Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a rotating polygonal mirror, a scanning optical system, a detector, and a light emission controller. The light source includes plural light emitting elements. The rotating polygonal mirror is irradiated with light beams. While rotating, the rotating polygonal mirror reflects and deflects, in a deflecting direction, light beams emitted from light emitting elements in a first direction to propagate through one point in the deflecting direction substantially at the same time. The scanning optical system causes the reflected and deflected light beams to scan over an object. The detector detects the timing at which a light beam propagates through a detection point. When the light beams propagate through the detection point, the light emission controller causes light emitting elements in a row in the first direction other than light emitting elements at both ends of a projection plane to emit light.

Abstract: A deflector deflects a light beam emitted from a light source including a plurality of light-emitting units. A scanning optical system focuses the light beam deflected by the deflector on a scanning target surface. A monitoring photoreceiver receives a part of a light beam deflected by the deflector and directed toward an area within a scanning area outside an image area. A detecting unit individually detects emission powers of at least two light-emitting units based on an output signal of the monitoring photoreceiver in a single sweep of scanning.

Abstract: A method includes providing pixel data that comprises lines of pixel data and shared lines of pixel data, where the shared lines of pixel data are configured such that a first laser and a second laser of a plurality of lasers within a laser printing arrangement will print the shared lines of pixel data during printing of an image on a print medium. The shared lines of pixel data are split between the first laser and the second laser such that two shared lines of pixel data allow for printing of a single line of the image to be printed. During printing, the first and second lasers fire in accordance with lines of the shared lines of pixel data, where the firing of the second laser begins printing of lines of the image and the firing of the first laser completes printing of lines of the image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that facilitate the alignment of multiple color planes of a latent image in a multi-beam multi-pass printer. The methods include determining, during a first pass of a transfer medium of a multi-beam printer, a first time interval between when at least one light beam from a multi-beam device is detected and when a top of a page is detected at a selected location of the transfer medium, the multi-beam device including a plurality of light beam sources, and the first pass to form a first color plane of a latent image on the transfer medium. The methods further include selecting, based at least in part on the determined first time interval, a first one of the plurality of light beam sources to begin illuminating the transfer medium to create the first color plane on the transfer medium during the first pass of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An optical writer includes a scanning part causing a light beam from a light source to perform scanning on a photosensitive body; an image information obtaining part obtaining image information of an image; a dithering information obtaining part obtaining dithering information of the image; a pixel clock generating part generating a pixel clock signal; and a light emission control part to control the light source based on the image information in accordance with the pixel clock signal. The pixel clock generating part modulates the clock frequency of the pixel clock signal in accordance with phase shift information for correcting a change in the speed of the scanning on main scanning lines on the photosensitive body, and determines the timing of modulating the clock frequency based on the dithering information on a main scanning line basis so that the timing of modulating the clock frequency differs between the main scanning lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a first light controller to shift starts of image writing operations of light sources by a first time interval. A test data storage stores, beforehand, test image data having dot columns formed by one-dot images arranged in a row in a sub-scanning direction and at predetermined intervals in a main scanning direction. An operation controller controls an image carrier at a speed so that adjacent dot images in the sub-scanning direction overlap. A second light controller forms electrostatic latent test images on the image carrier based on timing signals with the image carrier moved by the operation controller, and draws electrostatic latent test images with different time intervals. A density measurer measures densities of the developed test images. A time interval adjusting section adjusts the time interval based on the time interval used to draw the electrostatic latent test image having the lowest measured density.

Abstract: A printer includes a printing unit that prints information upon an element to be printed upon; a projection unit that projects an optical image in a position that is different from a position of the element to be printed upon in which position the printing unit is printing the information; and a control unit that causes the projection unit to project an optical image that represents the information to be printed by the printing unit before printing by the printing unit is started.

