Nikon Patents

Nikon Corporation manufactures and sells semiconductor and FPD lithography equipment, digital cameras, lenses and accessories, and microscopes and other measuring instruments.

Nikon Patents by Type
  • Nikon Patents Granted: Nikon patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Nikon Patent Applications: Nikon patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 11664404
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor substrate provided with a pixel, including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an electric charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, and a second semiconductor substrate provided with a supply unit for the pixel, the supply unit supplying the transfer unit with a transfer signal to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saruwatari, Shutaro Kato, Ryoji Ando, Yojiro Tezuka, Atsushi Komai
  • Publication number: 20230158607
    Abstract: A processing system is a processing system that is configured to process an object by using an energy beam, and includes: an irradiation optical system that includes a condensing optical system and that is configured to condense the energy beam entering a pupil plane of the condensing optical system to irradiate the object with it; and a detection apparatus that is configured to detect, through the condensing optical system, an object light including a light from the object, at least a part of a path of the object light in the condensing optical system is different from at least a part of a path of the energy beam in the condensing optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki UENO
  • Publication number: 20230161231
    Abstract: Provided is a light receiving apparatus including a first light receiving unit; a body to which the first light receiving unit is secured; a first exterior portion that covers at least a portion of the body; and a mount that is capable of having an interchangeable lens attached thereto, to which the body and the first exterior portion are secured. Also provided is a light receiving apparatus, in which a body to which a first light receiving unit is secured and a first exterior portion that covers at least a portion of the body are secured to a mount that is capable of having an interchangeable lens attached thereto, and force placed on the first exterior portion is absorbed by the mount, such that transfer of the force placed on the first exterior portion to the body is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi OKUTANI, Eiji MATSUKAWA, Yoshiaki TANABE
  • Publication number: 20230158952
    Abstract: An image capture device is mounted in a vehicle. The image capture device includes: an image capture unit; and a setting unit that sets an image capture condition for each region of the image capture unit each having a plurality of pixels, or for each pixel, based upon at least one of a state exterior to the vehicle and a state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko SHIGA, Toru Miyakoshi, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Akira Kinoshita, Kaoru Yoshino, Hitomi Naganuma, Takashi Kuriyama, Koichi Fukuda, Yuki Kita, Koji Nagaoka, Tomoya Nakagawa, Masakazu Sekiguchi, Takashi Shionoya
  • Patent number: 11658192
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: an accumulation unit that accumulates an electric charge generated by a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light transmitted through a microlens; and a readout unit that reads out a signal based on a voltage of the accumulation unit, wherein the accumulation unit and the readout unit are included along an optical axis direction of the microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Saruwatari
  • Publication number: 20230152675
    Abstract: An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first, second, and third tabs extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length and the third tab extends over a smallest length, along the circumferential direction. The accessory mount includes a restricting member, a fitting portion, and a lock pin hole. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori HASUDA, Noriyasu KOTANI, Hideaki HOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230152565
    Abstract: A microscope objective lens (OL) includes a first lens group (G1) and a second lens group (G2) arranged in order from the object side. The first lens group (G1) has positive refractive power and converts luminous flux from an object into convergent luminous flux. The second lens group (G2) has negative refractive power and converts the convergent luminous flux from the first lens group (G1) into parallel luminous flux. The microscope objective lens (OL) satisfies the following conditional expression: 14.0?NA×f 1.0<H1/HO Where NA is the numerical aperture of the microscope objective lens (OL); f is the focal distance of the microscope objective lens (OL); H1 is the maximum value of the height of marginal rays from an on-axis object point of the first lens group (G1); and HO is the height of marginal rays on the lens surface closest to the image side of the second lens group (G2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta KUSUI, Kazuhiro TAKASAGO
  • Publication number: 20230152601
    Abstract: An image display device includes: an input unit into which image signals are inputted, the image signals being outputted from image capturing pixels disposed in correspondence to image capturing micro-lenses, each of the image capturing pixels receiving light that has passed through a corresponding one of the image capturing micro-lenses; display micro-lenses; display pixels that emit light for forming a three-dimensional image to each of the display micro-lenses, the display pixels being disposed in correspondence to the display micro-lenses; and a generator that generates display image data that includes three-dimensional information, based upon the image signals inputted into the input unit. The generator allocates the image signals outputted from the image capturing pixels to the display pixels arranged at symmetrical positions in a predetermined direction, using a pseudo-optical axis of each of the display micro-lenses as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru IWANE
  • Publication number: 20230152083
