Patents by Inventor Ikuo Hikima

Ikuo Hikima 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: 20180348643
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a sensor for detecting light arriving from a projection optical system via a liquid provided on an image plane side of the projection optical system. The sensor includes a light transmissive member provided on a stage and a light receiving element for receiving light arriving from the projection optical system via the light transmissive member. The light transmissive member includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is arranged on the stage, comes into contact with the liquid, and is a surface on which the light arriving from the projection optical system is incident via the liquid. At least one of the first and second surfaces diffuses or diffracts the light having arrived from the projection optical system. The light receiving element receives the light that has been diffused or diffracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi NISHINAGA, Ikuo HIKIMA, Mitsunori TOYODA, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Tsuneyuki HAGIWARA, Yasushi MIZUNO, Naonori KITA, Osamu TANITSU, Nozomu EMURA
  • Patent number: 10025194
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an optical member that can be provided on a stage. The optical member has a first surface contacting a liquid when moved to face a projection system, and a second surface contacting a gas and transmitting light having come from the projection system via the liquid and the first surface. The optical member is configured such that at least a large-angle ray of the light, which has an angle with an optical axis of the projection system sufficiently large to undergo total reflection at an end surface of the projection system when the liquid is absent, travels from the projection system to the second surface without passing through gas. The second surface transmits the large-angle ray, which is received by the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Publication number: 20170082925
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an optical member that can be provided on a stage. The optical member has a first surface contacting a liquid when moved to face a projection system, and a second surface contacting a gas and transmitting light having come from the projection system via the liquid and the first surface. The optical member is configured such that at least a large-angle ray of the light, which has an angle with an optical axis of the projection system sufficiently large to undergo total reflection at an end surface of the projection system when the liquid is absent, travels from the projection system to the second surface without passing through gas. The second surface transmits the large-angle ray, which is received by the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi NISHINAGA, Ikuo HIKIMA, Mitsunori TOYODA, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Tsuneyuki HAGIWARA, Yasushi MIZUNO, Naonori KITA, Osamu TANITSU, Nozomu EMURA
  • Patent number: 9513558
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus irradiates a substrate with light via a projection system and liquid, and includes a stage that moves below the projection system, and a light-receiving element having a light-receiving surface. An optical member provided on the stage has a first surface contacting the liquid when moved to face the projection system, and a second surface contacting a gas and transmitting light having come from the projection system via the liquid and the first surface. The optical member is configured such that at least a large-angle ray of the light, which has an angle with an optical axis of the projection system sufficiently large to undergo total reflection at an end surface of the projection system when the liquid is absent, travels from the projection system to the second surface without passing through gas. The second surface transmits the large-angle ray, which is received by the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Publication number: 20140240685
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus irradiates a substrate with light via a projection system and liquid, and includes a stage that moves below the projection system, and a light-receiving element having a light-receiving surface. An optical member provided on the stage has a first surface contacting the liquid when moved to face the projection system, and a second surface contacting a gas and transmitting light having come from the projection system via the liquid and the first surface. The optical member is configured such that at least a large-angle ray of the light, which has an angle with an optical axis of the projection system sufficiently large to undergo total reflection at an end surface of the projection system when the liquid is absent, travels from the projection system to the second surface without passing through gas. The second surface transmits the large-angle ray, which is received by the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi NISHINAGA, Ikuo HIKIMA, Mitsunori TOYODA, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Tsuneyuki HAGIWARA, Yasushi MIZUNO, Naonori KITA, Osamu TANITSU, Nozomu EMURA
  • Patent number: 8749759
    Abstract: A part of exposure beam through a liquid via a projection optical system enters a light-transmitting section, enters an optical member without passing through gas, and is focused. The exposure apparatus receives the exposure light from the projection optical system to perform various measurements even if the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Patent number: 8305552
    Abstract: A part of exposure beam through a liquid(LQ) via a projection optical system(PL) enters a light-transmitting section(44), enters an optical member(41) without passing through gas, and is focused. The exposure apparatus receives the exposure light from the projection optical system to perform various measurements even if the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8139198
    Abstract: A part of exposure beam through a liquid via a projection optical system enters a light-transmitting section, enters an optical member without passing through gas, and is focused. The exposure apparatus receives the exposure light from the projection optical system to perform various measurements even if the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Patent number: 7924416
