Abstract: A method of inspecting cased goods includes advancing at least one case of goods on a conveyor, generating an illumination sheet of parallel illuminating rays with at least one electromagnetic source, and capturing an image, formed by the illumination sheet passing through a diffuser with at least one camera located so as to capture illumination from diffused parallel rays of the light sheet, where the image case embodies a goods image that is generated by the case goods moving between the light source and the at least one camera, where part of the parallel sheet of light is at least partially blocked by the case of goods, thus generating a gray level image.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating a semiconductor is disclosed. The apparatus has a curved mirror with a reflective surface of revolution, and a point source generating an irradiation beam being incident on the curved mirror along an incident direction. The curved mirror and the point source form a system having an axis of revolution wherein the point source is provided on or near said axis of revolution. The axis of revolution substantially coincides with a straight line projection to be generated on a semiconductor substrate. Additionally, the use of such an apparatus for manufacturing a selective emitter grid, or for irradiating a large area semiconductor surface in a scanning movement, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining the orientation of a grain structure of a turbine blade or vane using an optical technique, illuminates a surface with a beam from a light source and then manipulates the relative orientation of the surface, a light beam and detector to determine the relative orientation which provides the peak reflectance of the beam from the surface to the detector. Further surfaces of the component are similarly manipulated and illuminated and the orientation of the grain structure calculated from the determined relative peak reflectance orientations of the surface, first further surface and second further surface. Determination of the grain orientation allows the value of high angle boundaries to be determined. Also disclosed is apparatus suitable for performing the method.

Abstract: A surface inspection method for inspecting a surface H of an inspection subject having a specular surface H, including: a step in which the surface H of the inspection subject is irradiated with light L from an oblique direction; a step in which measurement is conducted of the intensity of diffracted light D that is diffracted by adhering foreign matter K among light that is regularly reflected by the surface H of the inspection subject; a step in which measurement is conducted of the intensity of scattered light S that is irregularly reflected by the adhering foreign matter K; and a step in which an adhering condition of foreign matter K on the surface H of the inspection subject is determined based on measurement results for the intensity of the diffracted light D that is regularly reflected, and the intensity of the scattered light S that is irregularly reflected.

Abstract: A discrimination machine optically senses an object having a surface with a planar structure while scanning the planar structure along the surface. The machine includes a discrimination sensor including optical devices detecting light generated from the planar structure. The optical devices are disposed at an interval in a transverse direction, perpendicular to a scanning direction, to ensure a sufficiently wide sensing area for the object. A deviation detector detects deviation of the planar structure from a plane based on electrical signals output from the respective optical devices detecting the light generated by the object while the discrimination sensor is scanning the object. An optical device selector selects an optical device, from among the optical devices, based on the deviation detected. A determination is made as to whether the electrical signal output from the optical device selected is within an allowable margin.

Abstract: A medium supporting member, which is used in an image forming apparatus, includes: a plurality of ribs that support a recording medium; and an irradiation target portion that has a flat and smooth surface which is irradiated with a light by a light emitting unit of the image forming apparatus, wherein: a reflected light of the light emitted by the light emitting unit is detected by a light receiving unit of the image forming apparatus, and a presence or absence of the recording medium in the irradiation target portion is detected based on a quantity of the reflected light; and a distance between the irradiation target portion and the recording medium is increased in a direction from the light receiving unit to the light emitting unit.

Abstract: A method for measuring a distance between an object (256) and a light source (230) and sensing an object orientation includes applying light from a plurality of sources (230, 240 or 810) on the object; detecting a reflected energy (270) level from an object; measuring the reflected energy level from the object; computing a distance calibration function; determining at least one measuring range (301) indicated by a minimum value (302) and a maximum value (304) within the distance calibration function; computing an angle calibration function indicating energy level relation sampled at predetermined time slots within periods of a modulation function; and modulating each of the plurality of light sources with the modulation function (435, 445) such that a total energy applied from the plurality of light sources on the object during the time of the light emission is represented by a light emission predetermined function.

