Patents by Inventor Choshoku Sai

Choshoku Sai 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).

  • Patent number: 10884236
    Abstract: An optical device includes a mirror, and a plurality of actuators configured to deform a shape of a reflecting surface of the mirror. At least some of the plurality of actuators are arranged on a plurality of concentric circles arranged in such a manner that the concentric circles are arranged denser as positions of the concentric circles are located farther from a center of the reflecting surface of the mirror, and at least some of the plurality of actuators are arranged at equal intervals in circumferential directions of the concentric circles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Publication number: 20190041631
    Abstract: An optical device includes a mirror, and a plurality of actuators configured to deform a shape of a reflecting surface of the mirror. At least some of the plurality of actuators are arranged on a plurality of concentric circles arranged in such a manner that the concentric circles are arranged denser as positions of the concentric circles are located farther from a center of the reflecting surface of the mirror, and at least some of the plurality of actuators are arranged at equal intervals in circumferential directions of the concentric circles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Patent number: 9568729
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus for deforming a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a plurality of first actuators each configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a plurality of second actuators each having rigidity lower than that of the first actuator, and configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a sensor configured to detect information indicating a driving status of each of the plurality of first actuators, and a control unit configured to control, based on an output of the sensor, driving of each of the plurality of first actuators and driving of each of the plurality of second actuators so that a shape of the reflecting surface is changed to a target shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Kohei Imoto
  • Patent number: 9557560
    Abstract: A mirror unit includes: a mirror; a plurality of non-contact type actuators including movable elements and stators, and configured to change a shape of the mirror; a supporting plate to which the stators are fixed; and a structure configured to hold the mirror and the supporting plate. The movable elements are attached to a surface of the mirror that is opposite to an optical surface, and the structure holds the supporting plate via a kinematic mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Patent number: 9465294
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus that deforms a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a fixing member configured to fix a part of the mirror including a center of the mirror to the base plate, and a plurality of actuators each having a first end connected to the mirror and a second end connected to the base plate, and configured to apply force to a back face of the mirror, wherein the plurality of actuators include a plurality of first actuators and a plurality of second actuators, and the plurality of first actuators are arranged such that a distance between each first actuator and the center of the mirror is longer than half of a distance between the center and a periphery of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Publication number: 20150177481
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus that deforms a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a fixing member configured to fix a part of the mirror including a center of the mirror to the base plate, and a plurality of actuators each having a first end connected to the mirror and a second end connected to the base plate, and configured to apply force to a back face of the mirror, wherein the plurality of actuators include a plurality of first actuators and a plurality of second actuators, and the plurality of first actuators are arranged such that a distance between each first actuator and the center of the mirror is longer than half of a distance between the center and a periphery of the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Publication number: 20150092172
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus for deforming a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a plurality of first actuators each configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a plurality of second actuators each having rigidity lower than that of the first actuator, and configured to apply a force to the surface opposite to the reflecting surface, a sensor configured to detect information indicating a driving status of each of the plurality of first actuators, and a control unit configured to control, based on an output of the sensor, driving of each of the plurality of first actuators and driving of each of the plurality of second actuators so that a shape of the reflecting surface is changed to a target shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Kohei Imoto
  • Publication number: 20140307243
    Abstract: A mirror unit includes: a mirror; a plurality of non-contact type actuators including movable elements and stators, and configured to change a shape of the mirror; a supporting plate to which the stators are fixed; and a structure configured to hold the mirror and the supporting plate. The movable elements are attached to a surface of the mirror that is opposite to an optical surface, and the structure holds the supporting plate via a kinematic mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Choshoku SAI
  • Patent number: 7771065
    Abstract: An optical unit including a plate, an optical element, a fixing device for partially fixing the optical element against the plate, and a deforming device, located between the plate and the optical element, for applying a deforming force to the optical element to change a surface shape of the optical element. The deforming device includes poles for contacting a back face of the optical element, and actuators for driving the poles against the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Shigeo Sakino, Katsumi Asada, Hirohito Ito, Shinji Uchida
  • Patent number: 7453623
    Abstract: A mirror apparatus including a reflecting mirror reflecting light, partition walls, the walls and the reflecting mirror defining a plurality of air chambers, and a regulator regulating air pressure in at least one of the air chambers. With this configuration, the front surface of the reflecting mirror is deformed into a smooth shape so as to correct optical aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Uchida, Choshoku Sai, Katsumi Asada, Hirohito Ito, Shigeo Sakino
  • Patent number: 7443619
