Patents Examined by Toan Ton
  • Patent number: 8705003
    Abstract: A photosensing device for digital stereo spliced picture projection imaging comprises a base (16), a front (43) and a back (25) wall plates located on the base (16), an light sensing platform (24) located slidably on the base (16), an exposure head (1) located above the front (43) and the back (25) wall plates, a longitudinal moving mechanism for moving the exposure head (1), a lateral moving mechanism for connecting the longitudinal moving mechanism with the front (43) and the back (25) wall plates, a pushing equipment located on the light sensing platform (24), a paper feeder located on a side of the light sensing platform (24), and a paper discharging mechanism located on the other side of the light sensing platform (24). The invention improves the resolution and the quality of the digital stereo image effectively. The device has an advantage of automatic process operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventor: Jinchang Gu
  • Patent number: 8705007
    Abstract: For angular resolved spectrometry a radiation beam is used having an illumination profile having four quadrants is used. The first and third quadrants are illuminated whereas the second and fourth quadrants aren't illuminated. The resulting pupil plane is thus also divided into four quadrants with only the zeroth order diffraction pattern appearing in the first and third quadrants and only the first order diffraction pattern appearing in the second and third quadrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hugo Augustinus Joseph Cramer, Antoine Gaston Marie Kiers, Henricus Petrus Maria Pellemans
  • Patent number: 8699004
    Abstract: A device for mounting a grating and a photosensitive material for stereoprojection imaging, includes: an enlarging-printing platform; and an exposure head positioned above the enlarging-printing platform; wherein the enlarging-printing platform is a chamber structure, and has a plurality of suction holes provided on an upper surface thereof and at least one exhaust port provided on a side connected with an exhaust device; the device for mounting the grating and the photosensitive material for stereoprojection imaging further includes a compressing mechanism connected with the upper surface. The device for mounting the grating and the photosensitive material provides a real-time composite device for developing stereopictures. With the mounting device, the grating and photosensitive photographic paper need either being combined beforehand, or being developed with the grating after exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Jinchang Gu
  • Patent number: 8699003
    Abstract: A method for determining an illumination source with optimized depth of focus includes the following steps. First, a simulated optimal correlation and a simulated defocus correlation of each illumination source are provided. Second, an optimal peak is determined, a defocus peak is determined, and an optimal correlation slope and a defocus correlation slope are determined. An optimal correlation ratio and a peak variation are calculated. A correlation variation is calculated from the optimal correlation ratio and the defocus correlation ratio. Next, a weighted variation is determined from the peak variation and the correlation variation. An illumination source of a lowest weighted variation among a plurality of the illumination sources is determined to be an illumination source with optimized depth of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chun-Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8699771
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing motion related imaging artifacts. The method includes obtaining an image data set of a region of interest in an object, obtaining a motion signal indicative of motion of the region of interest, determining at least one quiescent period of at least a portion of the motion signal, extracting image data from the image data set that is within the determined quiescent period to form an image data subset, and generating an image of the region of interest using the image data subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott David Wollenweber, Alexander Ganin, Kris Filip Johan Jules Thielemans, Larry Pierce, Adam Alessio, Paul Kinahan, Chi Liu
  • Patent number: 8698999
    Abstract: In EUV lithography apparatuses (10), it is proposed, in order to lengthen the lifetime of contamination-sensitive components, to arrange them in a protection module. The protection module comprises a housing (23-29) having at least one opening (37-47), in which at least one component (13a, 13b, 15, 16, 18, 19) is arranged and at which one or more gas feeds (30-36) are provided in order to introduce a gas flow into the housing (23-29), which emerges through the at least one opening (37-47). In order to effectively prevent contaminating substances from penetrating into the protection module, a light source (48-56) is arranged at the at least one opening (37-47), which light source illuminates the opening (37-47) with one or more wavelengths by which the contaminating substances can be dissociated before they penetrate through the opening (37-47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Heinrich Ehm, Timo Laufer, Ben Banney, Jens Kugler, Ulrich Nieken, Franz Keller
  • Patent number: 8692973
    Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus projects a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate using a projection system. The apparatus has a liquid supply system to supply a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate. The apparatus also has a fluid removal system including a chamber to hold liquid and having an open end adjacent to a volume in which fluid will be present. The open end removes, through a pressure differential across-the open end when liquid is present in the chamber, substantially only liquid from the volume when liquid in the volume is adjacent to the open end but not gas from the volume when gas in the volume is adjacent to the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Nikon Corporation, Nikon Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8692974
    Abstract: A method of measuring aberration present in a lithographic apparatus comprising the following steps. Modulating a radiation beam using a reflective patterning device. Projecting the radiation beam using a projection system. Detecting the projected radiation using a sensor. Measuring aberration via interference in the detected radiation beam. The radiation beam is tilted away from the optical axis of the projection system prior to entering the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Matheus Baselmans
  • Patent number: 8687170
    Abstract: An apparatus, a method of designing the apparatus, a tool using the apparatus and a method of using the apparatus for optimizing optical photolithography during formation of integrated circuits. The apparatus includes: an asymmetrical complementary dipole element including: first and second openings being equidistant and mirror images about a first axis, the first and second openings having essentially a same first area and a same first optical density relative to a selected wavelength of light; third and fourth openings being equidistant and mirror images about a second axis, the third and fourth openings having essentially a same second area, and a same second optical density relative to the selected wavelength of light; and wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis and the first and second optical densities are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Azalia A. Krasnoperova
  • Patent number: 8687871
    Abstract: A method of computed-tomography and a computed-tomography apparatus in which x-ray projection data is acquired at a number of views for a scan of an object. Partial images are created from data for a desired number of said views. Full scan images are created from plural ones of the partial images. Non-overlapping time images are created from the full-scan images. Gradient images are also created. An improved image is created by weighting respective ones of the full scan and non-overlapping time images using the gradient image. The improved image has increased sharpness with reduced noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Sachin Moghe, Ilmar Hein
  • Patent number: 8687166
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes an encoder type sensor system configured to measure a position of a substrate table of the lithographic apparatus relative to a reference structure. The encoder type sensor system includes an encoder sensor head and an encoder sensor target and the lithographic apparatus comprises a recess to accommodate the encoder sensor target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Paul Steijaert, Wilhelmus Josephus Box, Emiel Jozef Melanie Eussen, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch, Ruud Antonius Catharina Maria Beerens, Albertus Adrianus Smits
  • Patent number: 8681310
    Abstract: A pellicle frame is mechanically attached to a reticle, without use of an adhesive. An embodiment includes mechanically attaching a pellicle frame to a front surface of a reticle, removing the pellicle frame from the reticle, cleaning the reticle, and mechanically reattaching the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include using a clamp to mechanically attach the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include forming the pellicle frame with a flange having an opening in the center, and forming the clamp with two portions, one portion with a protrusion that fittingly engages the opening in the flange and with a second opening, and the second portion with a segment that extends behind the reticle and with a second protrusion that fittingly engages the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Hotzel
  • Patent number: 8681308
    Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid confinement system configured to confine fluid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. The fluid confinement system includes a fluid inlet to supply fluid, the fluid inlet connected to an inlet port and an outlet port. The immersion lithographic apparatus further includes a fluid supply system configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet by varying the flow rate of fluid provided to the inlet port and the flow rate of fluid removed from the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Petrus Joannes Berkvens, Roelof Frederik De Graaf, Paulus Martinus Maria Liebregts, Ronald Van Der Ham, Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Simons, Daniel Jozef Maria Direcks, Franciscus Johannes Joseph Janssen, Paul William Scholtes-Van Eijk, Gert-Jan Gerardus Johannes Thomas Brands, Koen Steffens, Han Henricus Aldegonda Lempens, Mathieus Anna Karel Van Lierop, Christophe De Metsenaere, Marcio Alexandre Cano Miranda, Patrick Johannes Wilhelmus Spruytenburg, Joris Johan Anne-Marie Verstraete
  • Patent number: 8682055
