Patents by Inventor Masanao Munekane

Masanao Munekane 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: 7951303
    Abstract: By working a grabbing portion by a charged particle beam of FIB or the like, the grabbing portion in parallel with the beam can be formed, and also dust adhered to the grabbing portion is removed. When a small sample represented by a TEM sample is fabricated by being cut out by etching by a charged particle beam and is carried at inside of an apparatus of irradiating a charged particle beam, the sample is etched in a direction of irradiating the charged particle beam, and therefore, a mechanism pinched by a grabbing face of a grabbing portion can be worked in a direction the same as that in working the sample, and therefore, a change in an attitude can be reduced when the sample and the grabbing face are fabricated by parallel faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sii Nanotechnology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7923267
    Abstract: A substrate comprises a substrate main body having a surface on which a measurement object article is to be formed. A reference scale is disposed on the surface of the substrate main body in the vicinity of a region of the surface where the measurement object article is to be formed. The reference scale has adjacent graduations spaced-apart a preselected distance from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: SII Nanotechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Junichi Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7872231
    Abstract: In a chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus, the sample on the sample substrate is gripped and carried to the sample holder, and there is controlled the attitude of the sample when the sample is fixed on the sample holder. There possesses a marking process applying, in the chamber, a marking to a surface of the sample Wb existing on the sample substrate by a beam, a carriage process gripping the sample by a sample gripping means and carrying it from the sample substrate to the sample holder, and an attitude control process controlling, when fixing the sample to the sample holder, the attitude of the sample while observing the marking applied to the surface of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sll NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Tashiro, Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7736893
    Abstract: Objects to be achieved by the invention are to provide a nanobio device in which cultured cells are organized at a high-level in a state near in vivo, and to provide a method of using the nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure. The nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure of the invention is obtained by manufacturing a substrate with a bio-compatible substance and arranging a plurality of types of cells thereon in a desired array. A method of manufacturing a nanobio device in the invention includes a step of manufacturing a substrate for a nanobio device by a micromachine processing technique and a step of arranging a plurality of cultured cells on the substrate in a desired array with laser optical tweezers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignees: SII Nanotechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Hiroyuki Wada, Kouji Iwasaki, Toshiaki Fujii, Takahiro Ochiya, Yusuke Yamamoto, Takumi Teratani
  • Patent number: 7511269
    Abstract: A method of approaching a probe to a target position on a sample mounted on a sample stage tilted at a preselected tilt angle about a tilt axis of the sample stage. A distance between the tip of the probe and the target position of the sample is observed with a charged particle beam microscope while approaching the tip of the probe to the target position on the sample. The probe is moved in a direction so that on a display of the charged particle beam microscope, the tip of the probe and the tip of a shadow of the probe on the sample coincide at the target position on the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7489143
    Abstract: A fixed electrode and a movable electrode to be used to drive each arm are formed at a drive unit. As a voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, the movable electrode is caused to move by coulomb force, thereby driving the arm 3 in a closing operation. By detecting a change occurring in the electrostatic capacity between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode at this time, a decision can be made as to whether or not the sample has been gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignees: AOI Electronics Co., Ltd., SII Nano Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi, Toshihide Tani, Masanao Munekane, Koji Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20080302961
    Abstract: In a chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus, the sample on the sample substrate is gripped and carried to the sample holder, and there is controlled the attitude of the sample when the sample is fixed on the sample holder. There possesses a marking process applying, in the chamber, a marking to a surface of the sample Wb existing on the sample substrate by a beam, a carriage process gripping the sample by a sample gripping means and carrying it from the sample substrate to the sample holder, and an attitude control process controlling, when fixing the sample to the sample holder, the attitude of the sample while observing the marking applied to the surface of the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Junichi Tashiro, Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7404339
    Abstract: A probe mechanism and a sample pick up mechanism of the invention are provided at an observing apparatus or an analyzing apparatus and characterized in including a tip member comprising a needle-like member brought into contact with a sample, including a driving electrostatic actuator and means for monitoring a change in an electrostatic capacitance between electrodes of the electrostatic actuator, and capable of sensing that the probe is brought into contact with a sample by the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: SII Nano Technology Inc., AOI Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Kouji Iwasaki, Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20080156770
    Abstract: By working a grabbing portion by a charged particle beam of FIB or the like, the grabbing portion in parallel with the beam can be formed, and also dust adhered to the grabbing portion is removed. When a small sample represented by a TEM sample is fabricated by being cut out by etching by a charged particle beam and is carried at inside of an apparatus of irradiating a charged particle beam, the sample is etched in a direction of irradiating the charged particle beam, and therefore, a mechanism pinched by a grabbing face of a grabbing portion can be worked in a direction the same as that in working the sample, and therefore, a change in an attitude can be reduced when the sample and the grabbing face are fabricated by parallel faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7356900
