Patents by Inventor Kenji Aiko

Kenji Aiko 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: 11977026
    Abstract: This invention addresses the abovementioned problem, and the purpose of this invention is to provide a far-infrared spectroscopy device that uses an is-TPG method to generate far-infrared light, and is capable of efficiently detecting is-TPG light without a detection optical system being fine-tuned. Even if the far-infrared light incidence angles on an Si prism for detection are the same when far-infrared light having a first frequency is incident on a non-linear optical crystal for detection and when far-infrared light having a second frequency is incident on the non-linear optical crystal for detection, this far-infrared spectroscopy device adjusts the incidence surface angle of pump light in relation to the non-linear optical crystal for detection such that the angle of the far-infrared light in relation to the pump light within the non-linear optical crystal for detection can be appropriately set for each far-infrared light frequency (see FIG. 1A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Mizuki Mohara, Kei Shimura, Kenji Aiko
  • Publication number: 20230236123
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device comprises a holding mechanism that is capable of holding a sample in humid air, a detector for detecting light obtained by emitting far infrared light onto the sample, and a signal processing unit for calculating an absorption spectrum of the sample from a signal from the detector. The signal processing unit comprises a threshold processing unit that subjects the signal from the detector to threshold processing and removes the part of the signal influenced by the absorption by the water vapor in the humid air, a signal interpolation unit that carries out interpolation on the signal that has been subjected to the removal by the threshold processing unit, and an absorbance calculation unit for calculating an absorbance from the signal that has been subjected to the interpolation by the signal interpolation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Touya ONO, Mizuki MOHARA, Kei SHIMURA, Kenji AIKO
  • Patent number: 11644418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a far-infrared light source capable of reducing the shift in the location irradiated with far-infrared light even when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes. A far-infrared light source according to the present invention is configured so that the variation in the emission angle of far-infrared light in a nonlinear optical crystal when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes is substantially offset by the variation in the refractive angle of the far-infrared light at the interface between the nonlinear optical crystal and a prism when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes (see FIG. 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Shimura, Mizuki Mohara, Kenji Aiko
  • Publication number: 20220412885
    Abstract: This invention addresses the abovementioned problem, and the purpose of this invention is to provide a far-infrared spectroscopy device that uses an is-TPG method to generate far-infrared light, and is capable of efficiently detecting is-TPG light without a detection optical system being fine-tuned. Even if the far-infrared light incidence angles on an Si prism for detection are the same when far-infrared light having a first frequency is incident on a non-linear optical crystal for detection and when far-infrared light having a second frequency is incident on the non-linear optical crystal for detection, this far-infrared. spectroscopy device adjusts the incidence surface angle of pump light in relation to the non-linear optical crystal for detection such that the angle of the far-infrared light in relation to the pump light within the non-linear optical crystal for detection can be appropriately set for each far-infrared light frequency (see FIG. 1A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Mizuki MOHARA, Kei SHIMURA, Kenji AIKO
  • Patent number: 11320309
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Shimura, Mizuki Oku, Kenji Aiko
  • Publication number: 20210381965
    Abstract: The present invention provides a far-infrared light source capable of reducing the shift in the location irradiated with far-infrared light even when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes. A far-infrared light source according to the present invention is configured so that the variation in the emission angle of far-infrared light in a nonlinear optical crystal when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes is substantially offset by the variation in the refractive angle of the far-infrared light at the interface between the nonlinear optical crystal and a prism when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes (see FIG. 8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Kei SHIMURA, Mizuki MOHARA, Kenji AIKO
  • Publication number: 20210310865
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Kei SHIMURA, Mizuki OKU, Kenji AIKO
  • Patent number: 11079275
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Shimura, Mizuki Oku, Kenji Aiko
  • Patent number: 11016023
    Abstract: In an is-TPG method in which lasers having two different wavelengths are used to generate a wavelength-variable far-infrared light, a far-infrared light (TPG light) having an unstable output at a broad wavelength is also slightly generated at the same time with only one laser light. The generated is-TPG and the TPG light are converted, after passing through a specimen, to near-infrared light inside a nonlinear optical crystal for detection and are observed by a detector. The signal light output of the is-TPG light becomes unstable due to the TPG light. According to the present invention, the TPG light is removed by means of a slit and the like (filter) immediately before the specimen and is not introduced into the nonlinear optical crystal for detection. At this time, by using a change in the emission direction when the frequency of the is TPG light is changed, the filter is moved in accordance with the frequency so that only the is-TPG light passes therethrough (see FIG. 1C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mizuki Mohara, Kei Shimura, Kenji Aiko
  • Publication number: 20210131957
    Abstract: In an is-TPG method in which lasers having two different wavelengths are used to generate a wavelength-variable far-infrared light, a far-infrared light (TPG light) having an unstable output at a broad wavelength is also slightly generated at the same time with only one laser light. The generated is-TPG and the TPG light are converted, after passing through a specimen, to near-infrared light inside a nonlinear optical crystal for detection and are observed by a detector. The signal light output of the is-TPG light becomes unstable due to the TPG light. According to the present invention, the TPG light is removed by means of a slit and the like (filter) immediately before the specimen and is not introduced into the nonlinear optical crystal for detection. At this time, by using a change in the emission direction when the frequency of the is TPG light is changed, the filter is moved in accordance with the frequency so that only the is-TPG light passes therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Mizuki MOHARA, Kei SHIMURA, Kenji AIKO
