Patents by Inventor Hironobu Yabuta

Hironobu Yabuta 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: 20240004317
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotary foil trap capable of having a relatively long-term operating life without causing any short-term defects such as foil rupture, and also a light source apparatus equipped with the rotary foil trap. The rotary foil trap is arranged in a vicinity of plasma P generated by a plasma generation unit and configured to rotationally operate to transmit light emitted from the plasma P and to trap debris dispersed from the plasma P. The rotary foil trap includes a plurality of foils and a support member configured to support the plurality of foils. Each of the foils is made of a rolled thin plate that is tensile processed by rolling, and a direction of centrifugal force applied to the foils by rotational operation coinciding or approximately coinciding with a rolling direction, which is a direction in which the foils are tensile processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Hironobu YABUTA
  • Publication number: 20230418171
    Abstract: A foil trap cover device surrounds the outer periphery of a rotary foil trap and collects debris scattered from the rotary foil trap. The rotary foil trap has a plurality of rotating foils and is arranged near a plasma, which is generated by a plasma generation unit. The rotary foil trap passes light emitted from the plasma and captures debris generated from the plasma. The foil trap cover device includes a cover body that surrounds the outer periphery of the rotary foil trap, and a cover heating unit that is provided to at least a part of a second surface of the cover body to heat the cover body. The second surface faces the plasma and is opposite to a first surface facing the foils. The foil trap cover device also includes a heating unit protection member that covers the cover heating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu YABUTA
  • Publication number: 20230418170
    Abstract: A debris mitigation device includes a static foil trap. The static foil trap includes an enclosure section, a plurality of foils, an inlet hole, and a pressure-increasing mechanism. The enclosure section includes an incident opening where light emitted from the light source enters, an emission opening where the light is emitted, and an internal space where the light travels. The foils are fixed in an area of the internal space. The inlet hole is configured to be communicated with the internal space, and allow a transparent gas transparent to the light to flow into the internal space. The pressure-increasing mechanism includes at least one of an incident-side member and an emission-side member disposed at the incident opening and the emission opening, respectively, in a manner that opening areas thereof are reduced without blocking a traveling of the light, and increases a pressure of the internal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritaka Ashizawa, Hironobu Yabuta
  • Patent number: 11822258
    Abstract: A foil trap that captures debris released from a plasma includes a hub structure, a plurality of foils, and a shield member. The hub structure has a circumferential surface portion and a front surface portion facing the plasma. The foils are arranged radially around the hub structure and are supported by brazing on the circumferential surface portion. The shield member is disposed on the front surface portion, has a circumferential edge portion that shields the circumferential surface portion from the plasma, and forms a thermal resistance section between the shield member and the hub structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20230324815
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus includes a light source part for generating a plasma that emits extreme ultraviolet light with use of excitation of a raw material for emitting extreme ultraviolet light; a storage vessel for storing a melt of a waste material including the raw material and a melt of particles of debris that are emitted from the plasma; a receiving plate member having a receiving surface; and a corrosion-resistant member disposed on the receiving surface of the receiving plate member, the corrosion-resistant member being more corrosion-resistant to the melt of the waste material and the melt of the debris than the receiving plate member, the corrosion-resistant member receiving the melt of the waste material and the melt of the debris and guiding the melt of the waste material and the melt of the debris into the storage vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Hironobu YABUTA, Nobuaki MIYAGAWA
  • Patent number: 11774856
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) source apparatus includes a light source part for generating a plasma that emits EUV light; a first vacuum housing in which the light source part is located; a second vacuum housing arranged between the first vacuum housing and a utilizing apparatus in which the EUV light is utilized; and a debris trap located inside the second vacuum housing for deflecting debris particles emitted from the plasma, whereby the debris particles do not ingress into the utilizing apparatus. Between the first and second vacuum housings, there is provided a window through which the EUV light emitted from the light source part passes from the first vacuum housing to the second vacuum housing. A wall of the second vacuum housing has a through-hole and a window that is configured to allow the EUV light to pass from the second vacuum housing to the utilizing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Hajime Kikuiri, Hironobu Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20230288821
