Patents by Inventor Kiminobu Akeno

Kiminobu Akeno 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: 20240136148
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a beam detector includes a first aperture plate including a first passage hole, a second aperture plate including a second passage hole that allows a single detection target beam passing through the first passage hole to pass therethrough, and a sensor detecting a beam current of the detection target beam passing through the second passage hole. The second aperture plate includes an electrically conductive material, a plurality of third passage holes are formed around the second passage hole, and the plurality of third passage holes allow light to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka SATO, Hironori MIZOGUCHI, Toru HINATA, Toshiki KIMURA, Kiminobu AKENO
  • Publication number: 20240071714
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a beam detector includes a first aperture substrate including a first passage hole smaller than a pitch between beams of a multi charged particle beam, a second aperture substrate including a second passage hole allowing one detection target beam which has passed through the first passage hole, and a sensor detecting a beam current of the detection target beam which has passed through the second passage hole. The second aperture substrate has light permeability, and includes a conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka SATO, Kiminobu AKENO
  • Patent number: 11266999
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dust-collecting apparatus includes a main body with a first surface on which a back surface of a first electrode is disposed; a fixing unit configured to control attachment and detachment of the first electrode and the main body; a second electrode configured to transfer a voltage to the first electrode; and a control board configured to control a magnitude and a timing of a voltage which is applied to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yosuke Takahashi, Yuji Abe, Kiminobu Akeno
  • Patent number: 11049688
    Abstract: A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an optical column; a stage; a mount supporting the stage; a chamber provided on the mount and supporting the optical column; a detector configured to detect movement of the stage; actuator units each including a curved plate, a piezoelectric element, and a connector connected configured to transmit a first force generated by a change of the curvature of the curved plate to the mount; and an actuator control circuit configured to control the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element of each of the actuator units based on movement information, so that the first force is transmitted from the actuator units to the mount against a second force acting on the mount due to the movement of the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Keita Ideno, Kota Iwasaki, Keisuke Goto, Kiyoshi Nakaso, Shintaro Yamamoto, Hitoshi Matsushita, Ryota Inoue, Yuki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20200105499
    Abstract: A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an optical column; a stage; a mount supporting the stage; a chamber provided on the mount and supporting the optical column; a detector configured to detect movement of the stage; actuator units each including a curved plate, a piezoelectric element, and a connector connected configured to transmit a first force generated by a change of the curvature of the curved plate to the mount; and an actuator control circuit configured to control the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element of each of the actuator units based on movement information, so that the first force is transmitted from the actuator units to the mount against a second force acting on the mount due to the movement of the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro KAWAGUCHI, Kiminobu AKENO, Keita IDENO, Kota IWASAKI, Keisuke GOTO, Kiyoshi NAKASO, Shintaro YAMAMOTO, Hitoshi MATSUSHITA, Ryota INOUE, Yuki FUKUDA
  • Patent number: 10607810
    Abstract: The vibration control system configured to control vibration of a vibration-controlled object is disclosed. The vibration control system comprises: (i) actuator units each including a piezoelectric element configured to expand and contract; (ii) a drive power source configured to supply drive voltages to the piezoelectric elements of the actuator units for causing the piezoelectric elements to expand and contract; (iii) a vibration detector configured to detect a status of vibration of the vibration-controlled object; and (iv) a vibration controller configured to control the vibration of the vibration-controlled object by controlling the voltages supplied by the drive power source to the piezoelectric elements of the actuator units based on the status of vibration detected by the vibration detector, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Kiyoshi Nakaso, Keita Ideno, Shintaro Yamamoto, Keisuke Goto, Hitoshi Matsushita, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Ryouta Inoue, Yuuki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10373793
    Abstract: A conductive contact point pin includes a pin body, and a plurality of convex portions formed in a tip portion of the pin body, wherein the conductive contact point pin breaks, by pressing a substrate where a film to be broken is formed on a conductive film from above the film to be broken, the film to be broken in order to be electrically connected to the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NUFLARE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Kenichi Kataoka, Tomoki Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20190214224