Abstract: A multi-beam image forming apparatus and a method using the same. The image forming apparatus includes: an image process module to divide first image data into a plurality of second image data; a light scanning unit to scan the plurality of second image data using a plurality of laser beams; and a controller to control the formation of an electrostatic latent image of the first image data on a photosensitive body in an overlapping manner, using at least two of the plurality of laser beams.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on a photoconductor by irradiating light beams from a plurality of light sources onto the photoconductor. A detection unit detects a time difference between timings of start writing on the photoconductor by the light beams in a main scanning direction. A calculation unit calculates a shift of each of the light beams in a sub-scanning direction based on the time difference detected by the detection unit and a rotation speed of the photoconductor. A correction unit corrects irradiated positions on the photoconductor by the light beams in the sub-scanning direction based on the shift calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing method which includes recording an image by irradiating a recording medium with laser beams which are arrayed in parallel at predetermined intervals to heat the recording medium, so that the image is composed of a plurality of lines written with the laser beams on the recording medium, and wherein in the image recording, the plurality of lines written with the laser beams include a line written first and an overwritten line, a part of which is overlapped with the line written first; and the irradiation energy for the overwritten line is smaller than the irradiation energy for the line written first.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is operable at a plurality of image forming speeds and can be constructed at low costs without adding circuits or the like. A conversion circuit converts image data into lighting patterns for turning on/off laser light on a basis of each of units of auxiliary pixels formed by dividing a pixel as an image forming element. A shift register sequentially stores lighting patterns for pixels pixel from the conversion circuit, and sequentially outputs them to a laser drive circuit. In monochrome printing, the rotational speed of a polygon motor is set to perform a printing operation. In color printing, the difference between an image forming speed for the monochrome printing and an image forming speed for the color printing is calculated, and based on the difference, the amount of insertion of pixel pieces using the shift register is determined for a printing operation.

Abstract: An exposing device includes a plurality of exposing units which forms a latent image, wherein exposing units includes: an exposure light source; a rotating polyhedron that reflects light from the exposure light source; a driving source that rotates the rotating polyhedron; a first detecting unit that detects the number of rotations of the driving source; a second detecting unit that detects the light from the exposure light source at a position; and a control unit that performs a first control of the driving source based on a detection signal of the first detecting unit at a start of the rotation of the rotating polyhedron and thereafter performs a second control of the driving source based on a detection signal of the second detecting unit.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes: a light source including arrays arranged in a main scanning direction, each array including light-emitting elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a correction-value holding unit to hold, correspondingly with a light-emitting element, a correction value for changing timing to read out pixel data stored in an image storage unit; and a light-source drive unit to drive the light source by reading out the stored pixel data stored, according to the correction value. The correction-value holding unit includes a first area for holding a first correction value corresponding to a first light-emitting element located at an end of an array and a second area for holding a second correction value corresponding to a second light-emitting element other than the first light-emitting element, the first holding area being larger than the second holding area.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning apparatus is disclosed, including: a laser source that emits an optical beam, a deflection part that deflects the optical beam, a light receiving part that receives a returning light of the optical beam which is deflected toward the laser source by the deflection part, a signal generation part that generates a synchronization detection signal, and an optical source drive part that conducts a lighting control of the laser source. The light receiving part is arranged in vicinity to the laser source. The signal generation part detects a timing at which the light receiving part receives the returning light, by an output signal from the light receiving part to generate the synchronization detection signal. The optical source drive part conducts the lighting control of the laser source in response to the synchronization detection signal as a reference.

Abstract: In a printing device provided with a multi-laser beam, an image gradation occurs due to a difference in characteristics between respective beams. The output beam number is changed by referring to a profile (curvature, tilt, polarity and beam scan interval) of each laser beam to perform a print at an engine rotation speed corresponding to the beam number.

Abstract: The emission intensity of a laser beam source, at a time when a laser beam emitted from the laser beam source and scanned by an optical scanning device becomes incident to a laser beam detector provided in a predetermined position on the scanning path of the laser beam in order to hold a position of an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor constant in the main scanning direction, while at the same time, changing the emission intensity of the laser beam, is set so as to become the consistently same emission intensity regardless of a change in emission intensity at the time of electrostatic latent image formation onto a photoreceptor. This allows the detection timing of a laser beam by a laser beam detector to be kept constant.