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source apparatus includes a light source part for generating a plasma that emits EUV light; a vacuum housing located between the light source part and a utilizing apparatus in which the EUV light is utilized; a debris trap located inside the vacuum housing for deflecting traveling directions of debris particles emitted from the plasma, whereby the debris particles do not ingress into the utilizing apparatus; a heat shield panel structure located inside the vacuum housing and located between the plasma and the debris trap; and a cooling mechanism for cooling the heat shield panel structure. The heat shield panel structure has a first heat shield panel and a second heat shield panel. The second heat shield panel is disposed between the first heat shield panel and the plasma. The first heat shield panel is cooled by the cooling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Noritaka ASHIZAWA, Hironobu YABUTA
  • Publication number: 20230213865
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) source apparatus includes a light source part for generating a plasma that emits EUV light; a first vacuum housing in which the light source part is located; a second vacuum housing arranged between the first vacuum housing and a utilizing apparatus in which the EUV light is utilized; and a debris trap located inside the second vacuum housing for deflecting debris particles emitted from the plasma, whereby the debris particles do not ingress into the utilizing apparatus. Between the first and second vacuum housings, there is provided a window through which the EUV light emitted from the light source part passes from the first vacuum housing to the second vacuum housing. A wall of the second vacuum housing has a through-hole and a window that is configured to allow the EUV light to pass from the second vacuum housing to the utilizing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Hajime KIKUIRI, Hironobu YABUTA
  • Publication number: 20220291597
    Abstract: A foil trap that captures debris released from a plasma includes a hub structure, a plurality of foils, and a shield member. The hub structure has a circumferential surface portion and a front surface portion facing the plasma. The foils are arranged radially around the hub structure and are supported by brazing on the circumferential surface portion. The shield member is disposed on the front surface portion, has a circumferential edge portion that shields the circumferential surface portion from the plasma, and forms a thermal resistance section between the shield member and the hub structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hironobu Yabuta
  • Patent number: 9599812
    Abstract: Disclosed herein a rotational type foil trap that is capable of avoiding the transmission rate of the EUV light to be lowered even when the EUV light source operates with the high input power and also suppressing the temperature increase of the foil to attain a sufficient life duration. In the rotational type foil trap, one end of each of foils is inserted into each of a plurality of grooves provided on a side face of a center support, and the center support and the each of the foils are fixed together by brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Christof Metzmacher, Hermann Giese, Achim Weber, Hironobu Yabuta, Rolf Theo Anton Apetz, Tatsushi Igarashi, Hiroto Sato, Noritaka Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 9572240
    Abstract: Disclosed herein a light source apparatus that is capable of suppressing a light transmission rate of a debris trap to be lowered and a reflection rate in a light condenser mirror to be lowered. In the light source apparatus, a shielding member is provided having an aperture is provided in front of a stationary type foil trap to limit a solid angle of light emitted from a high temperature plasma. Furthermore, the stationary type foil trap is provided with a driving mechanism to allow the foil trap to be revolved such that an adhesion part of the debris of the foil trap is deviated from a position of the foil trap facing the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Gota Niimi, Hironobu Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20160330826
    Abstract: Disclosed herein a light source apparatus that is capable of suppressing a light transmission rate of a debris trap to be lowered and a reflection rate in a light condenser mirror to be lowered. In the light source apparatus, a shielding member is provided having an aperture is provided in front of a stationary type foil trap to limit a solid angle of light emitted from a high temperature plasma. Furthermore, the stationary type foil trap is provided with a driving mechanism to allow the foil trap to be revolved such that an adhesion part of the debris of the foil trap is deviated from a position of the foil trap facing the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Gota NIIMI, Hironobu YABUTA
  • Publication number: 20160195714
    Abstract: Disclosed herein a rotational type foil trap that is capable of avoiding the transmission rate of the EUV light to be lowered even when the EUV light source operates with the high input power and also suppressing the temperature increase of the foil to attain a sufficient life duration. In the rotational type foil trap, one end of each of foils is inserted into each of a plurality of grooves provided on a side face of a center support, and the center support and the each of the foils are fixed together by brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Christof METZMACHER, Hermann GIESE, Achim WEBER, Hironobu YABUTA, Rolf Theo Anton APETZ, Tatsushi IGARASHI, Hiroto SATO, Noritaka ASHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7705334