    Abstract: The vibration control system configured to control vibration of a vibration-controlled object is disclosed. The vibration control system comprises: (i) actuator units each including a piezoelectric element configured to expand and contract; (ii) a drive power source configured to supply drive voltages to the piezoelectric elements of the actuator units for causing the piezoelectric elements to expand and contract; (iii) a vibration detector configured to detect a status of vibration of the vibration-controlled object; and (iv) a vibration controller configured to control the vibration of the vibration-controlled object by controlling the voltages supplied by the drive power source to the piezoelectric elements of the actuator units based on the status of vibration detected by the vibration detector, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Kiyoshi Nakaso, Keita Ideno, Shintaro Yamamoto, Keisuke Goto, Hitoshi Matsushita, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Ryouta Inoue, Yuuki Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20190126290
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a dust-collecting apparatus includes a main body with a first surface on which a back surface of a first electrode is disposed; a fixing unit configured to control attachment and detachment of the first electrode and the main body; a second electrode configured to transfer a voltage to the first electrode; and a control board configured to control a magnitude and a timing of a voltage which is applied to the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yosuke TAKAHASHI, Yuji ABE, Kiminobu AKENO
  • Publication number: 20180068824
    Abstract: A conductive contact point pin includes a pin body, and a plurality of convex portions formed in a tip portion of the pin body, wherein the conductive contact point pin breaks, by pressing a substrate where a film to be broken is formed on a conductive film from above the film to be broken, the film to be broken in order to be electrically connected to the conductive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicants: NUFLARE TECHNOLOGY, INC., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Kenichi Kataoka, Tomoki Umetsu
  • Patent number: 8987683
    Abstract: A charged particle beam drawing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a load lock chamber provided for introducing a target object from the outside and capable of switching an atmosphere state and a vacuum state, a transfer chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the load lock chamber and transferring the target object, a soaking chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the transfer chamber and having a temperature adjustment container for housing the target object therein and controlling a temperature of the target object with radiation and a temperature adjustment part for controlling a temperature of the temperature adjustment container, and a drawing chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the transfer chamber and drawing on the target object at a constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Yoshinori Kagawa, Yu Asami, Keisuke Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140319373
    Abstract: A charged particle beam drawing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a load lock chamber provided for introducing a target object from the outside and capable of switching an atmosphere state and a vacuum state, a transfer chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the load lock chamber and transferring the target object, a soaking chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the transfer chamber and having a temperature adjustment container for housing the target object therein and controlling a temperature of the target object with radiation and a temperature adjustment part for controlling a temperature of the temperature adjustment container, and a drawing chamber arranged so as to be able to communicate with the transfer chamber and drawing on the target object at a constant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Nuflare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro KAWAGUCHI, Kiminobu Akeno, Yoshinori Kagawa, Yu Asami, Keisuke Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8847178
    Abstract: A charged particle beam writing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a substrate cover attachment/detachment unit to attach or detach a substrate cover that covers a whole periphery of a substrate being a writing target from an upper part, to/from the substrate, a writing unit to write a pattern on the substrate, in a state where the substrate cover is attached to the substrate, by a charged particle beam, a position measurement unit, before and after writing by the writing unit, to measure a position of the substrate cover in a state attached to the substrate, at a predetermined measurement position, and a correction unit, with respect to a position of the substrate to which the substrate cover is attached, to correct a positional deviation amount between a position of the substrate cover measured after writing and a position of the substrate cover measured before writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Kazuhiro Shiba, Keisuke Yamaguchi, Kiminobu Akeno, Yoshinori Kagawa
  • Patent number: 8779397
