude and direction of spectral channel drift for several consecutive spectral regions over a wide spectral range. According to the method of the present invention, in-field testing of a spectral filter sequentially irradiated by two blackbody sources is performed to generate a response function of the spectral filter. The response function is ensemble averaged to reduce any noise. Background radiance is then removed to produce a smoothed spectral transmittance function of the spectral filter. The first derivative function of the smoothed spectral transmittance function is determined. The first derivative function is separated into spectral band regions having +/− N pixels on either side of the function minima. The value of N is selected to optimize the detection algorithm sensitivity to change while extending the limit of spectral shift magnitude.

Abstract: A reversible thermal recording material permits recording having a clear contrast at a high sensitivity and erasing such images a number of times, at least 1,000 times, repetitively, and comprises a leuco dye, a reversible developer and a light-heat-converting dye, the light-heat-converting dye having a deterioration ratio of 20% or less when a laser beam having an oscillation wavelength of 830 nm is applied thereto repeatedly 1000 times at a temperature of 25° C. at an energy of 2 J/cm2 or being a phthalocyanine compound having a vanadyl group, and a method of recording an image comprises applying a laser beam to the reversible thermal recording material, wherein the colored leuco dye is achromatized with energy that is 25 to 65% of the energy of the laser beam employed for causing the leuco dye to develop a color.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for helping determine a condition of selected tissue of a patient based on a set of thermal images of the selected tissue acquired over a time period. The image set has image regions with corresponding characteristics indicative of a temperature condition of an associated part of the selected tissue, which had been subjected to a thermal challenge during part of the image acquisition time period. Feature values are determined based on the characteristics of selected image regions. A classifier is applied to the features to provide an indication of the condition of the selected tissue, such as indicating a likelihood of malignancy.

Abstract: A method and device for photothermal imaging tiny metal particles which are immersed in a given medium like a living cell deposited onto a transparent glass slide. The given medium and immersed tiny metal particles are illuminated through separate phase reference laser beam and sensitive probe laser beam, with the sensitive probe laser beam including a heating laser beam undergoing through impingement on the given medium slight phase changes induced by photothermal effect due to a local heating, in the absence of any substantial phase changes to the phase reference laser beam. Illuminating is performed by focusing the separate phase reference and sensitive probe laser beam through the transparent glass slide at a given depth within the given medium and a transmitted phase reference laser beam and a transmitted sensitive probe laser beam undergoing the slight phase changes are generated.

Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic charged polymer (ionomer) and an infrared radiation sensitive negatively-charged oxonol dye that has a &lgr;max of greater than 700 nm. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without conventional alkaline processing.

Abstract: In this invention, the detection result indicating physical characteristics obtained from sensor sections and associated with a to-be-detected object for which it is determined that determination of detection thereof by a high-speed detecting process is difficult to make is stored in a data storage unit. Then, in a precise examination processing section, the detecting process is effected on the non-real time basis for a to-be-detected object for which it is determined that the precise examination is necessary by the high-speed detecting process by use of data stored in the data storage unit and the to-be-detected object is distributed into a storage box corresponding to a category of the to-be-detected object as the detection result from the precise examination processing section.