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet radiation source device comprises a vessel; an electric discharge section including a pair of main discharge electrodes; a material supply unit which supplies an extreme ultraviolet radiating species to the electric discharge section; a high voltage generating section which impress high voltage to the pair of main discharge electrodes; a grazing incidence type collector unit which condenses extreme ultraviolet light emitted from high temperature plasma; a light extraction section formed in the vessel; a gas supply unit which supplies gas into the vessel from a light emitting side of the collector unit, an exhaust unit which discharges the gas from a light incidence side of the collector unit; wherein a flow path through which the gas supplied from the light emitting side of the collector unit passes is formed only inside the collector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironobu Yabuta, Takahiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 7479645
    Abstract: An extreme UV radiation producing device in which adhesion of solid tin in the vacuum pump of an evacuation device is restricted, so that the maintenance period and the replacement period of the pump is prolonged is achieved by the provision of a treatment unit between a radiation source chamber and the evacuation device. The treatment device has a hydrogen radical producing part in which tin and/or a tin compound in the evacuated gas from the radiation source chamber is/are made into a tin hydride; and a heat treatment part in which the tin hydride is thermally decomposed and in which the tin produced liquefied and separated from the evacuated gas. The liquid tin is fed into a collecting/storage vessel and the evacuated gas from which the tin and/or a tin compound has been removed fed to the evacuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironobu Yabuta, Taku Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 7459708
    Abstract: To suppress the adherence of debris as a result of a radiating fuel, such as tin or the like, within a vessel for forming high density and high temperature plasma of an extreme UV radiation source device, and to eliminate deposited tin and/or tin compounds with high efficiency, hydrogen radical producing parts are provided in the vessel; and hydrogen radicals are produced in the vessel so that deposition of tin and/or a tin compound is suppressed in the area with a low temperature of the device, such as a focusing mirror or the like, and the deposited tin and/or tin compound is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Hironobu Yabuta, Taku Sumitomo, Kyohei Seki, Masaki Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20080099699
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet radiation source device comprises a vessel; an electric discharge section including a pair of main discharge electrodes; a material supply unit which supplies an extreme ultraviolet radiating species to the electric discharge section; a high voltage generating section which impress high voltage to the pair of main discharge electrodes; a grazing incidence type collector unit which condenses extreme ultraviolet light emitted from high temperature plasma; a light extraction section formed in the vessel; a gas supply unit which supplies gas into the vessel from a light emitting side of the collector unit, an exhaust unit which discharges the gas from a light incidence side of the collector unit; wherein a flow path through which the gas supplied from the light emitting side of the collector unit passes is formed only inside the collector unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironobu Yabuta, Takahiro Shirai
  • Publication number: 20070018119
    Abstract: An extreme UV radiation producing device in which adhesion of solid tin in the vacuum pump of an evacuation device is restricted, so that the maintenance period and the replacement period of the pump is prolonged is achieved by the provision of a treatment unit between a radiation source chamber and the evacuation device. The treatment device has a hydrogen radical producing part in which tin and/or a tin compound in the evacuated gas from the radiation source chamber is/are made into a tin hydride; and a heat treatment part in which the tin hydride is thermally decomposed and in which the tin produced liquefied and separated from the evacuated gas. The liquid tin is fed into a collecting/storage vessel and the evacuated gas from which the tin and/or a tin compound has been removed fed to the evacuation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironobu Yabuta, Taku Sumitomo
  • Publication number: 20060163500
    Abstract: To suppress the adherence of debris as a result of a radiating fuel, such as tin or the like, within a vessel for forming high density and high temperature plasma of an extreme UV radiation source device, and to eliminate deposited tin and/or tin compounds with high efficiency, hydrogen radical producing parts are provided in the vessel; and hydrogen radicals are produced in the vessel so that deposition of tin and/or a tin compound is suppressed in the area with a low temperature of the device, such as a focusing mirror or the like, and the deposited tin and/or tin compound is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Hironobu Yabuta, Taku Sumitomo, Kyohei Seki, Masaki Yoshioka