Patents by Inventor Tatsuya Ariga

Tatsuya Ariga 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: 20140369373
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicants: GIGAPHOTON INC., KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Tatsuya ARIGA, Takahito KUMAZAKI, Kotaro SASANO
  • Patent number: 8817839
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Wakabayashi, Tatsuya Ariga, Takahito Kumazaki, Kotaro Sasano
  • Patent number: 8476609
    Abstract: An EUV light source of the present invention is capable of using a saturable absorber stably and continuously in a high heat load state. A saturable absorber (SA) device is disposed on a laser beam line to absorb feeble light, such as self-excited oscillation light, parasitic oscillation light or return light. SA gas from an SA gas cylinder and buffer gas from a buffer gas cylinder are mixed to be a mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied to an SA gas cell via a supply pipeline, and absorbs the feeble light included in the laser beam. The mixed gas is exhausted via an exhaust pipeline, and is sent to a heat exchanger. The mixed gas, cooled down by a heat exchanger, is sent back to the SA gas cell by a circulation pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Krzysztof Nowak, Hideo Hoshino, Tatsuya Ariga, Masato Moriya, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20120224600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicants: GIGAPHOTON INC., KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Tatsuya ARIGA, Takahito KUMAZAKI, Kotaro SASANO
  • Publication number: 20120068091
    Abstract: An EUV light source of the present invention is capable of using a saturable absorber stably and continuously in a high heat load state. A saturable absorber (SA) device is disposed on a laser beam line to absorb feeble light, such as self-excited oscillation light, parasitic oscillation light or return light. SA gas from an SA gas cylinder and buffer gas from a buffer gas cylinder are mixed to be a mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied to an SA gas cell via a supply pipeline, and absorbs the feeble light included in the laser beam. The mixed gas is exhausted via an exhaust pipeline, and is sent to a heat exchanger. The mixed gas, cooled down by a heat exchanger, is sent back to the SA gas cell by a circulation pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira ENDO, Krzysztof NOWAK, Hideo HOSHINO, Tatsuya ARIGA, Masato MORIYA, Osamu WAKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8116347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Wakabayashi, Tatsuya Ariga, Takahito Kumazaki, Kotaro Sasano
  • Patent number: 8093571
    Abstract: An EUV light source of the present invention is capable of using a saturable absorber stably and continuously in a high heat load state. A saturable absorber (SA) device is disposed on a laser beam line to absorb feeble light, such as self-excited oscillation light, parasitic oscillation light or return light. SA gas from an SA gas cylinder and buffer gas from a buffer gas cylinder are mixed to be a mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied to an SA gas cell via a supply pipeline, and absorbs the feeble light included in the laser beam. The mixed gas is exhausted via an exhaust pipeline, and is sent to a heat exchanger. The mixed gas, cooled down by a heat exchanger, is sent back to the SA gas cell by a circulation pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Krzysztof Nowak, Hideo Hoshino, Tatsuya Ariga, Masato Moriya, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20110216800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: KOMATSU, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Tatsuya Ariga, Takahito Kumazaki, Kotaro Sasano
  • Publication number: 20110211601
    Abstract: A driver laser for an extreme ultra violet light source device capable of suppressing self-oscillation light, amplifying a laser beam efficiently, and reducing a device size. The driver laser has an oscillator for generating a laser beam to output the generated laser beam, and at least one amplifier for amplifying the laser beam output from the oscillator to output the amplified laser beam. The amplifier includes a discharge unit which amplifies the laser beam by using energy of a laser medium excited by discharge, a feedback mirror which leads the laser beam output from the discharge unit to the discharge unit, a polarizer which leads the laser beam output from the oscillator into the discharge unit and also reflects the laser beam output from the discharge unit to a predetermined direction, and a self-oscillation light filter which attenuates self-oscillation light output from the discharge unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Tatsuya ARIGA, Hideo HOSHINO, Taisuke MIURA, Akira ENDO
  • Patent number: 7957449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Wakabayashi, Tatsuya Ariga, Takahito Kumazaki, Kotaro Sasano
  • Publication number: 20100078580
    Abstract: An EUV light source of the present invention is capable of using a saturable absorber stably and continuously in a high heat load state. A saturable absorber (SA) device is disposed on a laser beam line to absorb feeble light, such as self-excited oscillation light, parasitic oscillation light or return light. SA gas from an SA gas cylinder and buffer gas from a buffer gas cylinder are mixed to be a mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied to an SA gas cell via a supply pipeline, and absorbs the feeble light included in the laser beam. The mixed gas is exhausted via an exhaust pipeline, and is sent to a heat exchanger. The mixed gas, cooled down by a heat exchanger, is sent back to the SA gas cell by a circulation pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Krzysztof Nowak, Hideo Hoshino, Tatsuya Ariga, Masato Moriya, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7680158
