Patents by Inventor Hajime Kawano

Hajime Kawano 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).

  • Patent number: 9443695
    Abstract: This charged-particle beam device changes conditions for combining an intensity ratio between upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors in multiple ways when obtaining images having different pixel sizes in the vertical and horizontal directions. Then, the charged-particle beam device determines an optimal intensity ratio between the upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors on the basis of variations in size value measured in the larger pixel size direction (Y-direction) of the image. As a result, it is possible to extend the field of view in the Y-direction while reducing deflection aberrations when measuring at high precision in the X-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Ohashi, Yasunari Sohda, Noritsugu Takahashi, Hajime Kawano, Osamu Komuro
  • Publication number: 20160240348
    Abstract: The scanning charged particle beam microscope according to the present invention is characterized in that, in acquiring an image of the FOV (field of view), interspaced beam irradiation points are set, and then, a deflector is controlled so that a charged particle beam scan is performed faster when the charged particle beam irradiates a position on the sample between each of the irradiation points than when the charged particle beam irradiates a position on the sample corresponding to each of the irradiation points (a position on the sample corresponding to each pixel detecting a signal). This allows the effects from a micro-domain electrification occurring within the FOV to be mitigated or controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Toshiyuki YOKOSUKA, Chahn LEE, Hideyuki KAZUMI, Hajime KAWANO, Shahedul HOQUE, Kumiko SHIMIZU, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20160225583
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to realize both of the accuracy of measuring the amount of secondary electron emissions and the stability of a charged particle beam image in a charged particle beam device. In a charged particle beam device, extraction of detected signals is started by a first trigger signal, the extraction of the detected signals is completed by a second trigger signal, the detected signals are sampled N times using N (N is a natural number) third trigger signals that equally divide an interval time T between the first trigger signal and the second trigger signal, secondary charged particles are measured by integrating and averaging the signals sampled in respective division times ?T obtained by equally dividing the interval time T, and the division time ?T is controlled in such a manner that the measured number of secondary charged particles becomes larger than the minimum number of charged particles satisfying ergodicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Natsuki TSUNO, Yoshinobu KIMURA, Hideyuki KAZUMI, Hajime KAWANO, Junichiro TOMIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9368324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement and inspection device of a scanning-type electron beam system, and provides a technique for achieving a measuring/inspecting process with high precision in accordance with a scanning speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wen Li, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Makoto Suzuki, Hajime Kawano
  • Patent number: 9368319
    Abstract: Foreign substances present in a sample chamber are attached to or drawn close to an objective lens and an electrode disposed close to the objective lens by applying a higher magnetic field than when normally used to the objective lens and applying a higher electric field than when normally used to the electrode disposed close to the objective lens. A stage is moved such that the center of an optical axis is located directly above a dedicated stand capable of applying voltage, the magnetic field of the objective lens is turned off, and then the potential difference between the electrode disposed close to the objective lens and an electrode disposed close to the sage is periodically maximized and minimized to thereby forcibly drop the foreign substances onto the dedicated stand capable of applying voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Tanii, Yuji Kasai, Masakazu Takahashi, Hajime Kawano
  • Patent number: 9343878
    Abstract: A metallic shell extends in the direction of an axial line and has a threaded portion on its outer circumferential surface for threading engagement with a mounting hole of a combustion apparatus. A process of manufacturing the metallic shell includes a step of forming a metallic shell tubular intermediate having the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion and a rolling step of forming the threaded portion on the metallic shell tubular intermediate. In the rolling step, a bearing member is inserted into the metallic shell tubular intermediate for nipping the metallic shell tubular intermediate in cooperation with working surfaces of the rolling dies, and rolling is performed simultaneously on at least the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Kawano, Koji Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 9336984
    Abstract: In an SEM provided with an ExB deflector for deflecting secondary electrons outside an optical axis of a primary electron beam between an electronic source and an object lens for condensing the primary electron beam and irradiating a sample with the beam, a unit to decelerate the secondary electrons deflected in the ExB deflector, and a magnetic generator for deflecting the decelerated secondary electron are provided, and a plurality of energy filters and detectors are arranged around the magnetic generator. That is, by separating loci of the secondary electrons incident on the energy filters and of the secondary electrons reflected at the energy filters by the magnetic generator, both of the secondary electrons are concurrently detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Bizen, Hajime Kawano, Hideyuki Kazumi