    Abstract: A measuring device includes an illumination system configured to radiate light to a measuring target object located on an object plane, an image formation system configured to form a conjugate plane optically conjugate with the object plane, a diffracted light restricting part configured to restrict at least some of a plurality of rays of diffracted light from the measuring target object and to pass a first diffracted light and a second diffracted light different from the first diffracted light among the plurality of rays of diffracted light, and an imaging part disposed on the conjugate plane and configured to image a periodic light and dark pattern formed by the first diffracted light and the second diffracted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michio OHASHI, Satoshi TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20230154010
    Abstract: A processor acquires a first fundus image of an examined eye including a foreground area and a background area other than the foreground area. The processor also generate a second fundus image by performing background processing to replace a first pixel value of a pixel configuring the background area with a second pixel value different from the first pixel value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mariko HIROKAWA, Yasushi TANABE
  • Publication number: 20230152564
    Abstract: This microscope optical system comprises an objective lens that collimates light from an object, and an image formation lens (IL) that forms an image of light from the objective lens. The image formation lens (IL) comprises a first lens group (G1) having a cemented lens (CL11), a second lens group (G2) having positive refractive power, and a third lens group (G3) having negative refractive power, which are arranged in order from the object side, and satisfies the following conditional expression. 0.1<?en/f<0.2 where ?en is the pupil diameter of the objective lens, and f is the focal length of the image formation lens (IL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta KUSUI, Kazuhiro TAKASAGO
  • Publication number: 20230156367
    Abstract: Provided is an image capturing device including a first substrate having a plurality of pixel blocks each including one or more pixels; and a second substrate having a control circuit unit including a first control block including a first exposure control unit for controlling an exposure time of a pixel included in a first pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks and a second control block including a second exposure control unit for controlling an exposure time of a pixel included in a second pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks, and a peripheral circuit unit arranged outside the control circuit unit and configured to control signal reading of pixels each included in at least the first pixel block and the second pixel block of the plurality of pixel blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yojiro TEZUKA, Tomoki HIRATA, Shiro TSUNAI
  • Patent number: 11650483
    Abstract: An accessary that is attachable to a camera body, includes a first power terminal to which a first drive power is supplied from the camera body; a second power terminal to which a second drive power is supplied from the camera body; a first ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the first drive power; a second ground terminal that is a ground terminal corresponding to the second drive power; and a communication terminal group consisting of a plurality of terminals used for a first data communication with the camera body and a second data communication with the camera body, the second data communication being independent of the first data communication. The plurality of terminals of the communication terminal group are arranged directly adjacent to each other, and the first ground terminal is arranged between the first power terminal and the communication terminal group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11652128
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an electric charge; and an AD conversion unit having a comparison unit that compares a signal caused by an electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit with a reference signal, a first storage unit in a first circuit layer, the first storage unit storing a first signal based on a signal output from the comparison unit, and a second storage unit in a second circuit layer that is stacked on the first circuit layer, the second storage unit storing a second signal based on the signal output from the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11653096
    Abstract: A calculation device calculating an amount of movement in an optical axis direction of a focusing lens which adjusts a focal position of an imaging optical system includes: a first input unit to which first information about a deviation between an imaging surface which captures an image by the imaging optical system and the focal position is repeatedly input; a second input unit to which second information about a shake of the imaging optical system in the optical axis direction is repeatedly input at intervals shorter than those of the first information; and a calculation unit which calculates the amount of movement on the basis of at least one of the first information and the second information, wherein the calculation unit calculates the amount of movement on the basis of the second information between an input of the first information and an input of the next first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kazahaya, Yuki Kinouchi, Akihiko Obama, Satoru Shibata
  • Publication number: 20230142998
    Abstract: A processing apparatus is a processing apparatus that processes an object by a processing light from a processing light source, includes a first optical system that condenses the processing light from the processing light source on a condensed plane; and a second optical system that condenses the processing light from the first optical system to irradiate the object with it, a position in the condensed plane through which the processing light passes is changeable, a propagating direction of the processing light propagating from the first optical system to the second optical system changes depending on the position in the condensed plane through which the processing light passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA
