Patents by Inventor Akira Sumitani

Akira Sumitani 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: 20120298134
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an optical element of an extreme ultraviolet light source device for removing, from the optical element in a chamber, scattered matter generated together with extreme ultraviolet light by plasma formed through laser beam excitation of a target in the chamber, the method which comprises: making the scattered matter generated by the plasma no larger than nanosize by using solid tin as the target and using a CO2 laser as an excitation source of the solid tin; and imparting, to the scattered matter no larger than the nanosize adhered to the optical element, an effect of overcoming the adherence of the scattered matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Yoshifumi Ueno, Tamotsu Abe, Akira Sumitani
  • Patent number: 8294129
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus can reliably detect and accurately judge deterioration of an optical element in a laser beam focusing optics disposed within an EUV light generation chamber. This EUV light source apparatus includes: the EUV light generation chamber; a target material supply unit; an EUV light collector mirror; a driver laser; a window; a parabolic mirror which focuses collimated laser beam by reflection and is disposed within the EUV light generation chamber; an energy detector detecting energy of the laser beam diffused without being applied to a target material after being focused by the laser beam focusing optics when the EUV light is not generated; and a processing unit for judging the deterioration of the window and the parabolic mirror according to the laser beam energy detected by the energy detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8288743
    Abstract: An ion withdrawal apparatus that withdraws ions emitted from a plasma in an EUV light production apparatus in which a target at an EUV light production point is irradiated with laser light to be made in a plasma state and the target emits EUV light, the ion withdrawal apparatus which includes: a collector mirror that is disposed in a direction opposite to a laser light incidence direction to collect the EUV light and has a hole for the ions to pass therethrough; magnetic line of force production means that produces a magnetic line of force that is parallel or approximately parallel to the laser light incidence direction at or in the vicinity of the EUV light production point; and ion withdrawal means that is disposed on the opposite side of the collector mirror from the EUV light production point and withdraws the ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Gigaphoton, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ueno, Osamu Wakabayashi, Tamotsu Abe, Akira Sumitani, Hideo Hoshino, Akira Endo, Georg Soumagne
  • Patent number: 8256441
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an optical element of an extreme ultraviolet light source device for removing, from the optical element in a chamber, scattered matter generated together with extreme ultraviolet light by plasma formed through laser beam excitation of a target in the chamber, the method which comprises: making the scattered matter generated by the plasma no larger than nanosize by using solid tin as the target and using a CO2 laser as an excitation source of the solid tin; and imparting, to the scattered matter no larger than the nanosize adhered to the optical element, an effect of overcoming the adherence of the scattered matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Yoshifumi Ueno, Tamotsu Abe, Akira Sumitani
  • Publication number: 20120217414
    Abstract: An ion withdrawal apparatus that withdraws ions emitted from a plasma in an EUV light production apparatus in which a target at an EUV light production point is irradiated with laser light to be made in a plasma state and the target emits EUV light, the ion withdrawal apparatus which includes: a collector mirror that is disposed in a direction opposite to a laser light incidence direction to collect the EUV light and has a hole for the ions to pass therethrough; magnetic line of force production means that produces a magnetic line of force that is parallel or approximately parallel to the laser light incidence direction at or in the vicinity of the EUV light production point; and ion withdrawal means that is disposed on the opposite side of the collector mirror from the EUV light production point and withdraws the ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicants: GIGAPHOTON INC., KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi UENO, Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Tamotsu ABE, Akira SUMITANI, Hideo HOSHINO, Akira ENDO, Georg SOUMAGNE
  • Patent number: 8173984
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus can reliably detect and accurately judge deterioration of an optical element in a laser beam focusing optics disposed within an EUV light generation chamber. This EUV light source apparatus includes: the EUV light generation chamber; a target material supply unit; an EUV light collector mirror; a driver laser; a window; a parabolic mirror which focuses collimated laser beam by reflection and is disposed within the EUV light generation chamber; an energy detector detecting energy of the laser beam diffused without being applied to a target material after being focused by the laser beam focusing optics when the EUV light is not generated; and a processing unit for judging the deterioration of the window and the parabolic mirror according to the laser beam energy detected by the energy detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20110180734
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus can reliably detect and accurately judge deterioration of an optical element in a laser beam focusing optics disposed within an EUV light generation chamber. This EUV light source apparatus includes: the EUV light generation chamber; a target material supply unit; an EUV light collector mirror; a driver laser; a window; a parabolic mirror which focuses collimated laser beam by reflection and is disposed within the EUV light generation chamber; an energy detector detecting energy of the laser beam diffused without being applied to a target material after being focused by the laser beam focusing optics when the EUV light is not generated; and a processing unit for judging the deterioration of the window and the parabolic mirror according to the laser beam energy detected by the energy detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Masato MORIYA, Tamotsu ABE, Takashi SUGANUMA, Hiroshi SOMEYA, Takayuki YABU, Akira SUMITANI, Osamu WAKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20110163247