  • Patent number: 9312091
    Abstract: In order to provide a charged particle beam apparatus enabling reduction of deflecting coma aberration in cases such as where wide field-of-view scanning is carried out, a charged particle beam apparatus is provided with an electromagnetic objective lens and a stage on which a sample is placed, wherein the electromagnetic objective lens is provided with the following: a plurality of magnetic paths; an objective lens coil; an opening disposed so as to face the sample; an inner lens deflector disposed more on the objective lens coil side than the end of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Sohda, Tasuku Yano, Muneyuki Fukuda, Noritsugu Takahashi, Hajime Kawano, Hiroyuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20160064182
    Abstract: There is provided a charged particle beam apparatus radiating a charged particle beam to a specimen so as to acquire an image of the specimen, the charged particle beam apparatus including: a charged particle gun that generates the charged particle beam; an electron optical system that radiates the charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle gun onto a surface of the specimen so as to scan the surface of the specimen; a detecting unit that detects secondary electrons or reflection electrons emitted from the specimen, and converts the electrons into pulse signals; a pulse signal detecting circuit that detects time detecting information regarding time of the pulse signals converted by the detecting unit, and peak value detecting information regarding each peak value of the pulse signals; and an image processing unit that generates luminance gradation of the acquired image based on a time detecting signal and a peak value detecting signal of the pulse signals detected by the pulse signal detecting ci
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuki Ikeda, Wen Li, Ryo Kadoi, Hisaaki Kanai, Hajime Kawano, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9236220
    Abstract: An automatic setting method of an observation condition to facilitate analysis of an image and a sample observation method by automatic setting in an observation method of a structure of a sample by the electronic microscope and an electronic microscope having an automatic setting function are provided. The method includes a step of irradiating a fixed position in an observation region with an intermittent pulsed electron beam; a step of detecting a time change of an emission electron from the sample by the intermittent electron beam; and a step of setting the observation condition of the electronic microscope from the time change of the emission electron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Natsuki Tsuno, Hideyuki Kazumi, Takafumi Miwa, Yoshinobu Kimura, Hajime Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150371819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement and inspection device of a scanning-type electron beam system, and provides a technique for achieving a measuring/inspecting process with high precision in accordance with a scanning speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Wen LI, Hiroyuki TAKAHASHI, Makoto SUZUKI, Hajime KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20150348747
    Abstract: This charged-particle beam device changes conditions for combining an intensity ratio between upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors in multiple ways when obtaining images having different pixel sizes in the vertical and horizontal directions. Then, the charged-particle beam device determines an optimal intensity ratio between the upper and lower deflectors and rotation angles of the deflectors on the basis of variations in size value measured in the larger pixel size direction (Y-direction) of the image. As a result, it is possible to extend the field of view in the Y-direction while reducing deflection aberrations when measuring at high precision in the X-direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Takeyoshi OHASHI, Yasunari SOHDA, Noritsugu TAKAHASHI, Hajime KAWANO, Osamu KOMURO
  • Patent number: 9177759
    Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus using a scanning electron microscope, which includes the scanning electron microscope having an electron optical system radiating and scanning a focused electron beam on a sample placed on a stage to image the sample, and an image processing/control section which controls the scanning electron microscope and processes the image obtained by imaging with the scanning electron microscope. The electron optical system of the scanning electron microscope has image shift electrodes comprised of electrostatic electrodes, the image shift electrodes moving a position at which to apply the focused electron beam onto the sample with the stage stopped to thereby shift a region in which the sample is to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wen Li, Ryo Kadoi, Hajime Kawano, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20150279609
    Abstract: Foreign substances present in a sample chamber are attached to or drawn close to an objective lens and an electrode disposed close to the objective lens by applying a higher magnetic field than when normally used to the objective lens and applying a higher electric field than when normally used to the electrode disposed close to the objective lens. A stage is moved such that the center of an optical axis is located directly above a dedicated stand capable of applying voltage, the magnetic field of the objective lens is turned off, and then the potential difference between the electrode disposed close to the objective lens and an electrode disposed close to the sage is periodically maximized and minimized to thereby forcibly drop the foreign substances onto the dedicated stand capable of applying voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuma Tanii, Yuji Kasai, Masakazu Takahashi, Hajime Kawano
