Patents by Inventor Norio Sato

Norio Sato 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).

  • Publication number: 20240128047
    Abstract: A sample inspection apparatus is provided. The invention is directed to a sample inspection apparatus 200 that includes an inspection means that is executed when a sample 11 is placed on a stage 8, the inspection means including the steps of (a) scanning a surface of the sample 11 with an electron beam EB1 with a probe 10a in contact with a conductor 11a and a probe 10b in contact with a conductor 11b, (b) measuring a differential value of a change in potential difference between the probes 10a and 10b while synchronizing with the scanning of the electron beam EB1, (c) acquiring a DI-EBAC image in which a fault spot 12 existing between the conductors 11a and 11b is shown as a bright part and a dark part based on the differential value of the change in the potential difference, and (d) specifying a direction of the fault spot 12 from the DI-EBAC image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Masahiro YOSHIDA, Junichi FUSE, Norio SATO, Hirotsugu KAJIYAMA
  • Patent number: 11934022
    Abstract: A photoelectric fiber includes a fiber including a core through which light is guided; an electrical unit formed continuously with the fiber, the electrical unit being configured to house a photoelectric conversion chip including a photoelectric conversion element; and an external electrode formed on a front surface of at least one of the fiber or the electrical unit, wherein the photoelectric conversion chip is optically connected to the core and electrically connected to the external electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Sato, Atsushi Aratake, Makoto Abe, Takuya Tanaka, Kota Shikama, Takao Fukumitsu, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20240084260
    Abstract: Provided is a method of culturing a human hepatic parenchymal cell, including culturing a human hepatic parenchymal cell in a medium containing: a culture supernatant of a human hepatic nonparenchymal cell; a Wnt signaling promoter; and a mitogenic growth factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: KEIO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Norio MASUDA, Toshiro SATO
  • Publication number: 20240053553
    Abstract: An embodiment mounting structure of an optical module includes, in order, a plurality of optical modules, a first optical waveguide component, a first optical connector, a second optical connector, and a second optical waveguide component, in which the first optical connector includes a first magnetic component and accommodates the first optical waveguide component optically connected to the optical modules, the second optical connector includes a second magnetic component and accommodates the second optical waveguide component, and at least one of the first magnetic component or the second magnetic component includes a hard magnetic material, and by causing a magnetic force to act between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, an attractive force is applied in a direction in which a gap between facing end surfaces of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Kota Shikama, Norio Sato, Takeshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20230384542
    Abstract: An optical connection structure includes an optical waveguide device that includes a substrate, a BOX layer, a first waveguide, and an overcladding in this order, an optical fiber disposed in a V-groove formed in the substrate, a self-forming waveguide disposed between an end face of the optical waveguide device and an end face of the optical fiber, and a cladding disposed around the self-forming waveguide. The optical fiber is positioned so that the end face of the optical fiber faces the end face of the optical waveguide device to cause signal light emitted from the optical fiber to enter the waveguide. The self-forming waveguide is formed with a portion cured by irradiation with resin curing light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yohei Saito, Kota Shikama, Norio Sato
  • Patent number: 11828990
    Abstract: An optical connector of the present invention includes a ferrule accommodating optical fibers, a flange integrated with the ferrule, a sleeve in which a pair of the ferrules are accommodated, and a connection component which is provided around the sleeve and includes a magnet or a metallic magnetic material, wherein at least one of the connection component and the flange includes a magnet, and an attractive force acts on the connection component and the flanges, whereby cores of the opposing optical fibers come into close contact with each other. As a result, the optical connector of the present invention can provide the present physical contact connection and can provide a smaller optical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kota Shikama, Norio Sato, Takeshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11789215
