Patents by Inventor Kenichi Hirane

Kenichi Hirane 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: 9355815
    Abstract: An electron microscope is provided with a scintillator (7) and a light guide (8). The scintillator (7) has an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of the light guide (8), and an end surface (72) joined to the light guide (8) is formed from a curved surface with a convex shape on the outside. The scintillator (7) is formed by a Y—Al—O based ceramic sintered body represented by the compositional formula (Ln1-xCex)3M5O12 (wherein Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, and Lu, and M represents either or both of Al and Ga).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Imamura, Takashi Ohshima, Yoichi Ose, Kenichi Hirane
  • Publication number: 20150214002
    Abstract: An electron microscope is provided with a scintillator (7) and a light guide (8). The scintillator (7) has an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of the light guide (8), and an end surface (72) joined to the light guide (8) is formed from a curved surface with a convex shape on the outside. The scintillator (7) is formed by a Y—Al—O based ceramic sintered body represented by the compositional formula (Ln1-xCex)3M5O12 (wherein Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Gd, La, and Lu, and M represents either or both of Al and Ga).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Shin Imamura, Takashi Ohshima, Yoichi Ose, Kenichi Hirane
  • Publication number: 20090057558
    Abstract: An object of the invention is provide a scanning electron microscope including a permanent magnet forming a condenser lens with a variable value of probe current. To achieve the object, the scanning electron microscope including the permanent magnet forming the condenser lens as an embodiment of the invention, includes a mechanism for adjusting a distance between an electron source and an anode electrode. Further, the mechanism for adjusting the distance between the electron source and the anode electrode, includes a removable spacer arranged under a lower portion of the anode electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Toru Iwaya, Kenichi Hirane, Tomohisa Ohtaki
  • Publication number: 20080271001
    Abstract: In programming in high-level language, a method of generating a program supporting external specifications for generating secure codes having high tamper-resistance and automatically generating an executable program having tamper-resistance with regard to a portion designated by a user is provided. A syntax analysis step, an intermediate representation generation step, a register allocation step, an optimization processing step, an assembly language generation step, a machine language generation step and a machine language program linkage step are executed. And between finish of reading of the source program and generating the executable program, a tamper-resistant code insertion step of automatically generating a code having tamper-resistance coping with unjust analysis of an operation content of the executable program is executed to the source program, the intermediate representation, the assembly language program or the machine language program based on an instruction of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Yo Nonomura, Shunsuke Ota, Takashi Endo, Takashi Tsukamoto, Ichiro Kyushima, Hiromi Nagayama, Kenichi Hirane, Yoshiyuki Amanuma
  • Patent number: 7365323
    Abstract: In an environmental scanning electron microscope in which differential pumping for maintaining the pressure ratio between an electron optical system and a specimen chamber at a predetermined value is effected and a probe electric current is conditioned to meet a predetermined or more value so as to permit observation of uncooked food and moist specimens in low vacuum, there are provided three stages of objective apertures used as apertures for an objective lens for an electron beam in the electron optical system and used also as orifices for differential pumping for maintaining the pressure ratio between the electron optical system and the specimen chamber at a predetermined value. Then, a deflection fulcrum of the electron beam in the electron optical system is set at a mid stage of the three-stage objective aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohisa Ohtaki, Kenichi Hirane, Ryoichi Ishii, Haruhisa Takahata
  • Patent number: 7274017
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electron beam apparatus and method which can retain the state that minimizes the amount of water content contained at a gap between a high-voltage cable and a high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby prevent creation of high-voltage discharge and current leakage. The apparatus comprises a means for applying a high voltage to an acceleration electrode while eliminating electron release from an electron source and for detecting a change in an emission current corresponding to a change in an acceleration voltage at this time. In addition, the apparatus comprises a means for issuing a cautionary notice or warning when the change of this emission current exceeds a prespecified value. Further, the apparatus comprises a means for letting a dry gas flow in a gap portion between the electron gun's high-voltage cable and the high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby dehumidify said gap portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akimitsu Okura, Masashi Kimura, Kenichi Hirane, Yoshihiko Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20060219912
    Abstract: In an environmental scanning electron microscope in which differential pumping for maintaining the pressure ratio between an electron optical system and a specimen chamber at a predetermined value is effected and a probe electric current is conditioned to meet a predetermined or more value so as to permit observation of uncooked food and moist specimens in low vacuum, there are provided three stages of objective apertures used as apertures for an objective lens for an electron beam in the electron optical system and used also as orifices for differential pumping for maintaining the pressure ratio between the electron optical system and the specimen chamber at a predetermined value. Then, a deflection fulcrum of the electron beam in the electron optical system is set at a mid stage of the three-stage objective aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Tomohisa Ohtaki, Kenichi Hirane, Ryoichi Ishii, Haruhisa Takahata
  • Publication number: 20050218777
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electron beam apparatus and method which can retain the state that minimizes the amount of water content contained at a gap between a high-voltage cable and a high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby prevent creation of high-voltage discharge and current leakage. The apparatus comprises a means for applying a high voltage to an acceleration electrode while eliminating electron release from an electron source and for detecting a change in an emission current corresponding to a change in an acceleration voltage at this time. In addition, the apparatus comprises a means for issuing a cautionary notice or warning when the change of this emission current exceeds a prespecified value. Further, the apparatus comprises a means for letting a dry gas flow in a gap portion between the electron gun's high-voltage cable and the high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby dehumidify said gap portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Akimitsu Okura, Masashi Kimura, Kenichi Hirane, Yoshihiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6949752
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electron beam apparatus and method which can retain the state that minimizes the amount of water content contained at a gap between a high-voltage cable and a high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby prevent creation of high-voltage discharge and current leakage. The apparatus comprises a means for applying a high voltage to an acceleration electrode while eliminating electron release from an electron source and for detecting a change in an emission current corresponding to a change in an acceleration voltage at this time. In addition, the apparatus comprises a means for issuing a cautionary notice or warning when the change of this emission current exceeds a prespecified value. Further, the apparatus comprises a means for letting a dry gas flow in a gap portion between the electron gun's high-voltage cable and the high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby dehumidify said gap portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akimitsu Okura, Masashi Kimura, Kenichi Hirane, Yoshihiko Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20030155525
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electron beam apparatus and method which can retain the state that minimizes the amount of water content contained at a gap between a high-voltage cable and a high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby prevent creation of high-voltage discharge and current leakage. The apparatus comprises a means for applying a high voltage to an acceleration electrode while eliminating electron release from an electron source and for detecting a change in an emission current corresponding to a change in an acceleration voltage at this time. In addition, the apparatus comprises a means for issuing a cautionary notice or warning when the change of this emission current exceeds a prespecified value. Further, the apparatus comprises a means for letting a dry gas flow in a gap portion between the electron gun's high-voltage cable and the high-voltage introduction insulator to thereby dehumidify said gap portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Akimitsu Okura, Masashi Kimura, Kenichi Hirane, Yoshihiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 5047647
    Abstract: An electron beam lithography apparatus comprising an electron lens, a deflector, a reflective electron detector of marks on a stage or a specimen thereon when the deflector scans the marks, and a means for memorizing high order polynomial equations and calculating a correcting value of the deflector controlling means based on the high order polynomial equations, wherein all coefficients of the high order polynomial equation are calculated when the electron beam lithography apparatus starts up, and after then, coefficient of the first order term is calculated from the position signals of the marks frequently in a short cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Instrument Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Itoh, Kenichi Hirane