Patents by Inventor Akimitsu Ebihara

Akimitsu Ebihara 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: 20230069101
    Abstract: To enable an impact applying member to efficiently crush an object to be crushed, a rotary crushing apparatus includes an impact applying member that is connected to a rotating shaft and crushes a processing object by means of rotation of the rotating shaft. The apparatus also includes a feeding device that feeds the processing object to the impact applying member in such a way that an axis direction of conveyance of the processing object is substantially identical to an axis direction of rotation of the impact applying member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Akimitsu Ebihara, Hiroshi Obata, Hidetoshi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 10191388
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a liquid. A liquid immersion member of the exposure apparatus has a lower surface, a plurality of collection ports, and a plurality of supply ports. The lower surface has an opening through which illumination light passes. The collection ports are arranged at the lower surface to surround the opening, and the supply ports are arranged at the lower surface and between the opening and the collection ports to surround the opening, such that the liquid is supplied via the supply ports onto the substrate while the substrate is arranged opposite to a plane-convex lens of a projection optical system and such that the liquid is collected via the collection ports from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20180299788
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a liquid. A liquid immersion member of the exposure apparatus has a lower surface, a plurality of collection ports, and a plurality of supply ports. The lower surface has an opening through which illumination light passes. The collection ports are arranged at the lower surface to surround the opening, and the supply ports are arranged at the lower surface and between the opening and the collection ports to surround the opening, such that the liquid is supplied via the supply ports onto the substrate while the substrate is arranged opposite to a plane-convex lens of a projection optical system and such that the liquid is collected via the collection ports from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 10007188
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a liquid. A liquid immersion member of the exposure apparatus has a lower surface, a plurality of collection ports, and a plurality of supply ports. The lower surface has an opening through which illumination light passes. The collection ports are arranged at the lower surface to surround the opening, and the supply ports are arranged at the lower surface and between the opening and the collection ports to surround the opening, such that the liquid is supplied via the supply ports onto the substrate while the substrate is arranged opposite to a plane-convex lens of a projection optical system and such that the liquid is collected via the collection ports from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20180039185
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a liquid. A liquid immersion member of the exposure apparatus has a lower surface, a plurality of collection ports, and a plurality of supply ports. The lower surface has an opening through which illumination light passes. The collection ports are arranged at the lower surface to surround the opening, and the supply ports are arranged at the lower surface and between the opening and the collection ports to surround the opening, such that the liquid is supplied via the supply ports onto the substrate while the substrate is arranged opposite to a plane-convex lens of a projection optical system and such that the liquid is collected via the collection ports from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 9810995
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion region below the projection optical system. First and second holding members move below the projection optical system and each can hold a substrate in a hole of an upper surface thereof. A controller is arranged to control a drive system such that, when one holding member of the first and second holding members is arranged opposite to the projection optical system, the other holding member of the first and second holding members comes close to the one holding member, and such that the close first and second holding members are moved relative to a liquid immersion member so that the other holding member is arranged opposite to the projection optical system in place of the one holding member while the immersion region is substantially maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20170123326
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member holds a substrate in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate held in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 9551943
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20160202617
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 9274437
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20150198897
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 9025129
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a projection optical system and liquid, and includes a controller that controls movement of first and second movable members each of which can hold a substrate. The controller executes a relative movement between the first and second movable members such that, while one of the movable members is arranged opposed to the projection optical system, the other of the movable members comes close to the one of the movable members, and so as to move the close first and second movable members relative to the projection optical system such that the other of the movable members is arranged opposed to the projection optical system in place of the one of the movable members while substantially maintaining a liquid immersion region under the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9019473
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with an energy beam via a projection system and liquid and an immersion member forms an immersion area under the projection system with the liquid. A controller controls a stage system having first and second substrate holding members that hold first and second substrates, (i) to execute a relative movement between the first and second substrate holding members such that, while one of the substrate holding members is arranged opposed to the projection system, the other of the substrate holding members comes close to the one substrate holding members, and (ii) to move the close substrate holding members relative to the immersion member below the projection system such that the other of the substrate holding members is arranged opposite to the projection system in place of the one substrate holding members while substantially maintaining the immersion area under the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9001307
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 8953148
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus that forms a pattern by exposing a substrate is equipped with a first platform tower, a second platform tower installed at a predetermined distance, and an exposure main section arranged within the space between both platform towers that includes a plurality of high rigidity sections each including a high rigidity component. Accordingly, it becomes possible to use a module (a high rigidity section) of the preceding generation even when the generation changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20140293252
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with illumination light via a projection optical system and liquid, and includes a controller that controls movement of first and second movable members each of which can hold a substrate. The controller executes a relative movement between the first and second movable members such that, while one of the movable members is arranged opposed to the projection optical system, the other of the movable members comes close to the one of the movable members, and so as to move the close first and second movable members relative to the projection optical system such that the other of the movable members is arranged opposed to the projection optical system in place of the one of the movable members while substantially maintaining a liquid immersion region under the projection optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Patent number: 8830445
    Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes an illumination system that conditions a radiation beam, a support structure that holds a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern, a substrate table that holds a substrate, and a projection system that projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. In addition, a liquid supply system provides a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate, the liquid supply system having a member. A liquid seal device forms a liquid seal between the member and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 8796905
    Abstract: A motor device includes a base portion; a transmission portion that is formed with the base portion as one member and is wound around at least a part of an outer periphery of a rotator; and a driving portion which is supported by the base portion, moves the transmission portion by a certain distance in a state in which a rotational force is transmitted between the rotator and the transmission portion, and returns the transmission portion to a predetermined position in a state in which the rotation force transmission state is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nagase, Masashi Okada, Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Publication number: 20140211176
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid supplied to an immersion area below the projection optical system. First and second movable members move below the projection optical system. The first movable member has a mount area that mounts a substrate located in a hole of an upper surface of the first movable member. The upper surface outside the hole can maintain at least a part of the immersion area outside the substrate mounted in the hole. A drive system drives the first and second movable members to move the first and second movable members below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion region to replace one member positioned below the projection optical system with the other member such that the liquid immersion area is maintained below the projection optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA
  • Publication number: 20140211177
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with an energy beam via a projection system and liquid and an immersion member forms an immersion area under the projection system with the liquid. A controller controls a stage system having first and second substrate holding members that hold first and second substrates, (i) to execute a relative movement between the first and second substrate holding members such that, while one of the substrate holding members is arranged opposed to the projection system, the other of the substrate holding members comes close to the one substrate holding members, and (ii) to move the close substrate holding members relative to the immersion member below the projection system such that the other of the substrate holding members is arranged opposite to the projection system in place of the one substrate holding members while substantially maintaining the immersion area under the projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akimitsu EBIHARA