Patents by Inventor Hirokazu HOSODA
Hirokazu HOSODA 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).
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Publication number: 20230126340Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation method includes a target supply step of outputting a droplet target into a chamber, a prepulse laser light irradiation step of irradiating the droplet target with prepulse laser light to generate a diffusion target, and a main pulse laser light irradiation step of irradiating the diffusion target with main pulse laser light to generate extreme ultraviolet light. Here, the main pulse laser light includes first main pulse laser light and second main pulse laser light, and in the main pulse laser light irradiation step, the diffusion target is irradiated with the first main pulse laser light having higher energy density at a central portion than at an outer peripheral portion and the second main pulse laser light having higher energy density at the outer peripheral portion than at the central portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Yoshiyuki HONDA, Hirokazu HOSODA, Kouichiro KOUGE
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Patent number: 11366390Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation system may include a laser system emitting first prepulse laser light, second prepulse laser light, and main pulse laser light in this order; a chamber including at least one window for introducing, into the chamber, the first prepulse laser light, the second prepulse laser light, and the main pulse laser light; a target supply unit supplying a target to a predetermined region in the chamber; and a processor controlling the laser system to irradiate the target with the first prepulse laser light, irradiate the target, having been irradiated with the first prepulse laser light, with the second prepulse laser light having a pulse time width longer than a pulse time width of the main pulse laser light, and irradiate the target, having been irradiated with the second prepulse laser light, with the main pulse laser light temporally separated from the second prepulse laser light.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Takanari Kobayashi, Hirokazu Hosoda, Yoshiyuki Honda
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Patent number: 11333981Abstract: A target image capturing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a delay circuit configured to receive a timing signal from outside and output a first trigger signal at a timing delayed by a first delay time from the reception of the timing signal; an illumination light source configured to emit light based on the first trigger signal; an image capturing unit including a light amplification unit and disposed to capture an image of a shadow of a target to be observed, which is generated when the target is irradiated with the light emitted from the illumination light source; a processing unit configured to perform image processing including processing of measuring a background luminance from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit configured to perform control to adjust a gain of the light amplification unit based on the background luminance.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu Hosoda
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Patent number: 11337293Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation system includes: a chamber; a target generation unit; a laser system configured to output a first pre-pulse laser beam, a second pre-pulse laser beam, and a main pulse laser beam so that fluence of the first pre-pulse laser beam is 1.5 J/cm2 to 16 J/cm2 inclusive at a position where a target is irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam; and a control unit configured to control the laser system so that a first delay time from a timing of irradiation of the target with the first pre-pulse laser beam to a timing of irradiation with the second pre-pulse laser beam and a second delay time from the timing of irradiation of the target with the second pre-pulse laser beam to a timing of irradiation with the main pulse laser beam have a following relation: the first delay time<the second delay time.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Takanari Kobayashi, Hirokazu Hosoda
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Publication number: 20220035249Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation system may include a laser system emitting first prepulse laser light, second prepulse laser light, and main pulse laser light in this order; a chamber including at least one window for introducing, into the chamber, the first prepulse laser light, the second prepulse laser light, and the main pulse laser light; a target supply unit supplying a target to a predetermined region in the chamber; and a processor controlling the laser system to irradiate the target with the first prepulse laser light, irradiate the target, having been irradiated with the first prepulse laser light, with the second prepulse laser light having a pulse time width longer than a pulse time width of the main pulse laser light, and irradiate the target, having been irradiated with the second prepulse laser light, with the main pulse laser light temporally separated from the second prepulse laser light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Takanari KOBAYASHI, Hirokazu HOSODA, Yoshiyuki HONDA
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Patent number: 10976664Abstract: A target image capturing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a delay circuit configured to receive a timing signal from outside and output a first trigger signal at a timing delayed by a first delay time from the reception of the timing signal; an illumination light source configured to emit light based on the first trigger signal; an image capturing unit disposed to capture an image of a shadow of a target to be observed, which is generated when the target is irradiated with the light emitted from the illumination light source; a processing unit configured to perform image processing including processing of measuring a background luminance from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit configured to perform control to adjust the first delay time based on the background luminance.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu Hosoda
