Patents by Inventor Shunichi Matsumoto

Shunichi Matsumoto 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: 11982631
    Abstract: A defect detection device including an illumination optical system, an image capturing optical system configured to capture an image of scattered light generated by the illumination optical system irradiating the wafer, and an image processing unit configured to process a picture of the image of the scattered light to extract a defect on the wafer. The image capturing optical system includes an objective lens, a filter unit configured to shield a part of light transmitted through the objective lens, and an imaging lens configured to form an image of light transmitted through the filter unit. The filter unit includes a first microlens array configured to condense parallel light transmitted through the objective lens, a shutter array including a light transmission unit at a focus position of the first microlens array, and a second microlens array disposed opposite to the first microlens array with respect to the shutter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Otani, Kazuo Aoki, Shunichi Matsumoto, Yuta Urano
  • Publication number: 20240096667
    Abstract: A defect inspection device in which an optical axis of a detection optical system is inclined with respect to a surface of a sample, and an imaging sensor is inclined with respect to the optical axis, a height variation amount of an illumination spot in a normal direction of the surface of the sample is calculated based on an output of a height measuring unit, a deviation amount of the focusing position with respect to the light receiving surface in an optical axis direction of the detection optical system is calculated based on the height variation amount of the illumination spot, the deviation amount of the focusing position being generated accompanying a height variation of the illumination spot, and the focus actuator is controlled based on the deviation amount of the focusing position, and scattered light intensities at the same coordinates of the sample are added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Hiromichi YAMAKAWA, Toshifumi HONDA, Yuta URANO, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Masaya YAMAMOTO, Eiji ARIMA
  • Patent number: 11828522
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a cooling unit and a magnetic shielding unit. The cooling unit is configured to cool a refrigerant. The magnetic shielding unit covers around the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Kondo, Kunio Kazami, Hiroshi Kubota, Shunichi Matsumoto, Takahiro Umeno, Syoji Takami, Takuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20230175978
    Abstract: A defect inspection apparatus includes an illumination unit configured to irradiate a surface of a sample with a linear illumination spot; a condensing detection unit configured to condense reflected light of the illumination spot and to control a polarization state of the incident light to form an optical image; and a sensor unit configured to output the optical image and including an array-shaped light receiving portion and an antireflection film at a position conjugate with the illumination spot, in which the condensing detection unit includes a polarization control unit configured to increase light incident efficiency to the sensor unit. The normal line of the light receiving surface of the sensor unit is inclined from the optical axis of the condensing detection unit by 10 degrees or more and less than 80 degrees. The light condensing detection unit increases the optical magnification in the lateral direction of the illumination spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Toshifumi HONDA, Yuta URANO, Eiji ARIMA, Hiromichi YAMAKAWA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Hisaaki KANAI
  • Publication number: 20230160835
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a defect inspection device capable of correcting image forming position deviation due to displacement of a sample surface in a Z direction while enabling image forming detection from a direction not orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of illumination. The detect inspection device according to the invention is configured to determine on which lens in a lens array scattered light is incident according to a detection elevation angle of the scattered light from a sample, and an image position of the scattered light having a small elevation angle is corrected more than an image position of the scattered light having a large elevation angle (see FIG. 19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Eiji ARIMA, Toshifumi HONDA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230153230
    Abstract: An operation verifying apparatus of a first embodiment acquires a log indicating the content of a sequence of operations performed on a predetermined device, identifies corresponding functions from the log, and automatically generates a program based on the identified functions. Input data, which is to serve as an argument of each of these functions, is set. Execution sets as well as test scenarios are each structured by combining a program and input data. Then each execution set is continuously executed. As a result, an operation test using a test program is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Mamoru YASUDA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Takaya HIGASHINO, Eiji NABIKA, Hayato TAKABATAKE, Takuma ISHIBASHI, Takuharu MIZOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230142646