Abstract: An image of a color misregistration detection pattern is formed, and the amount of color misregistration is detected by reading of the pattern image. The amount of color misregistration detected by a detecting unit and the delay time from the time when image data is requested to the time when the image data is output are stored. The color misregistration is corrected based on the stored delay time and amount of color misregistration.

Abstract: A magnification adjustment method for a document processing system having a fixed frequency clock source providing a fixed frequency output signal to a plurality of raster output scanners (ROSs) and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO)-based adjustable frequency clock source providing an adjustable frequency output signal to the ROSs is disclosed. The method includes: using a controller to determine a frequency setting for a phase increment control input signal to the adjustable frequency clock source; starting the document processing system; using the controller to set a phase accumulator control input to the frequency setting; sending a message to a ROS control module prior to imaging, including the correct clock source to use for the next image, the correct clock source being either the fixed frequency clock source or the adjustable frequency clock source; and applying the correct clock source synchronously to the beginning of an inter image panel zone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of enhancing the accuracy of the scanning position of a laser beam to thereby obtain a more precise image. Optical sensors detect reflected light from a surface of a photosensitive drum. During image formation, the apparatus detects the scanning speed of the laser beam in a main scanning direction based on detection signals from the respective optical sensors in each of divisional sections of an image forming area in the main scanning direction. The apparatus corrects magnification of the image in the main scanning direction, based on results of detection of the scanning speed of the laser beam in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A measuring section that measures the position shift in the main scanning direction of a plurality of light sources, a signal generating section that generates synchronized INDEX signals that in which the writing timing of the different light sources has been adjusted according to the position shifts, a signal generating section that generates the signals for driving the light sources based on the synchronized INDEX signals and image data, and a measuring section that detects the timing shift component in the main scanning direction included in the synchronized INDEX signal generated in the condition in which adjustments have been made according to the position shift, and further shift correction is carried out in the main scanning direction based on the timing shift component, for the synchronized INDEX signal which are adjusted and generated in accordance with the position shift of a plurality of light sources.

Abstract: A method for determining a location on an image bearing surface of an image printing system where a toner image is to be printed is provided. The method comprises generating a first signal from a detector that is configured to detect a reference mark on the image bearing surface, and a second signal from a clock system that counts incremental movements of the image bearing surface, determining a first value that correlates the first signal and the second signal, where the first value corresponds to a value of the second signal at a start of characterization of the image bearing surface, and determining a second value using the first value, where the second value provides the location on the image bearing surface where the toner image is to be printed.

Abstract: A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a drum that rotates while holding a medium on its outer periphery, a head that ejects a fluid on to the medium held on the periphery of the drum, a fixing section that fixes the fluid ejected on to the medium by the head, a measuring section that measures a diameter of the drum, and a controller that varies an ejection timing of the fluid ejected from the head in accordance with variation in the diameter of the drum measured by the measuring section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a phase calculation portion, a pattern recognition portion, and a correction coefficient output portion. The phase calculation portion calculates a shift amount of the scanning lines as phase information and, from the phase information, outputs a first set of coefficients. The pattern recognition portion outputs a pattern concordance rate by performing pattern recognition on the group of pixels of interest and peripheral pixels thereof. The correction coefficient output portion outputs a second set of coefficients for correcting the first set of coefficients in accordance with the pattern concordance rate. An interpolation processing portion performs interpolation calculations by referring to the first set of coefficients, the second set of coefficients, and the pattern concordance rate.