  • Publication number: 20230143407
    Abstract: In corner sections of first to fourth quadrants whose origin point is a center of an upper surface of a stage, three each of two-dimensional heads are provided. The three each of two-dimensional heads include one first head and two second heads. The stage is driven, while measuring a position of the stage using three first heads that face a two-dimensional grating of a scale plate provided above the stage from the four first heads, and during the driving, difference data of measurement values of the two second heads with respect to the first head in a measurement direction are taken in for head groups to which the three first heads belong, respectively, and using the difference data, grid errors are calibrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi SHIBAZAKI
  • Patent number: 11645859
    Abstract: An analysis device configured to analyze a correlation between feature values in a cell in response to a stimulus includes: a cell-image acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of cell images in which the cell that is stimulated is captured; a feature value calculating unit configured to calculate a feature value for constituent elements that form the cell, based on the plurality of cell images acquired by the cell-image acquiring unit; a correlation calculating unit configured to use the feature value calculated by the feature value calculating unit and to calculate correlations between the constituent elements; a correlation selecting unit configured to select a first correlation from the correlations calculated by the correlation calculating unit; and an image selecting unit configured to select a first cell image from the plurality of cell images that are captured, based on the first correlation that is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: NIKON CORPORATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Takuro Saigo, Shinichi Furuta, Shunsuke Takei, Masafumi Yamashita, Shoko Yamasaki, Masayuki Murata, Fumi Kano, Yoshiyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11647276
    Abstract: A portable information device including a body, a position information portion that is provided in the body and that outputs position information, an image sensor that is provided in the body, a display system that is provided in the body and that displays, on a local field in a screen field, relevant information based on the position information such that the displayed relevant information is overlapped on a real-time image, an input portion that is provided on the body and, by use of which user operates an icon, the icon being displayed on the local field such that the displayed icon is overlapped on the real-time image and an imaging button that is provided, separately from the input portion, on the body and that is operated by user to capture a subject image via the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Inoue, Toru Iwaoka, Michiko Noborisaka, Masayuki Hatori, Tomohide Hamada
  • Patent number: 11642818
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluidic device includes molding either one of the base member and the valve part with a first mold; and molding the other one of the base member and the valve part with a second mold with respect to the molded base member or the molded valve part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Ishizawa, Taro Ueno, Masaaki Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11644655
    Abstract: A variable magnification optical system comprising a plurality of lens groups which includes a first negative lens group having negative refractive power, a second negative lens group disposed at a more image side than the first negative lens group and having negative refractive power, a third negative lens group disposed at a more image side than the second negative lens group and having negative refractive power; upon varying a magnification, distances between adjacent lens groups being varied; the first negative lens group being movable to include a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis as a vibration reduction lens group; the second negative lens group being moved along the optical axis upon carrying out focusing; and the predetermined conditional expression(s) being satisfied. The variable magnification optical system can attain a high optical performance and be made in small in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ishikawa, Norikazu Yokoi
  • Patent number: 11642636
    Abstract: A solution mixer comprising: a main flow path in which a solution circulates; at least one solution introduction flow path connected to the main flow path; and at least one solution discharge flow path connected to the main flow path, wherein the solution discharge flow path has at least one solution discharge flow path valve, and wherein the main flow path has at least one main flow path valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Ichiki, Taro Ueno, Shoichi Tsuchiya, Masashi Kobayashi, Kenji Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20230134254
    Abstract: A blade (BL) is a blade that is used in fluid and includes : a base member (BM); and a coat layer (TBC) that is formed on the base member, a plurality of first grooves (9) and a plurality of second grooves (7) are formed on a surface of the coat layer, a pitch (P9) of the plurality of first grooves is different from a pitch (P7) of the plurality of second grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji SATO
  • Publication number: 20230133779
    Abstract: A processing system is a processing system that is configured to process an object by irradiating the object with an energy beam, and includes: a placing apparatus on which the object is placed; an irradiation apparatus that is configured to irradiate the object with the energy beam; and a light reception apparatus that includes: a beam passing member having an attenuation area in which the energy beam is attenuated and a plurality of passing areas through each of which the energy beam is allowed to pass; and a light reception part that is configured to optically receive the energy beam that has passed through the plurality of passing areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki EGAMI, Yosuke TATSUZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230139849