  • Patent number: 9053905
    Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide an electron beam irradiation apparatus which can suppress influences the electric fields generated by a plurality of backscattered electron detectors have. To attain the above object, an electron beam irradiation apparatus equipped with a scanning deflector comprises a plurality of backscattered electron detectors, a power source for detectors which applies voltages to the plural backscattered electron detectors, respectively, and a controller device which adjusts application voltages the power source for detectors delivers, on the basis of an image shift when the voltages are applied to the plural backscattered electron detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shahedul Hoque, Hajime Kawano
  • Patent number: 9006654
    Abstract: An embodiment is to provide a technique that continuously applies a certain amount of an electron beam to a sample by selecting a beam applied to the sample from an electron beam emitted from an electron source in a scanning electron microscope. A charged particle apparatus is configured, including: a mechanism that detects the distribution of electric current strength with respect to the emitting direction of an electron beam emitted from an electron source; a functionality that predicts a fluctuation of an electric current applied to a sample by predicting the distribution of the electric current based on the detected result; a functionality that determines a position at which a beam applied to the sample is acquired based on the predicted result; and a mechanism that controls a position at which a probe beam is acquired based on the determined result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Hajime Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150076362
    Abstract: In order to provide a charged particle beam apparatus enabling reduction of deflecting coma aberration in cases such as where wide field-of-view scanning is carried out, a charged particle beam apparatus is provided with an electromagnetic objective lens and a stage on which a sample is placed, wherein the electromagnetic objective lens is provided with the following: a plurality of magnetic paths; an objective lens coil; an opening disposed so as to face the sample; an inner lens deflector disposed more on the objective lens coil side than the end of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yasunari Sohda, Tasuku Yano, Muneyuki Fukuda, Noritsugu Takahashi, Hajime Kawano, Hiroyuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20150041644
    Abstract: An automatic setting method of an observation condition to facilitate analysis of an image and a sample observation method by automatic setting in an observation method of a structure of a sample by the electronic microscope and an electronic microscope having an automatic setting function are provided. The method includes a step of irradiating a fixed position in an observation region with an intermittent pulsed electron beam; a step of detecting a time change of an emission electron from the sample by the intermittent electron beam; and a step of setting the observation condition of the electronic microscope from the time change of the emission electron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Natsuki Tsuno, Hideyuki Kazumi, Takafumi Miwa, Yoshinobu Kimura, Hajime Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150041648
    Abstract: Pattern critical dimension measurement equipment includes an electron source configured to generate a primary electron beam, a deflector configured to deflect the primary electron beam emitted from the electron source, a focusing lens configured to focus the primary electron beam deflected by the deflector, a decelerator configured to decelerate the primary electron beam that irradiates the sample, a first detector located between the electron source and the focusing lens, the first detector being configured to detect electrons at part of azimuths of electrons generated from the sample upon irradiation of the sample with the primary electron beam, and a second detector located between the electron source and the first detector, the second detector being configured to detect electrons at substantially all azimuths of the electrons generated from the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Kaori Shirahata, Yasunari Sohda, Makoto Sakakibara, Daisuke Bizen, Hajime Kawano, Hideyuki Kazumi
  • Publication number: 20150041643
    Abstract: The present invention provides a processing apparatus using a scanning electron microscope, which includes the scanning electron microscope having an electron optical system radiating and scanning a focused electron beam on a sample placed on a stage to image the sample, and an image processing/control section which controls the scanning electron microscope and processes the image obtained by imaging with the scanning electron microscope. The electron optical system of the scanning electron microscope has image shift electrodes comprised of electrostatic electrodes, the image shift electrodes moving a position at which to apply the focused electron beam onto the sample with the stage stopped to thereby shift a region in which the sample is to be imaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Wen Li, Ryo Kadoi, Hajime Kawano, Hiroyuki Takahashi