Patents by Inventor Atsuko Yamaguchi

Atsuko Yamaguchi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110188695
    Abstract: A microphone-unit supporting structure comprises a microphone unit and a holder. The microphone unit includes a substantially-cylindrical microphone element, a printed circuit board fixed to a back of the microphone element, and at least two projections extending radially outward from the printed circuit board and being circumferentially spaced at such an angular interval that when one of the projections is assumed to be on a reference line for line symmetry, the other projection or projections are off the reference line. The holder includes a microphone-unit supporting portion for supporting the microphone unit. The holder has a first groove for receiving first one of the projections, and a second groove for receiving second one of the projections. The first groove is open in a backward direction. The second groove is open in a frontward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KENWOOD
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Keita Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20110176718
    Abstract: A measurement tool apparatus for evaluating degradation of pattern features in a semiconductor device manufacturing process. The measurement tool apparatus detects variations in the patterns from SEM images thereof and extracts pattern edge points along the circumference of each pattern. The measurement tool apparatus compares the pattern edge points to corresponding edge points of an ideal shape so as to determine deviation of the patterns. Metrics are derived from analysis of the deviations. The measurement tool apparatus uses the metrics in calculating an index representative of the geometry of edge spokes of the pattern, an indicator of the orientation of the edge spokes, and/or anticipated effects of the edge spokes on device performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori MOMONOI, Atsuko YAMAGUCHI, Taro OSABE
  • Patent number: 7684937
    Abstract: Equipment extracts components of spatial frequency that need to be evaluated in manufacturing a device or in analyzing a material or process out of edge roughness on fine line patterns and displays them as indexes. The equipment acquires data of edge roughness over a sufficiently long area, integrates components corresponding to a spatial frequency region being set on a power spectrum by the operator, and displays them on a length measuring SEM. Alternatively, the equipment divides the edge roughness data of the sufficiently long area, computes long-period roughness and short-period roughness that correspond to an arbitrary inspection area by performing statistical processing and fitting based on theoretical calculation, and displays them on the length measuring SEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroki Kawada, Tatsuya Maeda
  • Patent number: 7619751
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Publication number: 20090263024
    Abstract: Edge points are extracted by specifying a height (values indicating a distance from a substrate) on a pattern when edges of the pattern are extracted from a CD-SEM image. Further, LER values obtained by the extraction or a Fourier spectrum of the LER are obtained. When the same sample is previously observed with the AFM and the CD-SEM, a size of the LER obtained by specifying a height, an auto-correlation distance of the LER, or an index called the spectrum is obtained from results of the AFM observation. Further, theses indices obtained by specifying image processing conditions for detecting the edge points from the CD-SEM observation result are obtained. Also, it is determined that heights providing values when the values are matched correspond to the image processing conditions and then, the edge points are extracted from the CD-SEM IMAGE instead of the AFM observation by using the image processing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuko YAMAGUCHI, Hiroki KAWADA
  • Publication number: 20090046896
    Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a length measurement system, which obtains a value closer to its true one when figuring out the size and edge roughness of a pattern from a noise-included pattern image. Among plural band-like regions representing a portion around an edge in an image respectively, the system calculates the dependency of the edge point position on the image processing parameter at each of a narrow width band-like portion and a wide width band-like portion to calculate an image processing condition that calculates each measured value closer to its true value or estimates the true value itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Atsuko YAMAGUCHI, Jiro YAMAMOTO, Hiroki KAWADA
  • Patent number: 7451857
    Abstract: A brake caliper support structure and a brake caliper structure for a saddle-ride type all terrain vehicle can attain a reduction in size and weight of a disc brake and can scrape off mud and snow accumulated within a wheel. A distance from a point which represents the center of a front wheel to each of points which represent the axes of bolts located at the same positions as the caliper support portions or the first and second mounting portions of the caliper bracket is set longer than the distance from the point to a point which represents the center of a piston. A brake hose is to be prevented from undergoing an excessively large deflection during steering or during vehicular vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Hasegawa, Makoto Toda, Yuji Maki, Masahiro Inoue, Hiroaki Tomita, Akio Handa, Atsuko Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080226177
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Publication number: 20080215274
    Abstract: Equipment extracts components of spatial frequency that need to be evaluated in manufacturing a device or in analyzing a material or process out of edge roughness on fine line patterns and displays them as indexes. The equipment acquires data of edge roughness over a sufficiently long area, integrates a components corresponding to a spatial frequency region being set on a power spectrum by the operator, and displays them on a length measuring SEM. Alternatively, the equipment divides the edge roughness data of the sufficiently long area, computes long-period roughness and short-period roughness that correspond to an arbitrary inspection area by performing statistical processing and fitting based on theoretical calculation, and displays them on the length measuring SEM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroki Kawada, Tatsuya Maeda
  • Patent number: 7405835
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Patent number: 7369703
