Patents by Inventor David M. Williamson

David M. Williamson 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: 11934105
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and first, second, and third reflectors. The first reflector contains a pattern-source carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern. A combination of the second and third reflectors is configured to form an optical image of the pattern, with a demagnification coefficient N>1 in extreme UV light, and with only two beams of light that have originated at the first reflector as a result of irradiation of the first reflector with light incident upon it. An exposure apparatus employing the catoptric system and method of device manufacturing with the use of the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11899371
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and first, second, and third reflectors. The first reflector contains a pattern-source carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern. A combination of the second and third reflectors is configured to form an optical image of the pattern, with a demagnification coefficient N>1 in extreme UV light, and with only two beams of light that have originated at the first reflector as a result of irradiation of the first reflector with light incident upon it. An exposure apparatus employing the catoptric system and method of device manufacturing with the use of the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20230270328
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a first lens system housed in a body of a mobile telecommunication device, the first lens system having a first optical axis, a first entrance pupil fixed in space in a reference plane associated with said body, and a first focal length; and an optical telescope providing a diffraction-limited imaging within a spectral range from at least 486 nm to at least 656 nm. The optical imaging system is configured to image, when the optical telescope is inserted between the first lens system and an entrance pupil of a visual system of an eye (EPE), the EPE onto the first entrance pupil and vice versa with a substantially unit magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11717161
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a first lens system housed in a body of a mobile telecommunication device, the first lens system having a first optical axis, a first entrance pupil fixed in space in a reference plane associated with said body, and a first focal length; and an optical telescope providing a diffraction-limited imaging within a spectral range from at least 486 nm to at least 656 nm. The optical imaging system is configured to image, when the optical telescope is inserted between the first lens system and an entrance pupil of a visual system of an eye (EPE), the EPE onto the first entrance pupil and vice versa with a substantially unit magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11678797
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a first lens system housed in a body of a mobile telecommunication device, the first lens system having a first optical axis, a first entrance pupil fixed in space in a reference plane associated with said body, and a first focal length; and an optical telescope providing a diffraction-limited imaging within a spectral range from at least 486 nm to at least 656 nm. The optical imaging system is configured to image, when the optical telescope is inserted between the first lens system and an entrance pupil of a visual system of an eye (EPE), the EPE onto the first entrance pupil and vice versa with a substantially unit magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11317798
    Abstract: An optical system configured for imaging an object with the use of two independently-scanning reflectors, the optical system having an optical axis and including: first and second scanning reflectors, the first scanning reflector being configured to scan a beam of light incident thereon in a first plane, the second scanning reflector being configured to scan a beam of light incident thereon in a second plane, and the first and second planes being transverse to one another; and a catadioptric afocal relay system disposed along the optical axis in optical communication with, and between, the first and second scanning reflectors, the catadioptric afocal relay system being configured to image one of the first or second scanning reflectors onto another of the first or second scanning reflectors, in light propagating along the optical axis, with a unit magnification, and the catadioptric afocal relay system including only one reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11300884
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and including a reflective pattern-source (carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern) and a combination of two optical reflectors disposed sequentially to transfer EUV radiation incident onto the first optical component to the pattern-source the substantially one-dimensional pattern of which is disposed in a curved surface. In one case, such combination includes only two optical reflectors (each may contain multiple constituent components). The combination is disposed in a fixed spatial and optical relationship with respect to the pattern-source, and represents an illumination unit (IU) of a 1D EUV exposure tool that additionally includes a projection optical sub-system configured to form an optical image of the pattern-source on an image plane with the use of only two beams of radiation. These only two beams of radiation originate at the pattern-source from the EUV radiation transferred onto the pattern-source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson, Donis G. Flagello, Michael B. Binnard
  • Publication number: 20220095912