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element holding apparatus including a force generating actuator configured to deform the optical element, a measuring device configured to measure a position of the optical element, and a displacement causing actuator configured to position the optical element based on the measured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Sakino, Hirohito Ito, Shinji Uchida, Choshoku Sai, Katsumi Asada
  • Patent number: 7232257
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing apparatus has a hydrostatic bearing pad, a labyrinth seal part having an exhaust groove provided around the outside of the hydrostatic bearing pad, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a labyrinth seal part gap, non-contacting displacement gauges for sensing changes in the size of the gap, and actuators that are activated to adjust the gap so as to maintain the gap at a predetermined constant value. The exhaust groove parts and the labyrinth seal part can move relative to each other, and an annular seal forms an airtight seal to prevent air leaks and keep the bearing steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Patent number: 7207720
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a static gas bearing provided upon a first object and configured to form a gas layer between the first object and a second object by use of gas supplied thereto, and to support the first object movably relative to the second object, a plurality of exhaust grooves provided upon the first object and configured to surround the static gas bearing, and a plurality of exhaust flowpassages provided through the first object, connecting to a respective one of the plurality of exhaust grooves, and configured to exhaust gas from a respective one of the plurality of exhaust grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Kotaro Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20070076310
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element holding apparatus including a force generating actuator configured to deform the optical element, a measuring device configured to measure a position of the optical element, and a displacement causing actuator configured to position the optical element based on the measured position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeo Sakino, Hirohito Ito, Shinji Uchida, Choshoku Sai, Katsumi Asada
  • Publication number: 20060245035
    Abstract: A mirror apparatus including a reflecting mirror reflecting light, partition walls, the walls and the reflecting mirror defining a plurality of air chambers, and a regulator regulating air pressure in at least one of the air chambers. With this configuration, the front surface of the reflecting mirror is deformed into a smooth shape so as to correct optical aberration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Uchida, Choshoku Sai, Katsumi Asada, Hirohito Ito, Shigeo Sakino
  • Publication number: 20060232866
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a plate having a fixed position, an optical element having a specific optical action, a fixing device for partially fixing the optical element, and a deforming device, located between the plate and the optical element, for applying a deforming force to the optical element to asymmetrically change a surface shape of the optical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Shigeo Sakino, Katsumi Asada, Hirohito Ito, Shinji Uchida
  • Publication number: 20050129339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a static gas bearing system and a vacuum stage system having the same, wherein the gas bearing system includes a gas bearing for supporting a structure without contact thereto, and a plurality of exhaust grooves disposed in plural stages to surround the gas bearing, the exhaust groove having associated exhaust flowpassages which are independent of each other, and the exhaust flowpassages being connected to a vacuum pump outside a vacuum chamber in which a vacuum stage is accommodated, through a wall of the vacuum chamber. When the exhaust grooves are numbered as first-stage, second-stage, third-stage . . . and n-th stage, in an order from one exhaust groove closest to the gas bearing, the conductance of at least the exhaust flowpassage associated with the n-th stage exhaust groove, which is outermost one, is made greater than the conductance of the exhaust flowpassage associated with the first-stage exhaust groove, closest to the static gas bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Choshoku Sai, Kotaro Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20050008269
    Abstract: A bearing surface (50) opposing a movable guide (21) of a hydrostatic bearing has a gas supply hole (52) which has an orifice with a diameter smaller than that of the outer shape of the bearing. Each of hydrostatic bearings (14, 24) incorporates a poppet valve (53) which can seamlessly change the flow resistance in the gas supply hole (52), an actuator unit (55) for linearly driving the poppet valve (53), and a guide mechanism (58) which guides the poppet valve (53) so as to set the poppet valve (53) in linear motion. The actuator unit (55) has, for example, coils (56) arranged on the movable side (the base of the poppet valve (53)) and permanent magnets arranged on the fixed side (a portion opposing the base of the poppet valve (53)). With this arrangement, the poppet valve (53) can be driven at high speed and high precision. The poppet valve (53) is driven in accordance with a command from a controller (51). A pressure (Ps) is applied to the poppet valve (53) as the back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kotaro Akutsu, Choshoku Sai
  • Patent number: 6658083
    Abstract: A weight compensation apparatus for compensating for a weight of a stage that is movable along a vertical reference plane including a pulley having a pulley shaft, a belt which is wound around and supported by the pulley, and has the stage at one end and a counter mass corresponding to the stage at the other end, and a hydrostatic bearing which has an arcuated bearing portion, and supports the pulley shaft by causing a fluid to flow into a bearing gap between the bearing portion and the pulley shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai
  • Publication number: 20020176061
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing apparatus has a hydrostatic bearing pad, a labyrinth seal part having an exhaust groove provided around the outside of the hydrostatic bearing pad, an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a labyrinth seal part gap, non-contacting displacement gauges for sensing changes in the size of the gap, and actuators that are activated to adjust the gap so as to maintain the gap at a predetermined constant value. The exhaust groove parts and the labyrinth seal part can move relative to each other, and an annular seal forms an airtight seal to prevent air leaks and keep the bearing steady.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choshoku Sai