    Abstract: This illumination optical system comprises a laser light source 301, 401, 501, a light collection optical system 311, 411, 511, and a support structure 312, 412 that is able to secure the laser light source and the light collection optical system, wherein the light from the laser light source is focused onto an object to be inspected 307, 407, 507. The light collection optical system comprises a cylindrical mirror 306, 406, 506, and at least one cylindrical lens 304, 404a, 404b, 404c, 504a, 504b, 504c. The cylindrical mirror is an optical element that collects light in a first direction, and the cylindrical lens is an optical element that collects light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The focal distance of the cylindrical lens to the object to be inspected is greater than the focal distance of the cylindrical mirror to the object to be inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Akihiro IWAMATSU, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Masaya YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11580011
    Abstract: An operation verifying apparatus of a first embodiment acquires a log indicating the content of a sequence of operations performed on a predetermined device, identifies corresponding functions from the log, and automatically generates a program based on the identified functions. Input data, which is to serve as an argument of each of these functions, is set. Execution sets as well as test scenarios are each structured by combining a program and input data. Then each execution set is continuously executed. As a result, an operation test using a test program is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NOMURA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru Yasuda, Shunichi Matsumoto, Takaya Higashino, Eiji Nabika, Hayato Takabatake, Takuma Ishibashi, Takuharu Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20220357285
    Abstract: The invention provides a defect inspection apparatus. The defect inspection apparatus includes: an illumination optical system configured to irradiate a sample with an illumination spot; a detection unit configured to detect, from a plurality of directions, reflected light from the sample irradiated with the illumination spot of the illumination optical system; a control unit configured to control a scan of the sample with the illumination spot of the illumination optical system by overlapping detection regions such that the detection regions partially overlap, the detection regions being detected by the detection unit configured to execute a detection from the plurality of directions when the sample is scanned with the illumination spot of the illumination optical system; and a signal processing unit configured to process a signal obtained by detecting the reflected light from the sample by the detection unit to detect a defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Toshifumi Honda, Shunichi Matsumoto, Nobuhiro Obara
  • Publication number: 20220317058
    Abstract: This defect inspection device for emitting illumination light onto a moving and rotating sample and inspecting for sample defects by scanning the sample in a spiral shape or concentric circle shapes comprises: an illumination and detection unit comprising an emission optical system and a detection optical system; a rotary stage for rotating the sample; a rectilinear stage for rectilinearly moving the rotary stage; and a controller for controlling the illumination and detection unit, rotary stage, and rectilinear stage. On the linear path of the rectilinear stage are a scanning start position where illumination light is emitted onto the sample and scanning is started and a sample delivery position where movement of the sample to the scanning start position starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Masaya YAMAMOTO, Toshifumi HONDA, Masami MAKUUCHI, Nobuhiro OBARA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220291140
    Abstract: A defect inspection device includes an illumination unit that irradiates a sample with a linear illumination spot; a condensing detection unit that condenses reflected light of the illumination spot from the sample; and a sensor unit that forms an optical image on a light reception surface, and outputs the optical image as an electrical signal. An angle ? formed between an optical axis of the condensing detection unit and a longitudinal direction of the linear illumination spot is 10° or more and less than 80°. The sensor unit is a line sensor provided with an array-like light reception unit at a position conjugate with the illumination spot. An angle ? formed between direction of the line sensor and the optical axis of the condensing detection unit is 10° or more and less than 80°, and has a difference from the angle ? of 5° or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Toshifumi Honda, Yuta Urano, Shunichi Matsumoto, Hisaaki Kanai
  • Patent number: 11346791
    Abstract: An inspection device capable of inspecting a foreign matter even during rotation acceleration/deceleration of an object under inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Makuuchi, Toshifumi Honda, Nobuhiro Obara, Shunichi Matsumoto, Akira Hamamatsu
  • Publication number: 20220155240
    Abstract: A defect detection device including an illumination optical system, an image capturing optical system configured to capture an image of scattered light generated by the illumination optical system irradiating the wafer, and an image processing unit configured to process a picture of the image of the scattered light to extract a defect on the wafer. The image capturing optical system includes an objective lens, a filter unit configured to shield a part of light transmitted through the objective lens, and an imaging lens configured to form an image of light transmitted through the filter unit. The filter unit includes a first microlens array configured to condense parallel light transmitted through the objective lens, a shutter array including a light transmission unit at a focus position of the first microlens array, and a second microlens array disposed opposite to the first microlens array with respect to the shutter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Yuko Otani, Kazuo Aoki, Shunichi Matsumoto, Yuta Urano
  • Publication number: 20220074868