    Abstract: An reconfigurable optical arrangement for imaging posterior and anterior surfaces of a visual system. The optical arrangement includes a relay containing first and second lenses each having a positive optical power and detachably cooperated with one another such that the first lens and the second lens form an afocal system configured to form a conjugate relationship between the first plane and the second plane. In a related embodiment, the optical arrangement may include a first lens system of an first optical system housed in a body of a mobile telecommunication device and an afocal relay including first and second lenses that possess equal optical properties. Here, the afocal relay is configured to have a unity magnification and to provide diffraction-limited imaging within a spectral range from at least 486 nm to at least 656 nm. The method for imaging with the use of the optical arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. WILLIAMSON
  • Patent number: 11099483
    Abstract: Extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography ruling engine specifically configured to print one-dimensional lines on a target workpiece includes source of EUV radiation; a pattern-source defining 1D pattern; an illumination unit (IU) configured to irradiate the pattern-source; and projection optics (PO) configured to optically image, with a reduction factor N>1, the 1D pattern on image surface that is optically-conjugate to the 1D pattern. Irradiation of the pattern-source can be on-axis or off-axis. While 1D pattern has first spatial frequency, its optical image has second spatial frequency that is at least twice the first spatial frequency. The pattern-source can be flat or curved. The IU may include a relay reflector. A PO's reflector may include multiple spatially-distinct reflecting elements aggregately forming such reflector. The engine is configured to not allow formation of optical image of any 2D pattern that has spatial resolution substantially equal to a pitch of the 1D pattern of the pattern-source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Donis G. Flagello, David M. Williamson, Stephen P. Renwick, Daniel Gene Smith, Michael B. Binnard
  • Patent number: 11054745
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and including a reflective pattern-source (carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern) and a combination of only three optical components disposed sequentially to transfer EUV radiation incident the first optical component onto the pattern-source. The combination is disposed in a fixed spatial and optical relationship with respect to the pattern-source, and represents an illumination unit (IU) of a 1D EUV exposure tool that additionally includes a projection optic sub-system configured to form an optical image of the pattern-source on an image plane with the use of only two beams of radiation. These only two beams of radiation originate at the pattern-source from the EUV radiation transferred onto the pattern-source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20210093194
    Abstract: The ophthalmic optical system is configured to apply an angular scanning light ray to an eye. M=|?out/?in| is defined, where ?in represents an angle between an incident light ray to the ophthalmic optical system and an optical axis of the ophthalmic optical system, and ?out represents an angle between an exiting light ray exiting from the ophthalmic optical system toward the eye and the optical axis. The ophthalmic optical system satisfies a conditional expression Mpar<Mmax, where Mpar represents M in a case that the incident light ray is a paraxial ray, Mmax represents M in a case that the incident light ray is a ray of a maximum angle of win.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, OPTOS PLC
    Inventors: Gonzalo MUYO, Alistair GORMAN, David M. WILLIAMSON, Makoto FUJIMOTO, Yasufumi NISHI, Azuna NONAKA, Katsuya WATANABE, Miwako YOSHIDA, Kyoya TOKUNAGA, Masahiro MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 10890849
    Abstract: Extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography ruling engine specifically configured to print one-dimensional lines on a target workpiece includes source of EUV radiation; a pattern-source defining 1D pattern; an illumination unit (IU) configured to irradiate the pattern-source; and projection optics (PO) configured to optically image, with a reduction factor N>1, the 1D pattern on image surface that is optically-conjugate to the 1D pattern. Irradiation of the pattern-source can be on-axis or off-axis. While 1D pattern has first spatial frequency, its optical image has second spatial frequency that is at least twice the first spatial frequency. The pattern-source can be flat or curved. The IU may include a relay reflector. A PO's reflector may include multiple spatially-distinct reflecting elements aggregately forming such reflector. The engine is configured to not allow formation of optical image of any 2D pattern that has spatial resolution substantially equal to a pitch of the 1D pattern of the pattern-source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Donis G. Flagello, David M. Williamson, Stephen P. Renwick, Daniel Gene Smith, Michael B. Binnard
  • Patent number: 10747117
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography system (10) that creates a pattern (230) having a plurality of densely packed parallel lines (232) on a workpiece (22) includes a patterning element (16); an EUV illumination system (12) that directs an extreme ultraviolet beam (13A) at the patterning element (16); a projection optical assembly (18) that directs the extreme ultraviolet beam diffracted off of the patterning element (16) at the workpiece (22); and a pattern blind assembly (26) positioned in a beam path (55) of the extreme ultraviolet beam (13A). The pattern blind assembly (26) shapes the extreme ultraviolet beam (13A) so that an exposure field (28) on the workpiece (22) has a polygonal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael B. Binnard, Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20200117099