    Abstract: In a manipulator needle portion defect repairing method, the existence of an abrasion or a fracture in a needle portion for holding a sample at an end of a manipulator disposed in an FIB device is confirmed using a microscope function of the FIB device. The abrasion or the fracture in the needle portion is then repaired by chemical vapor deposition using a focused ion beam of the FIB device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Patent number: 7339383
    Abstract: A fixed electrode and a movable electrode used to drive each arm are disposed at a drive unit. As a voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable the electrode, a coulomb force causes the movable the electrode to move, thereby driving the arms along the closing direction. The dimensions of a sample can be measured based upon the electrostatic capacity achieved between the electrodes when the sample becomes gripped by the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: AOI Electronics Co., Ltd., SII Nano Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi, Toshihide Tani, Masamichi Oi, Masanao Munekane, Koji Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20070029266
    Abstract: To provide a small thin piece holder which can reduce damage due to contact with an adhesive and bend or damage generated in detachment, and can stably, detachably hold or carry only one part of a small thin piece, a sheet shaped member having elasticity is provided with a cut into which one part of a small thin piece can be detachably inserted and which can hold it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Publication number: 20060220659
    Abstract: A fixed electrode and a movable electrode used to drive each arm are disposed at a drive unit. As a voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable the electrode, a coulomb force causes the movable the electrode to move, thereby driving the arms along the closing direction. The dimensions of a sample can be measured based upon the electrostatic capacity achieved between the electrodes when the sample becomes gripped by the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicants: AOI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SII NANO TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi, Toshihide Tani, Masamichi Oi, Masanao Munekane, Koji Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20060216838
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate possessing a substrate main body in whose surface there is formed a measurement object article, and a reference scale having been provided, on the surface of the substrate main body, in the vicinity of a region where the measurement object article is formed so as to extend in at least one direction, wherein the reference scale has plural graduations which have been formed by utilizing a focused ion beam FIB and adjacently disposed for every spacing having been previously determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Junichi Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20060188946
    Abstract: objects to be achieved by the invention are to provide a nanobio device in which cultured cells are organized at a high-level in a state near in vivo, and to provide a method of using the nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure. The nanobio device of imitative anatomy structure of the invention is obtained by manufacturing a substrate with a bio-compatible substance and arranging a plurality of types of cells thereon in a desired array. A method of manufacturing a nanobio device in the invention includes a step of manufacturing a substrate for a nanobio device by a micromachine processing technique and a step of arranging a plurality of cultured cells on the substrate in a desired array with laser optical tweezers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Hiroyuki Wada, Kouji Iwasaki, Toshiaki Fujii, Takahiro Ochiya, Yusuke Yamamoto, Takumi Teratani
  • Publication number: 20060043287
    Abstract: A probe is moved to a direction where the tip of the probe and the tip of a shadow of the probe coincide at a target position on a display of the charged particle beam microscope while observing the distance between the tip of the probe and the target position during approaching the tip of the probe to the target position by use of a charged particle beam microscope with the probe tilted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane
  • Publication number: 20060010968
    Abstract: A probe mechanism and a sample pick up mechanism of the invention are provided at an observing apparatus or an analyzing apparatus and characterized in including a tip member comprising a needle-like member brought into contact with a sample, including a driving electrostatic actuator and means for monitoring a change in an electrostatic capacitance between electrodes of the electrostatic actuator, and capable of sensing that the probe is brought into contact with a sample by the monitor
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Kouji Iwasaki, Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20060014196
    Abstract: A fixed electrode and a movable electrode to be used to drive each arm are formed at a drive unit. As a voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, the movable electrode is caused to move by coulomb force, thereby driving the arm 3 in a closing operation. By detecting a change occurring in the electrostatic capacity between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode at this time, a decision can be made as to whether or not the sample has been gripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicants: AOI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SII NANO TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Konno, Hiroki Hayashi, Toshihide Tani, Masanao Munekane, Koji Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20050211922
    Abstract: A structure having arbitrary rotational symmetry is produced by attaching a sample stage (turntable) to a precision rotational shaft that is continuously rotated as high precision, performing FIB deposition inside an FIB chamber while causing continuous rotation of the sample stage, or performing cut-way processing from a side surface or upper surface, like a general purpose lathe, using FIB etching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Masanao Munekane, Kouji Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20050091815
    Abstract: When abrasion or fracture of a needle portion of a manipulator provided in an FIB device is confirmed in a microscope image, a lost structure of the needle portion is repaired by CVD using an FIB, or when it is confirmed in a microscope image that the needle portion of the manipulator provided in the FIB device is in a bent state, the portion is cut by etching using an FIB to form a normal structure at a tip of the cut portion with the CVD using an FIB to repair the needle portion. The invention is also applied to tweezers having two needles held to be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Masanao Munekane