    Abstract: An inspection device includes an illumination optical system that irradiates a sample to be inspected with light having a predetermined wavelength, a detection optical system that includes a photoelectric conversion unit, collects reflected light or scattered light from the sample irradiated with the light, and guides the collected reflected or scattered light to the photoelectric conversion unit, and a data processing unit that extracts positional information of a foreign substance or a defect on the sample by processing an output signal from the photoelectric conversion unit that detects the reflected light or scattered light. The light collection optical system includes a polarized light transmission control unit that changes transmission characteristics according to polarization characteristics of the collected reflected light or scattered light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Toshifumi Honda, Shunichi Matsumoto, Eiji Arima, Yuta Urano
  • Patent number: 11143600
    Abstract: The invention includes a pulse oscillated light source, an illumination unit that guides light output from the light source to a sample, a scanning unit that controls a position at which the sample is scanned by the illumination unit, a light converging unit that converges light reflected from the sample, a first photoelectric conversion unit that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the light converged by the light converging unit, an AD conversion unit that converts the electric signal output from the first photoelectric conversion unit into a digital signal in synchronization with pulse oscillation of the light source, a linear restoration unit that processes a digital signal converted by the AD conversion unit in synchronization with a pulse oscillation output by the AD conversion unit and corrects nonlinearity of the first photoelectric conversion unit, a defect detection unit that detects a defect of the sample based on an output of the linear restoration unit, and a processing unit that obtains
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Honda, Masami Makuuchi, Shunichi Matsumoto, Akira Hamamatsu, Nobuhiro Obara
  • Patent number: 11143598
    Abstract: A defect inspection apparatus includes: an illumination unit configured to illuminate an inspection object region of a sample with light emitted from a light source; a detection unit configured to detect scattered light in a plurality of directions, which is generated from the inspection object region; a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert the scattered light detected by the detection unit into an electrical signal; and a signal processing unit configured to process the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to detect a defect in the sample. The detection unit includes a lens array configured to divide an image to form a plurality of images on the photoelectric conversion unit. The signal processing unit is configured to synthesize electrical signals corresponding to the plurality of formed images to detect a defect in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshifumi Honda, Shunichi Matsumoto, Masami Makuuchi, Yuta Urano, Keiko Oka
  • Publication number: 20210293467
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator includes a cooling unit and a magnetic shielding unit. The cooling unit is configured to cool a refrigerant. The magnetic shielding unit covers around. the cooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun KONDO, Kunio KAZAMI, Hiroshi KUBOTA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Takahiro UMENO, Syoji TAKAMI, Takuji ITO
  • Publication number: 20210293475
    Abstract: A helium circulation system includes a refrigerator configured to cool a gas refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant; a first path configured to feed the liquid refrigerant from the refrigerator to a Dewar; a second path configured to feed the gas refrigerant from the Dewar to a vaporized gas collector via the refrigerator; a third path configured to feed the gas refrigerant from the vaporized gas collector to the refrigerator; a fourth path configured to feed the gas refrigerant from the Dewar to the vaporized gas collector without via the refrigerator; and a control unit configured to feed the liquid refrigerant through the first path while feeding the gas refrigerant through the third path when the refrigerator is driven, and feed the gas refrigerant through the second path while feeding the gas refrigerant the fourth path, when the refrigerator is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Kunio KAZAMI, Jun KONDO, Hiroshi KUBOTA, Takahiro UMENO, Shoji TAKAMI, Kenji IWAMOTO, Yujiro HOTEI
  • Patent number: 11047805
    Abstract: An inspection device has an illuminating optical system for forming an illuminated area on a sample, a converging optical system for converging the light from the sample, and a detector for detecting the light converged by the converging optical system. The converging optical system includes an image forming element that includes a lens group that has divided apertures and is configured so as to form a plurality of images. The detector detects a signal for the images formed by the image forming element. The detector has a plurality of partitions disposed in a matrix, the partitions include first and second pixels, and the images are projected onto the partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20210056011
    Abstract: An operation verifying apparatus of a first embodiment acquires a log indicating the content of a sequence of operations performed on a predetermined device, identifies corresponding functions from the log, and automatically generates a program based on the identified functions. Input data, which is to serve as an argument of each of these functions, is set. Execution sets as well as test scenarios are each structured by combining a program and input data. Then each execution set is continuously executed. As a result, an operation test using a test program is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: NOMURA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LTD.
    Inventors: Mamoru YASUDA, Shunichi MATSUMOTO, Takaya HIGASHINO, Eiji NABIKA, Hayato TAKABATAKE, Takuma ISHIBASHI, Takuharu MIZOGUCHI