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Publication number: 20210048752Abstract: A target image capturing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a delay circuit configured to receive a timing signal from outside and output a first trigger signal at a timing delayed by a first delay time from the reception of the timing signal; an illumination light source configured to emit light based on the first trigger signal; an image capturing unit including a light amplification unit and disposed to capture an image of a shadow of a target to be observed, which is generated when the target is irradiated with the light emitted from the illumination light source; a processing unit configured to perform image processing including processing of measuring a background luminance from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit configured to perform control to adjust a gain of the light amplification unit based on the background luminance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu HOSODA
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Publication number: 20210026254Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation system includes: a chamber; a target generation unit; a laser system configured to output a first pre-pulse laser beam, a second pre-pulse laser beam, and a main pulse laser beam so that fluence of the first pre-pulse laser beam is 1.5 J/cm2 to 16 J/cm2 inclusive at a position where a target is irradiated with the first pre-pulse laser beam; and a control unit configured to control the laser system so that a first delay time from a timing of irradiation of the target with the first pre-pulse laser beam to a timing of irradiation with the second pre-pulse laser beam and a second delay time from the timing of irradiation of the target with the second pre-pulse laser beam to a timing of irradiation with the main pulse laser beam have a following relation: the first delay time<the second delay time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Takanari KOBAYASHI, Hirokazu HOSODA
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Publication number: 20200033739Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a chamber in which tin is irradiated with a laser beam to generate extreme ultraviolet light; a hydrogen gas supply path that connects the chamber and a hydrogen-gas output unit of a hydrogen gas supply device as a supply source of hydrogen gas to be supplied into the chamber, receives supply of the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen gas supply device, and supplies, to the chamber, the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device; a temperature adjustment unit connected with the hydrogen gas supply path and configured to adjust the temperature of the hydrogen gas to be equal to or lower than 16° C.; and a gas discharge unit connected with the chamber and configured to discharge gas including at least hydrogen gas inside the chamber to outside of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Tsukasa HORI, Hirokazu HOSODA
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Patent number: 10420198Abstract: The extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus may include a chamber having a window through which a pulse laser beam enters, a target supply unit configured to output at least one target toward a predetermined region in the chamber, a target image capturing device configured to capture an image of the at least one target, a first actuator configured to move a focused area focused by the target image capturing device, and a controller configured to control the first actuator based on a signal from an external device.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Hirokazu Hosoda, Toru Suzuki
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Publication number: 20190250517Abstract: A target image capturing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a delay circuit configured to receive a timing signal from outside and output a first trigger signal at a timing delayed by a first delay time from the reception of the timing signal; an illumination light source configured to emit light based on the first trigger signal; an image capturing unit disposed to capture an image of a shadow of a target to be observed, which is generated when the target is irradiated with the light emitted from the illumination light source; a processing unit configured to perform image processing including processing of measuring a background luminance from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit configured to perform control to adjust the first delay time based on the background luminance.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu HOSODA
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Patent number: 10271414Abstract: The stability of operations of an EUV light generating apparatus is improved. A droplet detector may include: a light source unit configured to emit illuminating light onto a droplet, which is output into a chamber and generate extreme ultraviolet light when irradiated with a laser beam; a light receiving unit configured to receive the illuminating light and to detect changes in light intensities; and a timing determining circuit configured to output a droplet detection signal that indicates that the droplet has been detected at a predetermined position within the chamber, based on a first timing at which the light intensity of the illuminating light decreases due to the droplet being irradiated therewith and a second timing at which the light intensity of the illuminating light increases.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Kouichi Satou, Takayuki Yabu, Yoshifumi Ueno, Hirokazu Hosoda
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Patent number: 10209625Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus may include: a chamber, within which extreme ultraviolet light is generated from a droplet which is supplied to a predetermined region therein; an image forming optical system that forms an image of the droplet supplied to the predetermined region; an imaging element that captures an image of the formed image; a stage that moves the image forming optical system and/or the imaging element in an optical axis direction of the image forming optical system; a light energy measuring unit that measures light energy which is generated when the extreme ultraviolet light is generated; and a control unit that controls the stage based on a measured value of the light energy measured by the light energy measuring unit such that an image formation plane of the image of the droplet formed by the image forming optical system matches an imaging surface of the imaging element.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu Hosoda