Abstract: A light scanning unit that includes: a light source unit for emitting first and second light beams; a beam deflector for deflecting the first and second light beams emitted from the light source unit; synchronization detection sensors for detecting scanning synchronization of the first and second light beams; and synchronization optical path converting members to deflect the first and second light beams toward the synchronization detection sensors. The optical paths of the portions of the first and second light are directed to come into close proximity with one another. The light scanning unit may be incorporated in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting color registration errors in a printing device comprising a plurality of print engines driven by a single pixel frequency clock. In some embodiments, the print engines can include a reference print engine and one or more non-reference print engines. An adjusted resolution may be computed for color data sent to each non-reference engine to offset color registration errors attributable to the non-reference engine. The adjusted resolution is computed using calibration information for the non-reference print engines relative to the reference engine, and resolution information for color data processed by the first reference engine. The resolution of color data processed by each non-reference print engine is adjusted according to the computed adjusted resolution for the non-reference engine and sent to the print engines for printing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus usable in an image forming apparatus, comprising a photoreceptor, and a plurality of exposing devices having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged therein for exposing the photoreceptor, wherein the plurality of exposing devices include at least two exposing devices having a distribution tendency similar to the plurality of light emitting elements.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed that includes plural line image sensors partially overlapped with each other in an overlapped reading portion, the image reading apparatus characterized by: plural light sources disposed so as to face the overlapped reading portion; a light source turn-on unit sequentially and independently turning on the light sources; an optical unit converging each light emitted from the light sources onto the overlapped reading portion; and a position shift detecting unit detecting a position shift of a reading position of the line image sensors in the overlapped reading portion based on data of the overlapped reading portion.

Abstract: A method of correcting print images in an electrophotographic printer wherein an image formed by a print head (3) on a peripheral surface of a photoconductor drum (1) is transferred and printed on a sheet of paper. The method comprises: furnishing the print head with a standard tacho signal in the form of pulses and thereby printing on a sheet of paper a check mark (9) for each given number of pulses of the standard tacho signal while the photoconductor drum makes one rotation; by means of a camera (10), detecting a periodic deviation in each spacing between successive such check marks; in response to the deviation in each spacing between the successive check marks, varying the pulse width of pulses of the standard tacho signal for each spacing between the successive check marks, thereby to provide a modified tacho signal; and effecting printing thereafter based on the modified tacho signal.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing controller for controlling a line head having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a non-linear shape, the image processing controller including: a plurality of memory regions which stores raster data; an acquiring section which acquires the raster data; a writing control section which sequentially distributes the acquired raster data to the plurality of memory regions so as to be stored therein; and a reading control section which reads each raster data from the plurality of memory regions and sends the read raster data to the line head so as to control a light emitting state of the light emitting elements, wherein the writing control section determines an address on the memory region storing each raster data in accordance with a resolution in the sub-scanning direction and an arrangement pattern of the light emitting elements arranged in the line head.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: an exposure head having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction, a first imaging optical system adapted to image light emitted from the light emitting elements, and a second imaging optical system disposed in a second direction with respect to the first imaging optical system; a latent image carrier movable in the second direction; a detection section adapted to detect a moving time the latent image carrier takes to move from a first position to a second position in the second direction; and a control section adapted to control the time from emission of a first part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system to emission of a second part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system based on the detection result of the detection section, thereby aligning a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical sy

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an exposure unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The exposure unit exposes the photosensitive member. The detection unit detects that a reference position disposed on the photosensitive member has reached a predetermined position. The storage unit stores correction data for correcting unevenness of potential characteristic in the photosensitive member. The control unit controls an exposure intensity of the exposure unit at each position on the photosensitive member based on the correction data.

Abstract: The calibration of an imaging system is adjusted for geometric distortion of an image formed by a group of imaging channels on a media supported on a media support. The media support includes a plurality of individually spaced reference features disposed on a surface of the media support and a change in an expected position of at least one of the reference features is determined. Activation timing of the channels is adjusted in accordance with such changes. The imaging channels can be supported on a movable carriage and movement of the carriage can be adjusted in accordance with such changes.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which cross-talk noise occurring between plural reading units is reduced, an image reading method and an image reading program are provided. There are included plural reading units that respectively operate at different timings, a noise calculation unit that acquires first read data as a result of reading of a first read object as the read object by the plural reading units, acquires an operation state of the plural reading units during the reading of the first read object, and calculates, based on the operation state and the first read data obtained in the operation state, noise information based on the operation state, and a noise removal unit that acquires second read data as a result of reading of a second read object as the read object different from the first read object by the plural reading units, and removes noise from the second read data based on the noise information calculated by the noise calculation unit.