    Abstract: A system and method for forming an adjusted estimate of scattered radiation in a radiographic projection of a target object, which incorporates scattered radiation from objects adjacent to the target object, such as a patient table. A piercing point equalization method is disclosed, and a refinement of analytical kernel methods which utilizes hybrid kernels is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Star-Lack, Mingshan Sun
  • Patent number: 8681316
    Abstract: A measurement system is configured to derive a position quantity of an object, the measurement system includes at least one position quantity sensor configured to provide respective position quantity measurement signals; a position quantity calculator configured to determine a position quantity of the object from the position quantity measurement signal, wherein the position quantity calculator includes a torsion estimator configured to estimate a torsion of the object, the position quantity calculator being configured to correct the determined position quantity of the object for the estimated torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Henrikus Herman Marie Cox, Willem Herman Gertruda Anna Koenen, Thomas Augustus Mattaar, Martinus Theodorus Jacobus Pieterse, Rob Antonius Andries Verkooijen
  • Patent number: 8681313
    Abstract: A patterning device, including alignment targets having alignment features formed from a plurality of diffractive elements, each diffractive element including an absorber stack and a multi-layered reflector stack is provided. The diffractive elements are configured to enhance a pre-determined diffraction order used for pre-alignment and to diffract light in a pre-determined direction of a pre-alignment system when illuminated with light of a wavelength used for the pre-alignment. The diffractive elements may occupy at least half of an area of each alignment feature. The diffractive elements may be configured to enhance first or higher order diffractions, while substantially reducing zeroth diffraction orders and specular reflection when illuminated with a wavelength used for reticle prealignment. The dimensions of each diffractive element may be a function of a diffraction grating period of each alignment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Yuli Vladimirsky, Muhammad Arif, Robert Albert Tharaldsen
  • Patent number: 8675171
    Abstract: A drive unit drives a wafer table in a Y-axis direction based on a measurement value of an encoder that measures position information of the wafer table in the Y-axis direction and based on known correction information in accordance with position information of the wafer table in a non-measurement direction (e.g. Z, ?z and ?x directions) that is measured by an interferometer at the time of the measurement by the encoder. That is, the wafer table (a movable body) is driven in the Y-axis direction based on the measurement value of the encoder that has been corrected by correction information for correcting a measurement error of the encoder that is caused by a relative displacement of a head and a scale in the non-measurement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8675175
    Abstract: A lithography apparatus includes a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto a substrate, a detector configured to inspect the substrate, and a substrate table configured to support the substrate and move the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector. The detector is arranged to inspect a portion of the substrate while the substrate is moved and before the portion is exposed to the radiation beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Richard Alexander George, Cheng-Qun Gui, Pieter Willem Herman De Jager, Robbert Edgar Van Leeuwen, Jacobus Burghoorn
  • Patent number: 8675174
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a nozzle member which has at least one of a supply port for supplying a liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid, and a nozzle adjusting mechanism which adjusts at least one of a position and a posture of the nozzle member depending on a position or a posture of a substrate. The exposure apparatus forms an immersion area of the liquid on the substrate, and performs exposure for the substrate through the liquid in the immersion area. Accordingly, the liquid is satisfactorily retained between the projection optical system and the substrate, thereby making it possible to realize the exposure highly accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Takeyuki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8675937
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the quality of computer tomographic recording series, to a computation unit and to an X-ray CT system. An embodiment of the method includes scanning a subject over a period of time which makes it possible to record at least two temporally offset projection data sets of the same recording region; transforming the projection data sets into transformation data sets for at least two spatial frequency ranges; calculating temporal compensation values of the transformation data sets for some of the spatial frequency ranges and replacing the compensated values of the transformation data sets with the calculated compensation values in new transformation data sets, projection data of congruent rays always being compared; transforming the new transformation data sets back into new projection data sets; reconstructing image data sets on the basis of the new projection data sets and representing the image data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Raupach, Anja Borsdorf