Patents by Inventor Shoji Yoshikawa

Shoji Yoshikawa 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: 11260996
    Abstract: A lunar orbiting satellite system executes orbit planning of assigning a function (positioning, communication, and flashing) to an artificial satellite (AS) depending on a relative position of the AS to the moon at a time when the moon and the AS are observed from an input point on the earth, and correcting the relative position, which changes in accordance with the moon revolution period. The system includes: a satellite orbit planner which assigns a function to each ASs forming an AS group flying around the moon depending on a relative position of each ASs to the moon at a time when the moon and ASs are observed from an input point on the earth, and set a target orbit according to the function; and a satellite controller which causes the each ASs to execute control based on the function to implement switching of the function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Imamura, Shoji Yoshikawa, Kenro Mitsuda, Kazushi Sekine, Kana Tsuneishi, Mitsuhiro Yamazumi
  • Publication number: 20210078733
    Abstract: A lunar orbiting satellite system executes orbit planning of assigning a function (positioning, communication, and flashing) to an artificial satellite (AS) depending on a relative position of the AS to the moon at a time when the moon and the AS are observed from an input point on the earth, and correcting the relative position, which changes in accordance with the moon revolution period. The system includes: a satellite orbit planner which assigns a function to each ASs forming an AS group flying around the moon depending on a relative position of each ASs to the moon at a time when the moon and ASs are observed from an input point on the earth, and set a target orbit according to the function; and a satellite controller which causes the each ASs to execute control based on the function to implement switching of the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki IMAMURA, Shoji YOSHIKAWA, Kenro MITSUDA, Kazushi SEKINE, Kana TSUNEISHI, Mitsuhiro YAMAZUMI
  • Patent number: 10446404
    Abstract: Provided is a method of adjusting an electron-beam irradiated area in an electron beam irradiation apparatus that deflects an electron beam with a deflector to irradiate an object with the electron beam, the method including: emitting an electron beam while changing an irradiation position on an adjustment plate by controlling the deflector in accordance with an electron beam irradiation recipe, the adjustment plate detecting a current corresponding to the emitted electron beam; acquiring a current value detected from the adjustment plate; forming image data corresponding to the acquired current value; determining whether the electron-beam irradiated area is appropriate based on the formed image data; and updating the electron beam irradiation recipe when the electron-beam irradiated area is determined not to be appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Tajima, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Kenichi Suematsu, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Kenji Watanabe, Shoji Yoshikawa, Shinichi Okada, Kenji Terao
  • Patent number: 10157722
    Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting a surface of an inspection object using a beam includes a beam generator capable of generating one of either charge particles or an electromagnetic wave as a beam, a primary optical system capable of guiding and irradiating the beam to the inspection object supported within a working chamber, a secondary optical system capable of including a first movable numerical aperture and a first detector which detects secondary charge particles generated from the inspection object, the secondary charge particles passing through the first movable numerical aperture, an image processing system capable of forming an image based on the secondary charge particles detected by the first detector; and a second detector arranged between the first movable numerical aperture and the first detector and which detects a location and shape at a cross over location of the secondary charge particles generated from the inspection object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Yoshihiko Naito, Yasushi Toma, Tsutomu Karimata, Takehide Hayashi, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Tatsuya Kohama, Noboru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10074510
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a TDI sensor that integrates amounts of secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves along a predetermined direction at every timing at which a transfer clock is inputted and sequentially transfers the amounts of secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves so integrated, and a deflector which deflects, based on a difference between an actual position and a target position of the inspection target, the secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves directed towards the TDI sensor in a direction in which the difference is offset. The target position is set into something like a step-and-riser shape in which the target position is kept staying in the same position by a predetermined period of time that is equal to or shorter than a period of time from an input of the transfer clock to an input of the following transfer clock and thereafter rises by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Suematsu, Shoji Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20180233374
    Abstract: Provided is a method of adjusting an electron-beam irradiated area in an electron beam irradiation apparatus that deflects an electron beam with a deflector to irradiate an object with the electron beam, the method including: emitting an electron beam while changing an irradiation position on an adjustment plate by controlling the deflector in accordance with an electron beam irradiation recipe, the adjustment plate detecting a current corresponding to the emitted electron beam; acquiring a current value detected from the adjustment plate; forming image data corresponding to the acquired current value; determining whether the electron-beam irradiated area is appropriate based on the formed image data; and updating the electron beam irradiation recipe when the electron-beam irradiated area is determined not to be appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Ryo TAJIMA, Masahiro HATAKEYAMA, Kenichi SUEMATSU, Kiwamu TSUKAMOTO, Kenji WATANABE, Shoji YOSHIKAWA, Shinichi OKADA, Kenji TERAO
  • Patent number: 9852878