    Abstract: An image processing method including acquiring a fundus image, extracting a first area including a first feature from the fundus image, extracting a second area including a second feature different from the first feature from the fundus image, and generating a combined image in which the extracted first area and the extracted second area are combined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mariko HIROKAWA, Yasushi TANABE
  • Patent number: 11640664
    Abstract: A culturing assistance device includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image of cells during culturing at determined times, a storage control unit configured to store the captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit and event information indicating an event related to culturing of the cells, and a learning unit configured to learn a relationship between the stored captured image and the stored event information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Koike, Satoshi Takahashi, Yasujiro Kiyota, Shunji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11641519
    Abstract: A focus detection device includes: an imaging unit having a first and second pixel each of which receives light transmitted through an optical system and outputs signal used for focus detection, and a third pixel which receives light transmitted through the optical system and outputs signal used for image generation; an input unit to which information regarding the optical system is input; a selection unit that selects one of the first and second pixel based on the information to the input unit; a readout unit that reads out the signal from one of the first and second pixel based on a selection result at a timing different from reading out the signal from the third pixel to be read out; and a focus detection unit that performs the focus detection based on at least one of the signals of the first and second pixel read out by the readout unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sinsuke Sambongi, Akira Kinoshita, Yuki Kita
  • Patent number: 11639904
    Abstract: An inspection device includes a ray source that irradiates an object to be inspected with energy rays, a detection unit that detects energy rays that have passed through the object to be inspected, a displacement mechanism that sets a relative position of the object to be inspected and the ray source by displacing at least one of the object to be inspected and the ray source in relation to the other, an internal image generation unit that generates an internal image of the object to be inspected based on a detection amount distribution of the energy rays detected by the detection unit, and a control unit that controls the displacement mechanism based on the detection amount distribution of the energy rays detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohbayashi, Masayuki Zaike, Takahiro Michimoto
  • Patent number: 11641522
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an image sensor that includes an image capturing area where an image of a subject is captured; a setting unit that sets image capturing conditions to be applied to the image-capturing area; a selection unit that selects pixels to be used for interpolation from pixels present in the image-capturing area; and a generation unit that generates an image of the subject captured in the image-capturing area with signals generated through interpolation executed by using signals output from the pixels selected by the selection unit, wherein: the selection unit makes a change in selection of at least some of the pixels to be selected depending upon the image-capturing conditions set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shionoya, Toshiyuki Kanbara, Naoki Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20230130244
    Abstract: A processor divides a fundus region of an ultra-wide field fundus image into plural areas including at least a first area and a second area, generates first attribute information indicating an attribute of the first area and second attribute information indicating an attribute of the second area, and generates first mode instruction information to instruct display of the first area in a first mode corresponding to the first attribute information, and generates second mode instruction information to instruct display of the second area in a second mode corresponding to the second attribute information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mariko HIROKAWA, Yasushi TANABE
  • Publication number: 20230126104
    Abstract: An image capturing device including a pixel chip having pixel blocks each including one or more pixels; and a signal processing chip having a first control block including a first converting unit for converting a signal from a pixel in at least a first pixel block into a digital signal, and a first storage unit storing the digital signal, and a second control block next to the first control block in a column direction and including a second converting unit for converting a signal from a pixel included in at least a second pixel block into a digital signal, and a second storage unit storing the digital signal, wherein the second converting unit and the second storage unit in the second control block are reversed vertically to the first converting unit and the first storage unit in the first control block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Tomoki HIRATA
  • Patent number: 11637970
    Abstract: To generate multiple types of images of the same subject, an electronic apparatus includes a drive control unit that controls the drive of an image sensor, a division unit that divides an image capture region of the image sensor into at least first and second regions, and an image generation unit that generates a first image by capturing an image of the same subject in the first region and generates a second image by capturing an image of the same subject in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shionoya, Toshiyuki Kanbara, Masakazu Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11635603