    Abstract: A driver laser for EUV light source apparatus which driver laser simultaneously achieves short-pulsing and multi-line oscillation. The driver laser includes: a short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator having a device that shortens width of pulses included in a laser beam to be output and a device that suppresses amplitude of an oscillation spectrum exhibiting an energy peak value; and at least one amplifier that inputs the laser beam output from the short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator and amplifies the input laser beam to output the amplified laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Tatsuya Ariga, Takashi Suganuma, Taisuke Miura
  • Patent number: 7649188
    Abstract: A driver laser for EUV light source apparatus which driver laser simultaneously achieves short-pulsing and multi-line oscillation. The driver laser includes: a short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator having a device that shortens width of pulses included in a laser beam to be output and a device that suppresses amplitude of an oscillation spectrum exhibiting an energy peak value; and at least one amplifier that inputs the laser beam output from the short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator and amplifies the input laser beam to output the amplified laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Tatsuya Ariga, Takashi Suganuma, Taisuke Miura
  • Patent number: 7382816
    Abstract: A charging voltage Vosc applied to a main capacitor C0 disposed in an oscillating high-voltage pulse generator 12 of an oscillating laser 100 is subject to constant control such that a pulse energy Posc of the oscillating laser 100 becomes a lower limit energy Es0 or more of an amplification saturation region. And, a charging voltage Vamp applied to a main capacitor C0 disposed in an amplifying high-voltage pulse generator 32 of an amplifying laser 300 is controlled, and pulse energy Pamp of the amplifying laser 300 is determined as target energy Patgt. Thus, the pulse energy of a two-stage laser is controlled to stabilize the pulse energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ariga, Osamu Wakabayashi, Kouji Kakizaki
  • Publication number: 20080069157
    Abstract: A driver laser for an extreme ultra violet light source device capable of suppressing self-oscillation light, amplifying a laser beam efficiently, and reducing a device size. The driver laser has an oscillator for generating a laser beam to output the generated laser beam, and at least one amplifier for amplifying the laser beam output from the oscillator to output the amplified laser beam. The amplifier includes a discharge unit which amplifies the laser beam by using energy of a laser medium excited by discharge, a feedback mirror which leads the laser beam output from the discharge unit to the discharge unit, a polarizer which leads the laser beam output from the oscillator into the discharge unit and also reflects the laser beam output from the discharge unit to a predetermined direction, and a self-oscillation light filter which attenuates self-oscillation light output from the discharge unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ariga, Hideo Hoshino, Taisuke Miura, Akira Endo
  • Publication number: 20070297483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicants: KOMATSU LTD., GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Tatsuya ARIGA, Takahito KUMAZAKI, Kotaro SASANO
  • Publication number: 20070187628
    Abstract: A driver laser for EUV light source apparatus which driver laser simultaneously achieves short-pulsing and multi-line oscillation. The driver laser includes: a short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator having a device that shortens width of pulses included in a laser beam to be output and a device that suppresses amplitude of an oscillation spectrum exhibiting an energy peak value; and at least one amplifier that inputs the laser beam output from the short-pulse multi-line oscillated CO2 laser oscillator and amplifies the input laser beam to output the amplified laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Akira Endo, Tatsuya Ariga, Takashi Suganuma, Taisuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20070091968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Wakabayashi, Tatsuya Ariga, Takahito Kumazaki, Kotaro Sasano
  • Publication number: 20060239309
    Abstract: A charging voltage Vosc applied to a main capacitor C0 disposed in an oscillating high-voltage pulse generator 12 of an oscillating laser 100 is subject to constant control such that a pulse energy Posc of the oscillating laser 100 becomes a lower limit energy Es0 or more of an amplification saturation region. And, a charging voltage Vamp applied to a main capacitor C0 disposed in an amplifying high-voltage pulse generator 32 of an amplifying laser 300 is controlled, and pulse energy Pamp of the amplifying laser 300 is determined as target energy Patgt. Thus, the pulse energy of a two-stage laser is controlled to stabilize the pulse energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ariga, Osamu Wakabayashi, Kouji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 7072375
    Abstract: In a line-narrowed gas laser system such as a line-narrowed molecular fluorine laser system, ASE is cut off to obtain a spectral linewidth of 0.2 pm or lower and a spectral purity of 0.5 pm or lower. The laser system comprises a laser chamber filled with an F2-containing laser gas, discharge electrodes located in the laser chamber, a laser resonator and a line-narrowing module located in the laser resonator with a wavelength selection element, so that a line-narrowed laser beam emerges from the laser resonator. To cut off ASE from the laser beam emerging from the laser resonator, the duration from laser emission by discharge to generation of a laser beam is preset. Rise of the sidelight is made so gentle that the starting point of a laser pulse can exist after the time of the first sidelight peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignees: Gigaphoton Inc., Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisya
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ariga, Kyohei Seki, Osamu Wakabayashi