    Abstract: A surface processing apparatus is an apparatus which performs surface processing on an inspection object 20 by irradiating the inspection object with an electron beam. A surface processing apparatus includes: an electron source 10 (including lens system that controls beam shape of electron beam) which generates an electron beam; a stage 30 on which an inspection object 20 to be irradiated with the electron beam is set; and an optical microscope 110 for checking a position to be irradiated with the electron beam. The current value of the electron beam which irradiates the inspection object 20 is set at 10 nA to 100 A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Kenichi Suematsu, Ryo Tajima, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Kenji Terao, Shoji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9601302
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus capable of facilitating reduction in cost of the apparatus is provided. The inspection apparatus includes: beam generation means for generating any of charged particles and electromagnetic waves as a beam; a primary optical system that guides the beam into an inspection object held on a movable stage in a working chamber and irradiates the inspection object with the beam; a secondary optical system that detects secondary charged particles occurring from the inspection object; and an image processing system that forms an image on the basis of the detected secondary charged particles. The inspection apparatus further includes: a linear motor that drives the movable stage; and a Helmholtz coil that causes a magnetic field for canceling a magnetic field caused by the linear motor when the movable stage is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshikawa, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Takeshi Murakami, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Tsutomu Karimata
  • Publication number: 20160307726
    Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting a surface of an inspection object using a beam includes a beam generator capable of generating one of either charge particles or an electromagnetic wave as a beam, a primary optical system capable of guiding and irradiating the beam to the inspection object supported within a working chamber, a secondary optical system capable of including a first movable numerical aperture and a first detector which detects secondary charge particles generated from the inspection object, the secondary charge particles passing through the first movable numerical aperture, an image processing system capable of forming an image based on the secondary charge particles detected by the first detector; and a second detector arranged between the first movable numerical aperture and the first detector and which detects a location and shape at a cross over location of the secondary charge particles generated from the inspection object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Yoshihiko Naito, Yasushi Toma, Tsutomu Karimata, Takehide Hayashi, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Tatsuya Kohama, Noboru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9406480
    Abstract: A substrate is irradiated by primary electrons and secondary electrons generated from the substrate are detected by a detector. A reference die is placed on the stage to obtain a pattern matching template image including feature coordinates of the reference die. A pattern matching is performed with an arbitrary die in a row or column including the reference die using the template image to obtain feature coordinates of the arbitrary die. An angle of misalignment is calculated between the direction of the row or column including the reference die and one of the directions of movement of the substrate on the basis of the feature coordinates of the arbitrary die and those of the reference die. The stage is rotated to correct the angle of misalignment to conform the direction of the row or column including the reference die with the one of the directions of movement of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuharu Noji, Tohru Satake, Hirosi Sobukawa, Toshifumi Kimba, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Tsutomu Karimata, Kenichi Suematsu, Yutaka Tabe, Ryo Tajima, Keiichi Tohyama
  • Patent number: 9368314
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical systems; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamoru Nakasuji, Nobuharu Noji, Tohru Satake, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Toshifumi Kimba, Hirosi Sobukawa, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Tsutomu Karimata, Shin Oowada, Mutsumi Saito, Yuichiro Yamazaki, Takamitsu Nagai, Ichirota Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20150371813
    Abstract: A surface processing apparatus is an apparatus which performs surface processing on an inspection object 20 by irradiating the inspection object with an electron beam. A surface processing apparatus includes: an electron source 10 (including lens system that controls beam shape of electron beam) which generates an electron beam; a stage 30 on which an inspection object 20 to be irradiated with the electron beam is set; and an optical microscope 110 for checking a position to be irradiated with the electron beam. The current value of the electron beam which irradiates the inspection object 20 is set at 10 nA to 100 A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro HATAKEYAMA, Kenichi SUEMATSU, Ryo TAJIMA, Kiwamu TSUKAMOTO, Kenji TERAO, Shoji YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150340193
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus capable of facilitating reduction in cost of the apparatus is provided. The inspection apparatus includes: beam generation means for generating any of charged particles and electromagnetic waves as a beam; a primary optical system that guides the beam into an inspection object held on a movable stage in a working chamber and irradiates the inspection object with the beam; a secondary optical system that detects secondary charged particles occurring from the inspection object; and an image processing system that forms an image on the basis of the detected secondary charged particles. The inspection apparatus further includes: a linear motor that drives the movable stage; and a Helmholtz coil that causes a magnetic field for canceling a magnetic field caused by the linear motor when the movable stage is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shoji YOSHIKAWA, Kiwamu TSUKAMOTO, Takeshi MURAKAMI, Masahiro HATAKEYAMA, Tsutomu KARIMATA
  • Patent number: 9134261