Abstract: An optical writing unit includes a plurality of light emitting element arrays, a plurality of clock signal generators, and a plurality of light emitting element controllers. The plurality of light emitting element arrays includes a plurality of light emitting elements aligned in one direction to project light. The plurality of clock signal generators generates image data transfer clock signals having different frequencies. The plurality of light emitting element controllers outputs the image data transfer clock signals received from the plurality of the clock signal generators and image data signals to the plurality of the light emitting element arrays to light up the light emitting elements based on the image data signals. The optical writing unit performs optical writing using light projected from the light emitting element arrays and controlled by the light emitting element controller based on the image data signals.

Abstract: A multi-color image forming apparatus includes signal detecting units which are included in development units and detect horizontal synchronization signals, a correction unit to count pulse widths of the horizontal synchronization signals detected by the signal detecting units and correct timings of vertical offsets to be increased or decreased according to lengths of the pulse widths, and a video controller to output video data to scan multi-color images on surfaces of photosensitive drums according to the timings of the vertical offsets corrected by the correction unit. Even when any one of the laser scanning units and the development units is shifted from a reference position, the vertical offset is corrected such that the multi-color images printed on a recording medium are aligned in a vertical direction. Accordingly, preventing quality of the multi-color images from deteriorating is possible.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image forming apparatus capable of, and method of, improving color registration. The image forming apparatus can employ a beam deflector having a double-sided mirror portion that pivots to bi-directionally scan multiple light beams on multiple photosensitive media at different phases by using both mirror sides of the double-sided mirror portion. The individual monochromic images developed on the photosensitive media are transferred onto a transfer medium to overlap one another in phase to form a full color image.

Abstract: Devices and methods for manufacturing displays, solar panels and other devices using larger size workpieces are provided. The workpiece is rolled into a cylinder, thereby reducing the physical size by a factor of 3 in one dimension. The stages on which the workpieces are rolled have a cylindrical shape, which allows a more robust and/or compact movement of the glass, reduced machine weight. The workpieces are relatively thin, more flexible, and are rolled onto a cylinder with a diameter of about 1 meter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that facilitate the alignment of multiple color planes of a latent image in a multi-beam multi-pass printer are described herein. The novel methods includes determining, during a first pass of a transfer medium of a multi-beam printer, a first time interval between when at least one light beam from a multi-beam device is detected and when a top of a page is detected at a selected location of the transfer medium, the multi-beam device including a plurality of light beam sources, and the first pass to form a first color plane of a latent image on the transfer medium. The methods further include selecting, based at least in part on the determined first time interval, a first one of the plurality of light beam sources to begin illuminating the transfer medium to create the first color plane on the transfer medium during the first pass of the transfer medium.

Abstract: First patterns for setting a first adjustment value and second patterns for setting a second adjustment value are formed on a transfer belt running at a first process speed. By this, an image shift adjustment value in a sub-scanning direction is made common to the first process speed and a second process speed. Image shift adjustment values in a main scanning direction are set for the first process speed and the second process speed, respectively.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus capable of properly correcting a main scanning scale factor. Upstream and downstream laser-light detection sensors of the optical scanning apparatus each generate a signal when first or second light beam passes through each of slits formed in the sensors. Based on signals, a scanning time required for each light beam to scan between the sensors is measured. A correction coefficient is decided by a correction value calculation unit based on a difference between wavelengths of the first and second light beams, a scanning time difference is calculated by a comparison unit based on the correction coefficient and scanning times of the light beams, and the downstream laser-light detection sensor is rotated by a sensor rotation drive unit to make the scanning time difference zero, whereby the slits are made parallel to each other.

Abstract: Patterns are written on workpieces, such as, glass sheets and/or plastic sheets used in, for example, electronic display devices such as LCDs. The workpiece may be larger than about 1500 mm may be used. An optical writing head with a plurality of writing units may be used. The workpiece and the writing head may be moved relative to one another to provide oblique writing.