    Abstract: In an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus of a laser produced plasma type, charged particles such as ions emitted from plasma are promptly ejected to the outside of a chamber. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated, a target supply unit for supplying a target material to a predetermined position within the chamber, a driver laser for applying a laser beam to the target material supplied by the target supply unit to generate plasma, a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light, a magnetic field forming unit for forming an asymmetric magnetic field in a generation position of the plasma by using a coil, and a charged particle collection mechanism provided on at least one of two surfaces of the chamber to which lines of magnetic force generated by the coil extend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Georg SOUMAGNE, Yoshifumi Ueno, Hiroshi Komori, Akira Sumitani, Katsunobu Nishihara, Young Gwang Kang, Masanori Nunami
  • Publication number: 20110101863
    Abstract: An EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) light source device ionizes a target material in an ionizer, and supplies the ionized target material to a point of generating a plasma. This reduces the generation of debris. The ionizer simultaneously irradiates laser beams of plural wavelengths corresponding to the excited level of tin on a target material to ionize the target material. The ionized target material is extracted from the ionizer with a high voltage applied from an ion beam extractor, and accelerated and supplied to a plasma generation chamber. When driver laser beam is irradiated on the ionized target material, a plasma is generated, thereby emitting EUV radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komori, Tatsuya Yanagida, Yoshifumi Ueno, Akira Sumitani, Akira Endo, Tsukasa Hori
  • Patent number: 7928418
    Abstract: In an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus of a laser produced plasma type, charged particles such as ions emitted from plasma are promptly ejected to the outside of a chamber. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated, a target supply unit for supplying a target material to a predetermined position within the chamber, a driver laser for applying a laser beam to the target material supplied by the target supply unit to generate plasma, a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light, a magnetic field forming unit for forming an asymmetric magnetic field in a generation position of the plasma by using a coil, and a charged particle collection mechanism provided on at least one of two surfaces of the chamber to which lines of magnetic force generated by the coil extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Gigahoton Inc., Osaka University
    Inventors: Georg Soumagne, Yoshifumi Ueno, Hiroshi Komori, Akira Sumitani, Katsunobu Nishihara, Young Gwang Kang, Masanori Nunami
  • Patent number: 7923705
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of easily detecting deterioration etc. of a window of an EUV light generating chamber. The EUV light source apparatus includes a driver laser, an EUV light generating chamber, a window which passes the laser beam into the EUV light generating chamber, an EUV light collector mirror, laser beam focusing optics which focuses a laser beam onto a trajectory of a target material, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the window, and a laser beam optics deterioration determination processing unit which determines deterioration of the window based on the temperature of the window detected by the temperature sensor when extreme ultra violet light is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7915600
    Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus has a relatively high output for exposure and suppresses the production of debris as much as possible instead of disposing of debris that has been produced. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a target supply unit for supplying solid tin or lithium as a target to a predetermined position within the chamber; a CO2 laser for applying a laser beam based on pulse operation to the target supplied by the target supply unit so as to generate plasma; and a collector mirror having a multilayer film on a reflecting surface thereof, for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ueno, Georg Soumagne, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7880153
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of preventing deterioration and/or breakage of a filter for filtering EUV light. The EUV light source apparatus includes an EUV generation chamber in which EUV light is generated; a target material supply unit for supplying a target material into the EUV light generation chamber; a laser source for applying a laser beam to the target material supplied into the EUV light generation chamber to generate plasma; collection optics for collecting EUV light radiated from the plasma; a filter for filtering the EUV light collected by the collection optics; and a filter protecting member provided between the plasma and the filter, for protecting the filter by blocking flying matter flying from the plasma toward the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Suganuma, Tamotsu Abe, Hiroshi Someya, Akira Sumitani
  • Publication number: 20100176310