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus capable of facilitating reduction in cost of the apparatus is provided. The inspection apparatus includes: beam generation means for generating any of charged particles and electromagnetic waves as a beam; a primary optical system that guides the beam into an inspection object held on a movable stage in a working chamber and irradiates the inspection object with the beam; a secondary optical system that detects secondary charged particles occurring from the inspection object; and an image processing system that forms an image on the basis of the detected secondary charged particles. The inspection apparatus further includes: a linear motor that drives the movable stage; and a Helmholtz coil that causes a magnetic field for canceling a magnetic field caused by the linear motor when the movable stage is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshikawa, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Takeshi Murakami, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Tsutomu Karimata
  • Patent number: 9105445
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a primary optical system configured to irradiate a charged particle or an electromagnetic wave as a beam, a movable unit configured to hold an inspection target and move the target through a position where the beam is irradiated, and a TDI sensor configured to integrate an amount of secondary charged particles in a predetermined direction to sequentially transfer the integrated amount. The secondary charged particles are obtained by irradiating the beam onto the target while moving the movable unit in the predetermined direction. The inspection system further includes a prevention module configured to prevent an arrival of the beam at the target side or an arrival of the secondary charged particles at the TDI sensor during a time period from one transfer to the following transfer after the elapse of a predetermined length of time from the one transfer and until the following transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Tajima, Kenichi Suematsu, Shoji Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20150122993
    Abstract: A substrate is irradiated by primary electrons and secondary electrons generated from the substrate are detected by a detector. A reference die is placed on the stage to obtain a pattern matching template image including feature coordinates of the reference die. A pattern matching is performed with an arbitrary die in a row or column including the reference die using the template image to obtain feature coordinates of the arbitrary die. An angle of misalignment is calculated between the direction of the row or column including the reference die and one of the directions of movement of the substrate on the basis of the feature coordinates of the arbitrary die and those of the reference die. The stage is rotated to correct the angle of misalignment to conform the direction of the row or column including the reference die with the one of the directions of movement of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuharu Noji, Tohru Satake, Hirosi Sobukawa, Toshifumi Kimba, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Tsutomu Karimata, Kenichi Suematsu, Yutaka Tabe, Ryo Tajima, Keiichi Tohyama
  • Publication number: 20150097116
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes: beam generation means for generating any of charged particles and electromagnetic waves as a beam; a primary optical system that guides the beam into an inspection object held in a working chamber and irradiates the inspection object with the beam; a secondary optical system that detects secondary charged particles occurring from the inspection object; and an image processing system that forms an image on the basis of the detected secondary charged particles. The primary optical system includes a photoelectron generator having a photoelectronic surface. The base material of the photoelectronic surface is made of material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of quartz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiro HATAKEYAMA, Yasushi TOMA, Shoji YOSHIKAWA, Kiwamu TSUKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150041646
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a TDI sensor that integrates amounts of secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves along a predetermined direction at every timing at which a transfer clock is inputted and sequentially transfers the amounts of secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves so integrated, and a deflector which deflects, based on a difference between an actual position and a target position of the inspection target, the secondary charged particles or electromagnetic waves directed towards the TDI sensor in a direction in which the difference is offset. The target position is set into something like a step-and-riser shape in which the target position is kept staying in the same position by a predetermined period of time that is equal to or shorter than a period of time from an input of the transfer clock to an input of the following transfer clock and thereafter rises by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Suematsu, Shoji Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8946631
    Abstract: A substrate is irradiated by primary electrons and secondary electrons generated from the substrate are detected by a detector. A reference die is placed on the stage to obtain a pattern matching template image including feature coordinates of the reference die. A pattern matching is performed with an arbitrary die in a row or column including the reference die using the template image to obtain feature coordinates of the arbitrary die. An angle of misalignment is calculated between the direction of the row or column including the reference die and one of the directions of movement of the substrate on the basis of the feature coordinates of the arbitrary die and those of the reference die. The stage is rotated to correct the angle of misalignment to conform the direction of the row or column including the reference die with the one of the directions of movement of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuharu Noji, Tohru Satake, Hirosi Sobukawa, Toshifumi Kimba, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami, Kenji Watanabe, Tsutomu Karimata, Kenichi Suematsu, Yutaka Tabe, Ryo Tajima, Keiichi Tohyama
  • Patent number: 8946629
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes: beam generation means for generating any of charged particles and electromagnetic waves as a beam; a primary optical system that guides the beam into an inspection object held in a working chamber and irradiates the inspection object with the beam; a secondary optical system that detects secondary charged particles occurring from the inspection object; and an image processing system that forms an image on the basis of the detected secondary charged particles. The primary optical system includes a photoelectron generator having a photoelectronic surface. The base material of the photoelectronic surface is made of material having a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of quartz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Yasushi Toma, Shoji Yoshikawa, Kiwamu Tsukamoto