    Abstract: A substrate stage holds a substrate irradiated with exposure light via a liquid. A measurement apparatus measures information on the exposure light and has a light receiving device detachable from the substrate stage. The light receiving device receives the exposure light while being held in the substrate stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuo Hikima
  • Publication number: 20080042068
    Abstract: A sensor is used at a substrate level in a lithographic projection apparatus having a projection system with a numeric aperture that is greater than 1 and is configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate The sensor includes a radiation-detector; a transmissive plate having a front surface and a back surface, the transmissive plate being positioned such that radiation projected by the projection system passes into the front surface of the transmissive plate and out of the back surface thereof to the radiation detector; and a luminescent layer provided on the back surface of the transmissive plate, the luminescent layer absorbing the radiation and emitting luminescent radiation of a different wavelength, wherein the back surface is rough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Publication number: 20070097341
    Abstract: A substrate stage holds a substrate irradiated with exposure light via a liquid. A measurement apparatus measures information on the exposure light and has a light receiving device detachable from the substrate stage. The light receiving device receives the exposure light while being held in the substrate stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Hikima
  • Publication number: 20060238749
    Abstract: A flare measuring method and a flare measuring apparatus for measuring flaring occurring on optical systems, an exposure method and an exposure apparatus, and an exposure apparatus adjusting method capable of quantitatively measuring information regarding flare which occur on optical systems are to be provided. A flare measuring apparatus for measuring flare which occur on optical system is provided with a light source device for irradiating an optical path including the optical system with an exposure light, a substrate arranged on the optical path and provided with predetermined patterns, a detecting device arranged on the image plane of a projecting optical system and capable of detecting information on the luminous energy of the light, and a control device capable of controlling the irradiating range of the exposure light and acquiring information on flare on the basis of the result of detection of the exposure light by the detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Hikima
  • Publication number: 20060181690
    Abstract: A part of exposure beam through a liquid via a projection optical system enters a light-transmitting section, enters an optical member without passing through gas, and is focused. The exposure apparatus receives the exposure light from the projection optical system to perform various measurements even if the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Publication number: 20060170891
    Abstract: A part of exposure beam through a liquid via a projection optical system enters a light-transmitting section, enters an optical member without passing through gas, and is focused. The exposure apparatus receives the exposure light from the projection optical system to perform various measurements even if the numerical aperture of the projection optical system increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Nishinaga, Ikuo Hikima, Mitsunori Toyoda, Masahiro Nakagawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Yasushi Mizuno, Naonori Kita, Osamu Tanitsu, Nozomu Emura
  • Publication number: 20040021854
    Abstract: A flare measuring method and a flare measuring apparatus for measuring flaring occurring on optical systems, an exposure method and an exposure apparatus, and an exposure apparatus adjusting method capable of quantitatively measuring information regarding flare which occur on optical systems are to be provided. A flare measuring apparatus S for measuring flare which occur on optical system IL is provided with a light source device for irradiating an optical path including the optical system IL with an exposure light EL, a substrate M1 arranged on the optical path and provided with predetermined patterns C and T, a detecting device DT arranged on the image plane of a projecting optical system PL and capable of detecting information on the luminous energy of the light, and a control device CONT capable of controlling the irradiating range of the exposure light EL and acquiring information on flare on the basis of the result of detection of the exposure light EL by the detecting device DT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Ikuo Hikima
  • Patent number: 4952945
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a projection optical system, to project the image of an object on a first plane onto a second plane, a laser means for outputting a light beam to the projection optical system for projection, a measuring device for detecting a fluctuation of the optical characteristic of the projection optical system attributable to deviation of the wavelength of the light beam output from the laser and a control device responsive to the measuring device to adjust the wavelength of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuo Hikima
  • Patent number: 4820899
    Abstract: A laser working system comprises supplying means for supplying a laser beam, a working unit which includes a stage for supporting a workpiece and means for exposing the workpiece to the laser beam, and a room unit which includes wall means for surrounding the working unit and accomodates the working unit to spatially isolate it from outside of the wall means. The supplying means is arranged outside the room unit and includes first and second laser units each for generating the laser beam.The laser working system further comprises beam guiding means which creates first light path for optically communicating the first laser unit with the working unit through the wall means, and second light path for optically communicating the second laser unit with the working unit through the wall means, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Hikima, Akira Miyaji, Saburo Kamiya, Akikazu Tanimoto