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and first, second, and third reflectors. The first reflector contains a pattern-source carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern. A combination of the second and third reflectors is configured to form an optical image of the pattern, with a demagnification coefficient N>1 in extreme UV light, and with only two beams of light that have originated at the first reflector as a result of irradiation of the first reflector with light incident upon it. An exposure apparatus employing the catoptric system and method of device manufacturing with the use of the exposure apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20200073251
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and including a reflective pattern-source (carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern) and a combination of two optical reflectors disposed sequentially to transfer EUV radiation incident onto the first optical component to the pattern-source the substantially one-dimensional pattern of which is disposed in a curved surface. In one case, such combination includes only two optical reflectors (each may contain multiple constituent components). The combination is disposed in a fixed spatial and optical relationship with respect to the pattern-source, and represents an illumination unit (IU) of a 1D EUV exposure tool that additionally includes—includes a projection optical sub-system configured to form an optical image of the pattern-source on an image plane with the use of only two beams of radiation. These only two beams of radiation originate at the pattern-source from the EUV radiation transferred onto the pattern-source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson, Donis G. Flagello, Michael B. Binnard
  • Publication number: 20200057373
    Abstract: A catoptric system having a reference axis and including a reflective pattern-source (carrying a substantially one-dimensional pattern) and a combination of only three optical components disposed sequentially to transfer EUV radiation incident the first optical component onto the pattern-source. The combination is disposed in a fixed spatial and optical relationship with respect to the pattern-source, and represents an illumination unit (IU) of a 1D EUV exposure tool that additionally includes a projection optic sub-system configured to form an optical image of the pattern-source on an image plane with the use of only two beams of radiation. These only two beams of radiation originate at the pattern-source from the EUV radiation transferred onto the pattern-source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 10488638
    Abstract: Projection optical system for forming an image on a substrate and including an illumination relay lens and a projection lens each of which is a catadioptric system. The projection lens may include two portions in optical communication with one another, the first of which is dioptric and the second of which is catadioptric. In a specific case, the projection optical system satisfies 4 < ? ? I ? ? ? T ? < 30 , where ?I and ?T are magnifications of the first portion and the overall projection lens. Optionally, the projection lens may be structured to additionally satisfy 6 < ? ? II ? ? ? T ? < 20 , where ?II is a magnification of the second portion. A digital scanner including such projection optical system and operating with UV light having a spectral bandwidth on the order of 1 picometer. Method for forming an image with such projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20190261853
    Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a first lens system housed in a body of a mobile telecommunication device, the first lens system having a first optical axis, a first entrance pupil fixed in space in a reference plane associated with said body, and a first focal length; and an optical telescope providing a diffraction-limited imaging within a spectral range from at least 486 nm to at least 656 nm. The optical imaging system is configured to image, when the optical telescope is inserted between the first lens system and an entrance pupil of a visual system of an eye (EPE), the EPE onto the first entrance pupil and vice versa with a substantially unit magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 10386626
    Abstract: Non-telecentric in image space optical objective dimensioned to operate as part of intravascular endoscope probe and including first and second groups of lens elements (separated by an aperture stop) each of which has negative optical power. The first group of lens elements includes a first meniscus lens with a positive dioptric power and a first optical doublet. The second group of lens elements includes a sequence of second and third optical doublets and a second meniscus lens that follows the third optical doublet. At least one of the first and second groups of lens elements includes an aspheric refractive surface, thereby reducing distortion down to under 0.25% for field angles up to at least 40 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Publication number: 20190235393
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet lithography system (10) that creates a pattern (230) having a plurality of densely packed parallel lines (232) on a workpiece (22) includes a patterning element (16); an EUV illumination system (12) that directs an extreme ultraviolet beam (13A) at the patterning element (16); a projection optical assembly (18) that directs the extreme ultraviolet beam diffracted off of the patterning element (16) at the workpiece (22); and a pattern blind assembly (26) positioned in a beam path (55) of the extreme ultraviolet beam (13A). The pattern blind assembly (26) shapes the extreme ultraviolet beam (13A) so that an exposure field (28) on the workpiece (22) has a polygonal shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Michael B. Binnard, Daniel Gene Smith, David M. Williamson