Abstract: A system for identifying a characteristic of a printing media includes a light source module that has a light emitting diode (LED) and an aspheric lens and a light detection module that has a photodetector and an aspheric lens. The light source module and light detection module are oriented with respect to a printing media such that the focusing points of the respective aspheric lenses are located at a common position on the printing media. The system differentiates between printing media types by applying light to the surface of the printing media and measuring the light that is reflected from the surface.

Abstract: A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument includes a housing adapted for incorporation within the photometric diagnostic instrument, and an elongated sample table operatively engaged with the housing. The sample table is configured to support elongated reagent sample media of the type having a plurality of test areas disposed in spaced relation thereon, each of the test areas being configured to react with a sample and to change color according to an amount of a constituent or property in the sample. A light source is provided to illuminate the sample table. An imager having an elongated field of view is coupled to the housing, the elongated field of view including at least a portion of the sample table. A scanning mechanism is configured to move the field of view relative to the sample table.

Abstract: A discrimination device which is disposed on a conveyance path of conveyed items, such as planographic printing plates, slip sheets and the like. The discrimination device is structured with a first sensor, which detects presence or absence of the conveyed items, and second and third sensors, which identify types of the conveyed items. The first sensor can judge presence or absence of a conveyed item from whether or not irradiated light is reflected by a conveyed item. The second and third sensors discriminate between the types—the planographic printing plates and the slip sheets—by the intensity of reflected light, on the basis of a difference in surface reflectivities of the conveyed items. With these three optical sensors, it is possible to reliably identify four conveyance configurations of the conveyed items.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that detects approachment of an edge of a media sheet by detecting light reflected by the media sheet. Upon detecting the approachment of the edge of the media sheet, the method detects the location of the edge by detecting light transmitted through the media sheet.

Abstract: A method of correcting for sensitivity variation of media sensors includes determining a first signal level corresponding to a first calibration media having a first glossiness; determining a second signal level corresponding to a second calibration media having a second glossiness, the second glossiness being greater than the first glossiness; and determining a corrected normalized signal level ratio of an unknown media based on the first signal level of the first calibration media and the second signal level of the second calibration media.

Abstract: A sensing mechanism for an image-forming device of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes a first light source, a second light source, a detector, and a controller. The first light source is positioned incident to a first side of media, whereas the second light source is positioned incident to a second side of media opposite of the first side of the media. The detector is positioned incident to the second side of the media to detect first light transmitted through the media as output by the first light source, and to detect second light reflected off the media as output by the second light source. The controller is to detect at least one characteristic of the media based on a ratio of the first light to the second light.

Abstract: A media type sensing method for an imaging apparatus includes the steps of changing a light intensity of a light source by changing a drive signal, while monitoring for an output change of a comparator; determining a drive signal value of the drive signal at a point of detection of the output change; and correlating the drive signal value to a specific media type.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for discriminating between plate and interleave paper in a CTP device having a cassette with printing plates and interleave paper. The device uses a light source for illuminating the topmost object in the cassette, a first optical sensor for receiving direct light reflected from the topmost object, a second optical sensor for receiving dispersed light reflected from the topmost object, means for comparing light received by the second optical sensor with light received by the first optical sensor, and means for determining the topmost object type based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of correcting for sensitivity variation of media sensors includes the steps of determining a first reflectance ratio of a first calibration media having a first glossiness; determining a second reflectance ratio of a second calibration media having a second glossiness, the second glossiness being greater than the first glossiness and determining a corrected normalized reflectance ratio of an unknown media based on the first reflectance ratio of the first calibration media and the second reflectance ratio of the second calibration media.

Abstract: A process is provided for detecting small particles on wafer surfaces by irradiating the wafer surface with two light beams having a small difference in wavelength, collecting the light scattered by the wafer in at least one direction, separating the collected light into two component beams having the wavelengths of the irradiating beams, and comparing the intensities of the two component beams. The intensities of the component beams are transduced to digital signals which are fed to a comparator. An apparatus is also provided which comprises a stage for supporting a wafer, laser source and optics for generating two laser beams having different wavelengths, superimposing them and scanning the wafer with them, a sensor for sensing the light scattered by the wafer and separating it into two components having the said wavelengths, an A/D converter for generating digital signals corresponding to said components and a comparator for analyzing whether said signals indicate the presence of small particles.