    Abstract: Provided is a variable power optical system (ZL) used for an optical apparatus such as a camera (1). The variable power optical system (ZL) includes, in order from an object: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having negative refractive power; a fourth lens group having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between each of the lens groups changes, and upon focusing from an object at infinity to an object at a close distance, the third lens group moves in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Shibayama, Kosuke Machida
  • Patent number: 11635827
    Abstract: A control device that sets a detection reference that serves as a reference according to which an electronic apparatus is operated based on a non-contact operation, includes: a detection unit that detects a position of an object that performs the non-contact operation; an acquisition unit that acquires information related to the object or information related to a user who performs the non-contact operation; and a control unit that performs control to operate the electronic apparatus and control to set the detection reference, based on the position of the object detected by the detection unit and the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidenori Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20230122763
    Abstract: A build system is provided with: a build apparatus that performs a build process for forming a build object by supplying build materials to an irradiation area of an energy beam from a supply system while irradiating a target object with the energy beam from an irradiation system; and a change apparatus that is configured to change a relative position between the energy beam and the target object, wherein the build system differentiates a condition of the build process that is performed at a first area of the target object and a condition of the build process that is performed at a second area of the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki UENO
  • Patent number: 11629950
    Abstract: A detection device includes: a detector that detects an object from a first viewpoint; an information calculator that calculates first model information including shape information on the object from the first viewpoint by using detection results of the detector; a light source calculator that calculates light source information on the light source by using a first taken image obtained by imaging a space including a light source that irradiates the object with illumination light and including the object; and a position calculator that calculates a positional relation between the first viewpoint and the object by using the light source information as information used to integrate the first model information and second model information including shape information obtained by detecting the object from a second viewpoint different from the first viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakagawa, Takeaki Sugimura, Yoshiyuki Yamariku
  • Patent number: 11632511
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11628468
    Abstract: A mist generating apparatus sprays a surface of an object (P) to be treated with a carrier gas (CGS) of mist (Mst) of a solution containing fine particles or molecules of a material substance, so that a layer of the material substance is deposited on the surface of the object (P) to be treated. The mist generating device includes a mist generator (14) for atomizing the solution to feed the carrier gas (CGS) containing the mist (Mst), and an ultraviolet irradiator (20B) for applying ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 400 nm or lower to the mist (Mst) floating in the carrier gas (CGS) in a flow path extending from the mist generator (14) until the carrier gas (CGS) is sprayed on the surface of the object (P) to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Nishi
  • Publication number: 20230111474
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a pixel substrate that includes a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion executed on light having entered therein and an output unit that generates a signal based upon the electric charge and outputs the signal; and an arithmetic operation substrate that is laminated on the pixel substrate and includes an operation unit that generates a corrected signal by using a reset signal generated after the electric charge in the output unit is reset and a photoelectric conversion signal generated based upon an electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit and executes an arithmetic operation by using corrected signals each generated in correspondence to one of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11626436
    Abstract: An imaging device, includes: an imaging unit in which are disposed a plurality of pixels, each including a filter that is capable of changing a wavelength of light passing therethrough to a first wavelength and to a second wavelength and a light reception unit that receives light that has passed through the filter, and that captures an image via an optical system; an analysis unit that analyzes the image captured by the imaging unit; and a control unit that controls the wavelength of the light to be transmitted, by the filter based upon a result of analysis by the analysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sota Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11624863
    Abstract: There are provided an excellent diffractive optical element having a small amount of flare coloring and unaffected optical performance with a decrease in diffraction efficiency minimized and an optical system and an optical apparatus using the diffractive optical element. A diffractive optical element GD used in an optical system OL of a camera 1, which is an optical apparatus, and including a diffraction grating so that the diffractive optical element GD serves as a lens is so configured that the grating height h0 of the diffraction grating in a central region Ac around an optical axis Z is smaller than the grating height hmax of the diffraction grating in a peripheral region Ap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yabumoto
  • Publication number: 20230107373