Abstract: A CTP system is provided, which allows its continuous use even if some of laser diodes located at dispersed sites are in a non-light emitting state due to breakage or the like. In the case where some channels are in the non-light emitting state, channel-by-channel exposure data is generated to describe the way that exposure should be performed by use of specific light-emitting channels that are determined by the locations of non-light emitting channels, while an exposure head is moved also through (a) complementary interval(s) before and/or after a standard interval, the standard interval being the interval the exposure head is moved through in normal mode. Then, the transport unit moves the exposure head through the standard interval and through the complementary interval(s), during which period the exposure controller causes the specific light-emitting channels to emit exposure light according to the channel-by-channel exposure data, thereby forming an exposed area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a device-information storage unit configured to store a scanning frequency of an oscillating device; an image storage unit configured to store image data used for image formation; an image processing unit configured to perform an enlargement or reduction, in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the scanning of the laser beam and in accordance with a given parameter, on the image data stored in the image storage unit; a setting unit configured to calculate the parameter from the scanning frequency stored in the device-information storage unit and a predetermined reference frequency and configured to provide the parameter to the image processing unit; and a driving unit configured to drive a laser beam device according to the image data processed by the image processing unit.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus including: an image forming section which forms an image based on image information on an image carrier provided in the image forming section; a detection section which detects a print mark for color misalignment correction formed on the image carrier by the image forming section, and outputs print mark detection information; and a control section for executing color misalignment correction control based on the print mark detection information outputted from the detection section, wherein, the control section obtains a trend of a color misalignment amount of the print mark by statistically processing data of the result of the print mark detection, calculates an execution timing of color misalignment correction base on the obtained trend, and executes the color misalignment correction at the calculated execution timing.

Abstract: An image of a color misregistration detection pattern is formed, and the amount of color misregistration is detected by reading of the pattern image. The amount of color misregistration detected by a detecting unit and the delay time from the time when image data is requested to the time when the image data is output are stored. The color misregistration is corrected based on the stored delay time and amount of color misregistration.

Abstract: A color-shift correction image is formed in a density D and it is determined whether the color-shift correction image can be detected successfully. If the color-shift correction image can be detected successfully, then the density is decreased. If the color-shift correction image can not be detected successfully, then the density is increased. In this manner, the minimum density is determined.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and system for correcting linearity error of an electrophotographic device with a reduced number of lenses. The method and system insert additional time-slices in the data being processed by the electrophotographic device. The additional time-slices are inserted in the data in a predefined order based on a plurality of random numbers. The insertion of additional time-slices corrects the linearity error of the electrophotographic device.

Abstract: A line head, includes: a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses having a magnification whose absolute value is below 1 are arranged in a main scanning direction of a surface-to-be-scanned, and a plurality of luminous element groups which are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the respective plurality of microlenses, wherein in each of the plurality of luminous element groups, a plurality of luminous elements are arranged at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction, the plurality of luminous elements are respectively caused to emit lights at timings in conformity with a movement of the surface-to-be-scanned in a sub scanning direction, and light beams emitted from the plurality of luminous elements are imaged on the surface-to-be-scanned at mutually different main-scanning-direction positions in the main scanning direction to form a plurality of spots side by side on the surface-to-be-scanned in the main scanning direction, and in each of the pl

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier, on which a latent image is formed; an exposure head that includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element that is disposed in a direction in which the latent image container corresponding to the first light-emitting element is moved; and a control unit that changes over and performs a first latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the first light-emitting element, and a second latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the second light-emitting element, wherein the control unit controls a first light emission timing of the first light-emitting element in the first latent image forming operation and a second light emission timing of the second light-emitting element in the second latent image forming operation to be different from each other.

Abstract: An exposure method that suppresses distribution of pattern shapes at the time of exposure. In a manufacturing method for a display unit, a layer forming a reference for pattern arrangement is determined among layers formed on a panel. An arrangement of a pattern in a layer above the reference layer is determined using a value obtained from distribution of the pattern arrangement in the reference layer.