    Abstract: An embodiment optical connector includes a fiber having a core through which light is guided and a magnet attached to one end of the fiber, and the magnet has an opening that exposes at least the end face of the core. An embodiment optical connection structure includes a first optical connector and a second optical connector, each including a fiber having a core through which light is guided and a magnet attached to one end of the fiber, wherein the magnets are magnetized so as to exert attraction on each other, and when the first optical connector and the second optical connector are mechanically connected by magnetic forces, the core of the first optical connector and the core of the second optical connector are optically connected through the opening of the magnet of the first optical connector and the opening of the magnet of the second optical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Sato, Satoshi Shigematsu, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kota Shikama, Atsushi Aratake
  • Publication number: 20230284383
    Abstract: A trace structure includes a first signal line in which a first outer layer conductor on a top surface of a dielectric substrate, a first via, a first inner layer conductor, a second via, and a second outer layer conductor on a bottom surface of the substrate are electrically connected, and a second signal line in which a third outer layer conductor on the top surface, a third via, a second inner layer conductor, a fourth via, and a fourth outer layer conductor on the bottom surface are electrically connected, and in which the first and second inner layer conductors have substantially equivalent lengths and are arranged on different planes each parallel to the bottom surface to overlap each other in a vertical direction, and a sum of lengths of the first and second vias is substantially equivalent to a sum of lengths of the third and fourth vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Hitoshi Wakita, Norio Sato
  • Patent number: 11747577
    Abstract: A waveguide connection structure consists of a waveguide chip having a waveguide, and a connector having a groove dug in a thickness direction, the waveguide chip and the connector each having a concave-convex portion that fit into each other in a state of being adjacent to each other on the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Sato, Kota Shikama
  • Publication number: 20230240001
    Abstract: A wiring substrate is a wiring substrate including a plurality of differential pairs. Each of the differential pairs includes a first signal conductor, a first connection portion connected to the first signal conductor via a first via, a second signal conductor, and a second connection portion connected to the second signal conductor via a second via. The first signal conductor and the second signal conductor are arranged on different planes parallel to a bottom surface of the wiring substrate and overlap in a vertical direction. The first connection portion and the second connection portion are arranged on a top surface of the wiring substrate at a predetermined interval in a signal transmission direction. Adjacent differential pairs among the plurality of differential pairs are arranged at a predetermined interval in the signal transmission direction and at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the signal transmission direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Hitoshi Wakita, Norio Sato
  • Publication number: 20230089592
    Abstract: An optical connection element includes a first waveguide core and a second waveguide core above a substrate or a cladding and in which signal light and resin curing light propagate through the first waveguide core and the second waveguide core, the optical connection element including: an inter-core light coupling section in which a part of the first waveguide core and a part of the second waveguide core overlap in a perpendicular direction; and a resin curing light coupling section that couples resin curing light to the second waveguide core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Yohei Saito, Kota Shikama, Makoto Abe, Norio Sato
  • Publication number: 20230049310
    Abstract: An embodiment is an optical connection element including a first waveguide core and a second waveguide core on a substrate, the first waveguide core and the second waveguide core configured to propagate a signal light and a resin-curing light, and a mode field conversion portion provided at one end of the first waveguide core, wherein the second waveguide core covers at least the mode field conversion portion on the substrate, and a refractive index of the first waveguide core is higher than a refractive index of the second waveguide core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yohei Saito, Kota Shikama, Norio Sato
  • Publication number: 20230003950
    Abstract: An optical connecting component is an optical connecting component to be connected to another optical connecting component, which includes an optical waveguide component, an alignment component for fixing the optical waveguide component, and a magnetic structure integrated with the alignment component. A positioning structure is provided on a connecting end face of the alignment component, in which the positioning structure determines a relative position between the connecting end face and a connecting end face of an alignment component provided in the other optical connecting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Kota Shikama, Norio Sato, Takeshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20220390679