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of easily detecting deterioration etc. of a window of an EUV light generating chamber. The EUV light source apparatus includes a driver laser, an EUV light generating chamber, a window which passes the laser beam into the EUV light generating chamber, an EUV light collector mirror, laser beam focusing optics which focuses a laser beam onto a trajectory of a target material, a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the window, and a laser beam optics deterioration determination processing unit which determines deterioration of the window based on the temperature of the window detected by the temperature sensor when extreme ultra violet light is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100171049
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus can reliably detect and accurately judge deterioration of an optical element in a laser beam focusing optics disposed within an EUV light generation chamber. This EUV light source apparatus includes: the EUV light generation chamber; a target material supply unit; an EUV light collector mirror; a driver laser; a window; a parabolic mirror which focuses collimated laser beam by reflection and is disposed within the EUV light generation chamber; an energy detector detecting energy of the laser beam diffused without being applied to a target material after being focused by the laser beam focusing optics when the EUV light is not generated; and a processing unit for judging the deterioration of the window and the parabolic mirror according to the laser beam energy detected by the energy detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100090132
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus provided with a magnetic field forming unit having sufficient capability of protection against ions radiated from plasma while using a relatively small magnetic source. The apparatus includes: a target nozzle for injecting a target material; a driver laser for applying a laser beam to the target material to generate plasma; a collector mirror for collecting extreme ultraviolet light radiated from the plasma; and a magnetic field forming unit including at least one magnetic source and at least one magnetic material having two leading end parts projecting from the at least one magnetic source to face each other with a plasma emission point in between, and forming a magnetic field between a trajectory of the target material and the collector mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Akira ENDO, Hideo Hoshino, Kouji Kakizaki, Tamotsu Abe, Akira Sumitani, Takanobu Ishihara, Shinji Nagai, Osamu Wakabayashi, Hakaru Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 7683355
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus capable of preventing the efficiency of generation of EUV light from decreasing due to deterioration of a window of an EUV light generation chamber. The EUV light source apparatus includes an EUV light generation chamber provided with a window, a driver laser which generates a laser beam, a concave lens which enlarges the laser beam, a convex lens which collimates the enlarged laser beam, a parabolic concave mirror which is arranged in the EUV light generation chamber and reflects the collimated laser beam to collect the laser beam to a target material, a parabolic concave mirror adjusting mechanism which adjusts position and angle of the parabolic concave mirror, an EUV light collector mirror which collects EUV light, and a purge gas supply unit which supplies a purge gas for protecting the window and the parabolic concave mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Hiroshi Someya, Takayuki Yabu, Akira Sumitani
  • Publication number: 20100025231
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an optical element of an extreme ultraviolet light source device for removing, from the optical element in a chamber, scattered matter generated together with extreme ultraviolet light by plasma formed through laser beam excitation of a target in the chamber, the method which comprises: making the scattered matter generated by the plasma no larger than nanosize by using solid tin as the target and using a CO2 laser as an excitation source of the solid tin; and imparting, to the scattered matter no larger than the nanosize adhered to the optical element, an effect of overcoming the adherence of the scattered matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Yoshifumi Ueno, Tamotsu Abe, Akira Sumitani
  • Publication number: 20090314967
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus using a spectrum purity filter capable of obtaining EUV light with high spectrum purity. The apparatus includes a chamber; a target supply unit for supplying a target material; a driver laser using a laser gas containing a carbon dioxide gas as a laser medium, for applying a laser beam to the target material to generate plasma; a collector mirror for collecting and outputting the extreme ultraviolet light radiated from the plasma; and a spectrum purity filter provided in an optical path of the extreme ultraviolet light, for transmitting the extreme ultraviolet light and reflecting the laser beam, the spectrum purity filter including a mesh having electrical conductivity and formed with an arrangement of apertures having a pitch not larger than a half of a shortest wavelength of the laser beam applied by the driver laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Masato MORIYA, Osamu Wakabayshi, Tamotsu Abe, Takashi Suganuma, Akira Endo, Akira Sumitani
  • Publication number: 20090261277
    Abstract: In an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus of a laser produced plasma type, charged particles such as ions emitted from plasma are promptly ejected to the outside of a chamber. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated, a target supply unit for supplying a target material to a predetermined position within the chamber, a driver laser for applying a laser beam to the target material supplied by the target supply unit to generate plasma, a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma to output the extreme ultra violet light, a magnetic field forming unit for forming an asymmetric magnetic field in a generation position of the plasma by using a coil, and a charged particle collection mechanism provided on at least one of two surfaces of the chamber to which lines of magnetic force generated by the coil extend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Georg Soumagne, Yoshifumi Ueno, Hiroshi Komori, Akira Sumitani, Katsunobu Nishihara, Young Gwang Kang, Masanori Nunami