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging unit including an imaging section that includes a pixel capable of performing charge accumulation a plurality of times in response to an imaging instruction for generating one frame of image data; a storage section that stores a pixel signal based on output from the pixel; an updating section that updates the pixel signal already stored in the storage section by performing an integration process to integrate the pixel signal output from the pixel as a result of a new charge accumulation and the pixel signal already stored in the storage section; and a control section that controls whether the updating section performs the update, for each of a plurality of pixel groups that each include one or more pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230106321
    Abstract: The problem of limited throughput in three-dimensional (3D) printing processes is addressed by systems and methods that employ mirrors to receive energy reflected by the melt pool and to redirect such light back to the melt pool, where it may further heat the melt pool. Multiple such passes of reflection from the melt pool and redirection back to the melt pool may substantially increase the efficiency at which the melt pool absorbs the energy, thereby substantially increasing the throughput of the 3D printing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Alton Hugh Phillips, Eric Peter Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20230104653
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging sensor that outputs an imaging signal representing a sequence of frame images of a photographic subject. A buffer memory temporarily stores data of the sequence of frame images from the imaging signal. A release switch is actuated by a user to output an image-taking signal. A controller, upon receipt of the image-taking signal from the release switch: (i) generates moving image data from at least some of the plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory, (ii) generates at least one piece of still image data based on at least one frame image of the plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory, and (iii) associates the moving image data with the still image data and records the moving image data and the still image data in a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230094685
    Abstract: A stage apparatus includes a movable body having a first support surface for supporting an object, a support portion that is elastically deformable, has a predetermined thickness, and supports the movable body, a support device having a second support surface that supports the support portion, and a drive unit configured to move the movable body so that an angle between the first support surface and the second support surface is changed, wherein the support portion elastically deforms so that the predetermined thickness at a first side where an interval between the first support surface and the second support surface is narrow becomes small and the predetermined thickness at a second side where the interval between the first support surface and the second support surface is wide becomes large in accordance with a change in the angle caused by the drive unit to support the movable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki NISHINO, Atsushi HARA
  • Publication number: 20230098793
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an image sensor that captures an image of a subject to output an image-capturing signal; a development processing unit that generates development data based on the image-capturing signal; and an output control unit that outputs the development data to an external device in a predetermined transmission format via a connecting member that connects the image-capturing device to the external device. The output control unit outputs the image-capturing signal to the external device via the connecting member in the predetermined transmission format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro YOSHIMURA, Hiroaki SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20230099077
    Abstract: Provided is a mist generator including: a container that stores a liquid; a gas supply unit that supplies a gas into the container; and an electrode that generates plasma of the gas between the electrode and the liquid, where the supply direction of the gas fed from the gas supply opening of the gas supply unit is different from a direction in which gravity acts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoko SUZUKI, Yasutaka NISHI, Kotaro OKUI
  • Patent number: 11615135
    Abstract: In a database, product image data is accumulated. A search portion acquires product image data having the image characteristics information that is the same as or similar to the image characteristics information that indicates the characteristics of the image of input image data from the database for the input image data. A search server outputs information on another product that is different from the product corresponding to the product image data together with the product image data acquired by the search portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Inoue, Toru Iwaoka, Michiko Noborisaka, Masayuki Hatori, Tomohide Hamada, Yutaka Iwasaki, Hideki Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20230087007
    Abstract: A camera body with which it is possible to improve the effect of shake correction, a camera accessory, and an information transmission method wherein the camera body to which a camera accessory can be detachably mounted, and includes: a movable section which is movable to correct shaking of the camera body; a detection unit which detects the shake and outputs a detection signal; a calculation unit which, on the basis of the detection signal, calculates an amount of movement of the movable section; and a transmission unit which transmits, to the camera accessory, body-side information the calculation unit uses to calculate the amount of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sueyuki OHISHI
  • Publication number: 20230079144
    Abstract: A processing system includes: a processing apparatus for processing an object; a rotation apparatus for rotating a holding part holding the object; a movement apparatus for moving at least one of the processing apparatus and the holding part; a measurement apparatus for measuring at least a part of the object held by the holding part; and a control apparatus for controlling the movement apparatus and the rotation apparatus based on a measured result by the measurement apparatus to rotate the holding part and to move at least one of the processing apparatus and the holding part
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi MATSUDA