    Abstract: A system for measuring a pattern on a sample, including: a data processing system that processes a set of two-dimensional distribution data of intensities from the sample, to calculate: a set of edge points indicative of position of edges of the pattern in a two-dimensional plane from the two-dimensional distribution data; an approximation edge indicative of the edge of the pattern; an edge fluctuation data by calculating a difference between the set of edge points and the approximation edge; and a correlation between a first portion of the edge fluctuation data and a second portion of the edge fluctuation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Tsuneo Terasawa, Tadashi Otaka, Takashi Iizumi, Osamu Komuro
  • Patent number: 7366620
    Abstract: Equipment extracts components of spatial frequency that need to be evaluated in manufacturing a device or in analyzing a material or process out of edge roughness on fine line patterns and displays them as indexes. The equipment acquires data of edge roughness over a sufficiently long area, integrates a components corresponding to a spatial frequency region being set on a power spectrum by the operator, and displays them on a length measuring SEM. Alternatively, the equipment divides the edge roughness data of the sufficiently long area, computes long-period roughness and short-period roughness that correspond to an arbitrary inspection area by performing statistical processing and fitting based on theoretical calculation, and displays them on the length measuring SEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Hiroki Kawada, Tatsuya Maeda
  • Patent number: 7290838
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel comprises a rim (172) and a disk section (171) separate from the rim. Since the disk section is separate from the rim, the freedom of designing the disk section is improved. The rim comprises an outer rim (178) and an inner rim (181) separate from the outer rim. The outer and inner rims are attached to the outer periphery of the disk section at the same place by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Zeniya Aluminum Engineering, Limited, Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Handa, Atsuko Yamaguchi, Yuji Maki, Takashi Nishizaka, Shoji Suzuki, Kiyoshi Amaki, Toshio Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20070242885
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Patent number: 7230723
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Publication number: 20060269121
    Abstract: A system for measuring a pattern on a sample, including: a data processing system that processes a set of two-dimensional distribution data of intensities from the sample, to calculate: a set of edge points indicative of position of edges of said pattern in a two-dimensional plane from said two-dimensional distribution data; an approximation edge indicative of the edge of the pattern; an edge roughness data by calculating a difference between the set of edge points and said approximation edge; and a correlation between a first portion of the edge roughness data and a second portion of the edge roughness data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Tsuneo Terasawa, Tadashi Otaka, Takashi Iizumi, Osamu Komuro
  • Patent number: 7095884
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit pattern edge inspection method of finding out a failure in a fabricating process and image distortion in an observing apparatus by analyzing, by a non-destructive inspection, the shape of an edge of a line of a fine pattern in which characteristics of the material, process, and an exposure optical system in a semiconductor fabricating process appear, and performing analysis quantitatively. The method includes a step of detecting a set of edge points indicative of positions of edges of the pattern in a two-dimensional plane by a threshold method; a step of obtaining an approximation line for the set of edge points detected; and a step of obtaining an edge roughness shape and a characteristic by calculating the difference between the set of the edge points and the approximation line. A plurality of values are used as thresholds used for the threshold method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Tsuneo Terasawa, Tadashi Otaka, Takashi Iizumi, Osamu Komuro
  • Publication number: 20060145076
    Abstract: A quantity (or dispersion value) of a distribution of edge position due to random noise is expected to be reduced statistically to 1/N when N edge position data items are averaged. Using this property, the single page image is averaged in a vertical direction with various values of parameter S, and then the edge roughness index is calculated. The S-dependence of the edge roughness index is analyzed and a term of a dispersion value directly proportional to 1/S is determined as being due to noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Osamu Komuro, Hiroki Kawada
  • Patent number: 7049589
    Abstract: The present invention may include a pattern inspection method of extracting a pattern edge shape from an image obtained by a scanning microscope and inspecting the pattern. A control section and a computer of the scanning microscope process the intensity distribution of reflected electrons or secondary electrons, find the distribution of gate lengths in a single gate from data about edge positions, estimate the transistor performance by assuming a finally fabricated transistor to be a parallel connection of a plurality of transistors having various gate lengths, and determine the pattern quality and grade based on an estimated result. In this manner, it is possible to highly, accurately and quickly estimate an effect of edge roughness on the device performance and highly accurately and efficiently inspect patterns in accordance with device specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuko Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Ryuta Tsuchiya, Hiroki Kawada, Shozo Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20060049006
    Abstract: A brake caliper support structure and a brake caliper structure for a saddle-ride type all terrain vehicle can attain a reduction in size and weight of a disc brake and can scrape off mud and snow accumulated within a wheel. A distance from a point which represents the center of a front wheel to each of points which represent the axes of bolts located at the same positions as the caliper support portions or the first and second mounting portions of the caliper bracket is set longer than the distance from the point to a point which represents the center of a piston. A brake hose is to be prevented from undergoing an excessively large deflection during steering or during vehicular vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Hasegawa, Makoto Toda, Yuji Maki, Masahiro Inoue, Hiroaki Tomita, Akio Handa, Atsuko Yamaguchi