  • Patent number: 10948347
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Shimura, Mizuki Oku, Kenji Aiko
  • Publication number: 20200371023
    Abstract: The present invention provides a far-infrared light source capable of reducing the shift in the location irradiated with far-infrared light even when the frequency of the far-infrared light changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kei SHIMURA, Mizuki MOHARA, Kenji AIKO
  • Publication number: 20200088577
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Kei Shimura, Mizuki OKU, Kenji AIKO
  • Patent number: 10113959
    Abstract: A terahertz wave generating device according to the present invention comprises a fixed-wavelength pump optical laser that generates a single wavelength pump beam, a variable-wavelength laser that emits a seed beam and is capable of making the wavelength of the seed beam variable, a delay element that delays pulses of the pump beam and a first non-linear crystal that generates terahertz waves by receiving the seed beam, a first pump beam that is not delayed by the delay element and a second pump beam that is delayed by the delay element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Aiko, Kei Shimura
  • Publication number: 20180209848
    Abstract: This far-infrared spectroscopy device is provided with: a variable wavelength far-infrared light source that generates first far-infrared light; an illuminating optical system that irradiates a sample with the first far-infrared light; a detecting nonlinear optical crystal that converts second far-infrared light into near-infrared light using pump light, said second far-infrared light having been transmitted from the sample; and a far-infrared image-forming optical system that forms an image of the sample in the detecting nonlinear optical crystal. The irradiation position of the first far-infrared light on the sample does not depend on the wavelength of the first far-infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kei SHIMURA, Mizuki OKU, Kenji AIKO
  • Publication number: 20180031469
    Abstract: A terahertz wave generating device according to the present invention comprises a fixed-wavelength pump optical laser that generates a single wavelength pump beam, a variable-wavelength laser that emits a seed beam and is capable of making the wavelength of the seed beam variable, a delay element that delays pulses of the pump beam and a first non-linear crystal that generates terahertz waves by receiving the seed beam, a first pump beam that is not delayed by the delay element and a second pump beam that is delayed by the delay element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Hitachi High- Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji AIKO, Kei SHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9164042
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detecting foreign matter and a method for detecting foreign matter to detect a foreign matter on a surface of an object such as a film of an electrode mixture etc. or a foreign matter contained in the object, thereby to improve the reliability of the object. By irradiating an object with a terahertz illumination light 100 (wavelength of 4 ?m to 10 mm) and detecting a scattered light 660 from an electrode 10 as an example of the object by a scattered light detector 200, a foreign matter on a surface of the electrode 10 or contained in the electrode 10, for example, a metal foreign matter 720, is detected. The electrode 10 is one in which electrode mixture layers 700 each including an active material 701, conductive additive and a binder as components are coated on both surfaces of a collector 710. The scattered light 660 results from a part of a transmitted light 656 reflected by the metal foreign matter 720.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Aiko, Shigeya Tanaka, Yasuko Aoki, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Kei Shimura
  • Patent number: 8804109
    Abstract: A defect inspection system can suppress an effect of light from a rough surface or a circuit pattern and increasing a gain of light from a defect to detect the defect with high sensitivity. When a lens with a large NA value is used, the diameter is 10a, an angle between the sample surface and a traveling direction of the light from a defect being ?1. A system receives the light from the defect at a reduced elevation angle ?2 with respect to the sample surface to reduce the scattered light, and to increase the light from the defect. The diameter 10a is smaller than the diameter 10b, resulting in a reduction in the ability to focus the scattered light. When a lens having a diameter 10c is used, the lens interferes with the sample. To avoid the interference, a portion of the lens interfering with the sample is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Aiko, Shuichi Chikamatsu, Minori Noguchi, Hisafumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 8723536
    Abstract: Non-contact type displacement sensors which measure the height of a substrate surface are installed above the substrate in order to hold the upper surface of the substrate at a desired height or to maintain the flatness of the substrate. A substrate mounting device is such that a plurality of grooves and of barriers are provided on the upper surface of a table and air is supplied between the substrate and the table to enable the pressure of air to displace the substrate. In addition, the substrate mounting device has such a structure as to make it possible to deform the substrate into an arbitrary convex-concave shape or to make the substrate flat by feeding back the output of the displacement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Miyazaki, Kenji Aiko, Yuichiro Iijima, Yuichiro Kato
  • Publication number: 20130320216
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detecting foreign matter and a method for detecting foreign matter to detect a foreign matter on a surface of an object such as a film of an electrode mixture etc. or a foreign matter contained in the object, thereby to improve the reliability of the object. By irradiating an object with a terahertz illumination light 100 (wavelength of 4 ?m to 10 mm) and detecting a scattered light 660 from an electrode 10 as an example of the object by a scattered light detector 200, a foreign matter on a surface of the electrode 10 or contained in the electrode 10, for example, a metal foreign matter 720, is detected. The electrode 10 is one in which electrode mixture layers 700 each including an active material 701, conductive additive and a binder as components are coated on both surfaces of a collector 710. The scattered light 660 results from a part of a transmitted light 656 reflected by the metal foreign matter 720.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Aiko, Shigeya Tanaka, Yasuko Aoki, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Kei Shimura