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Patent number: 10172224Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus may include: a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated from plasma generated by irradiating a target supplied into the chamber with a laser beam; a target generator that supplies the target into the chamber as a droplet; a droplet measurement unit that measures the droplet supplied from the target generator into the chamber; and a shielding member that shields the droplet measurement unit from electromagnetic waves emitted from the plasma, the droplet measurement unit including: a light source that emits continuous light to the droplet; a window provided in the chamber to allow the continuous light to transmit therethrough; and an optical sensor that receives the continuous light via the window. The shielding member includes a shielding body provided on the chamber side with respect to the window and configured to cover an optical path of the continuous light.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Takayuki Yabu, Hirokazu Hosoda, Takuya Ishii
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Patent number: 10141186Abstract: A target image-capture device may be configured to capture an image of a target that is made into plasma when irradiated with laser light and generates extreme-ultraviolet-light. The target image-capture device may include a droplet detector configured to detect passage of a droplet output as the target, and output a detection signal, an illumination light source, an image capturing element, a shutter device, and a controller configured to output, to the image capturing element, an exposure signal allowing the image capturing element to perform image capturing, and output, to the shutter device, a shutter open/close signal allowing a shutter to perform an open and close operation upon input of the detection signal. The controller may output the shutter open/close signal to the shutter device to make the shutter closed during when the droplet is irradiated with the laser light so that the plasma is generated.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Hirokazu Hosoda, Takayuki Yabu, Hideo Hoshino
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Patent number: 10126657Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus, may include: a chamber, in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated by plasma being generated in the interior thereof; a window provided in a wall of the chamber; a light source provided at the exterior of the chamber, configured to output illuminating light to the interior of the chamber via the window; a light sensor, configured to detect the illuminating light which is output to the interior of the chamber via the window; a shielding member having an opening that the illuminating light may pass through, that shields the window from emissions from the plasma, provided in the interior of the chamber; and a mirror provided along an optical path of the illuminating light in the interior of the chamber between the window and the shielding member, having a reflective surface that reflects the illuminating light, constituted by a surface of a metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2018Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Hirokazu Hosoda, Tamotsu Abe
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Publication number: 20180284618Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus may include: a chamber, within which extreme ultraviolet light is generated from a droplet which is supplied to a predetermined region therein; an image forming optical system that forms an image of the droplet supplied to the predetermined region; an imaging element that captures an image of the formed image; a stage that moves the image forming optical system and/or the imaging element in an optical axis direction of the image forming optical system; a light energy measuring unit that measures light energy which is generated when the extreme ultraviolet light is generated; and a control unit that controls the stage based on a measured value of the light energy measured by the light energy measuring unit such that an image formation plane of the image of the droplet formed by the image forming optical system matches an imaging surface of the imaging element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu HOSODA
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Publication number: 20180253010Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus, may include: a chamber, in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated by plasma being generated in the interior thereof; a window provided in a wall of the chamber; a light source provided at the exterior of the chamber, configured to output illuminating light to the interior of the chamber via the window; a light sensor, configured to detect the illuminating light which is output to the interior of the chamber via the window; a shielding member having an opening that the illuminating light may pass through, that shields the window from emissions from the plasma, provided in the interior of the chamber; and a mirror provided along an optical path of the illuminating light in the interior of the chamber between the window and the shielding member, having a reflective surface that reflects the illuminating light, constituted by a surface of a metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Hirokazu HOSODA, Tamotsu ABE
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Patent number: 10057972Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation system may include a laser system and a controller. The laser system may irradiate the first target with a first pulse laser beam to disperse the first target and produce a mist target, and irradiate the mist target with a second pulse laser beam. The controller may measure a mist diameter of the mist target and control, based on the mist diameter, at least one of time to emit the second pulse laser beam and energy of a first pulse laser beam to be used to irradiate the second target.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: GIGAPHOTON INC.Inventors: Yoshifumi Ueno, Hirokazu Hosoda, Takayuki Yabu
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Publication number: 20180177036Abstract: The extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus may include a chamber having a window through which a pulse laser beam enters, a target supply unit configured to output at least one target toward a predetermined region in the chamber, a target image capturing device configured to capture an image of the at least one target, a first actuator configured to move a focused area focused by the target image capturing device, and a controller configured to control the first actuator based on a signal from an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.Inventors: Hirokazu HOSODA, Toru SUZUKI