    Abstract: A device includes a first lens), a second lens, and an adjustment platform. The first lens is arranged between a first end surface and a second end surface, and enlarges the mode field diameter of light that is guided through a first optical waveguide and is emitted from the first end surface. The second lens is arranged between the first lens and a second end surface, and collects light that has passed through the first lens. The first lens is mounted on the adjustment platform. The distance between the optical axis of the first optical waveguide and the principal point of the first lens is adjusted on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the first optical waveguide using the adjustment platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Jun Endo, Norio Sato
  • Publication number: 20220365290
    Abstract: An optical connector of the present invention includes a ferrule accommodating optical fibers, a flange integrated with the ferrule, a sleeve in which a pair of the ferrules are accommodated, and a connection component which is provided around the sleeve and includes a magnet or a metallic magnetic material, wherein at least one of the connection component and the flange includes a magnet, and an attractive force acts on the connection component and the flanges, whereby cores of the opposing optical fibers come into close contact with each other. As a result, the optical connector of the present invention can provide the present physical contact connection and can provide a smaller optical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kota Shikama, Norio Sato, Takeshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20220357534
    Abstract: An optical element that is optically coupled to light inlet/outlet ends of an optical fiber is disposed on a base placed near the light inlet/outlet ends of the optical fiber. Moreover, a rod-like reinforcing member has an integral structure fixed into a first hole formed in the optical fiber and a second hole formed in the base 102.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Takuya Tanaka, Makoto Abe, Kota Shikama, Takao Fukumitsu, Norio Sato, Atsushi Aratake
  • Publication number: 20220350084
    Abstract: An embodiment optical coupling structure includes: at least one optical element; at least one optical fiber which has an end surface facing the optical element; and an adhesive agent which is applied to at least the end surface and a part of the optical element so as to optically and mechanically couple the optical element and the optical fiber, wherein both a contact angle which a surface of the optical element and a surface of the adhesive agent make and a contact angle which a surface of the optical fiber and the surface of the adhesive agent make are less than 90 degrees. With such a configuration, alignment between the optical element and the optical fiber can be realized by passive alignment so that a mounting time and a mounting cost in coupling the optical element and the optical fiber can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Makoto Abe, Norio Sato, Atsushi Aratake
  • Publication number: 20220317387
    Abstract: An optical waveguide alignment method includes a step of covering an end portion of an optical fiber, an end portion of a PLC, and a microlens with an adhesive before curing in a state in which at least one microlens is disposed between incidence and emission end faces of end portions of the optical fiber and the PLC, a step of causing light for alignment to be incident on at least one of the optical fiber or the PLC so that light enters a portion covered with the adhesive between the optical fiber and the PLC, and a step of curing the adhesive after the microlens moves onto an optical path between the optical fiber and the PLC due to radiation pressure of light. The optical fiber and the PLC are optically connected via the adhesive and the microlens, and the optical fiber, the PLC, and the microlens are mechanically connected by the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Makoto Abe, Norio Sato, Atsushi Aratake
  • Publication number: 20220269020
    Abstract: A photoelectric fiber includes a fiber including a core through which light is guided; an electrical unit formed continuously with the fiber, the electrical unit being configured to house a photoelectric conversion chip including a photoelectric conversion element; and an external electrode formed on a front surface of at least one of the fiber or the electrical unit, wherein the photoelectric conversion chip is optically connected to the core and electrically connected to the external electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Norio Sato, Atsushi Aratake, Makoto Abe, Takuya Tanaka, Kota Shikama, Takao Fukumitsu, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220244468
    Abstract: An embodiment optical connector includes a fiber having a core through which light is guided and a magnet attached to one end of the fiber, and the magnet has an opening that exposes at least the end face of the core. An embodiment optical connection structure includes a first optical connector and a second optical connector, each including a fiber having a core through which light is guided and a magnet attached to one end of the fiber, wherein the magnets are magnetized so as to exert attraction on each other, and when the first optical connector and the second optical connector are mechanically connected by magnetic forces, the core of the first optical connector and the core of the second optical connector are optically connected through the opening of the magnet of the first optical connector and the opening of the magnet of the second optical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Norio Sato, Satoshi Shigematsu, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kota Shikama, Atsushi Aratake