    Abstract: A substrate cover 40 includes a conductive portion 41 having a shape corresponding to a peripheral edge region of a substrate. Since at least part of the conductive portion includes transmissive portions 47 each formed of a light transmissive member, it is configured so as to allow desired light to penetrate through. The position of each edge portion of the substrate is detected in such a manner that the substrate is disposed with the substrate cover 40 placed thereon between light irradiation means and a light detecting unit, irradiation light directed from the light irradiation means located above the substrate to the edge portion of the substrate is made to penetrate through at least part of the substrate cover 40, the edge portion of the substrate is then irradiated with light from the irradiation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: NuFlare Technology, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawaguchi, Keisuke Yamaguchi, Shun Kanezawa, Soichiro Mitsui, Kiminobu Akeno
  • Publication number: 20110155930
    Abstract: A substrate cover 40 includes a conductive portion 41 having a shape corresponding to a peripheral edge region of a substrate. Since at least part of the conductive portion includes transmissive portions 47 each formed of a light transmissive member, it is configured so as to allow desired light to penetrate through. The position of each edge portion of the substrate is detected in such a manner that the substrate is disposed with the substrate cover 40 placed thereon between light irradiation means and a light detecting unit, irradiation light directed from the light irradiation means located above the substrate to the edge portion of the substrate is made to penetrate through at least part of the substrate cover 40, the edge portion of the substrate is then irradiated with light from the irradiation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: NuFlare Technology, Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Michihiro KAWAGUCHI, Keisuke Yamaguchi, Shun Kanezawa, Soichiro Mitsui, Kiminobu Akeno
  • Patent number: 7528393
    Abstract: A charged particle beam processing apparatus includes a sample chamber to process a substrate including side faces by a charged particle beam, a movable stage in the sample chamber, the stage including a place on which the substrate is to be mounted, a height and position acquiring unit to acquire a height of the substrate on the stage by irradiating a laser beam onto the substrate on the stage and using the laser beam reflected from the substrate and to acquire positions of at least two adjacent side faces among the side faces based on the acquired height, and a calculating unit to calculate a position of center of gravity of the substrate on the stage and a rotation angle as to a rotary axis vertical to the place on which the substrate is to be mounted based on the positions of the at least two adjacent side faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kiminobu Akeno
  • Patent number: 7075621
    Abstract: An alignment method for substrates includes preparing an alignment apparatus having a movement mechanism to move a target substrate in horizontal and vertical directions, a rotation mechanism to rotate the substrate in a horizontal plane, an illumination tool to irradiate the substrate, an image sensor to pick up an substrate image, an edge position sensor to sense the substrate edge positions, and a control computer, transferring the substrate from a previous stage using the moving mechanism, measuring the substrate position using the image sensor which picks up the image on a back surface of the substrate, while irradiating the substrate with the illumination tool from a sidewise direction, calculating positional shifts regarding X, Y, and ? of the mask, using the edge position sensor and control computer, correcting the positional shifts of the mask by the moving and rotation mechanisms, and transferring the substrate to a next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Soichiro Mitsui, Toru Tojo, Kiminobu Akeno
  • Publication number: 20060076514
    Abstract: A charged particle beam processing apparatus includes a sample chamber to process a substrate including side faces by a charged particle beam, a movable stage in the sample chamber, the stage including a place on which the substrate is to be mounted, a height and position acquiring unit to acquire a height of the substrate on the stage by irradiating a laser beam onto the substrate on the stage and using the laser beam reflected from the substrate and to acquire positions of at least two adjacent side faces among the side faces based on the acquired height, and a calculating unit to calculate a position of center of gravity of the substrate on the stage and a rotation angle as to a rotary axis vertical to the place on which the substrate is to be mounted based on the positions of the at least two adjacent side faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventor: Kiminobu Akeno
  • Publication number: 20050128451
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus for substrates comprises a first movement mechanism moving a substrate to be treated in a horizontal direction, a second movement mechanism moving the substrate in a vertical direction, a rotation mechanism rotating the substrate in a substrate plane, an illumination tool irradiating the substrate from a sidewise direction in a state where the substrate is held in a desired height position by the second movement mechanism, an image sensor picking up an image on a back surface of the substrate in an irradiated state, an edge position sensor sensing plural edge positions of the substrate from an image obtained by the image sensor, and a control computer obtaining a positional shift of the substrate based on the edge positions sensed by the edge position sensor and correcting a positional shift of the horizontal and rotation directions by the first movement and rotation mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Soichiro Mitsui, Toru Tojo, Kiminobu Akeno
  • Patent number: 6901314
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus for substrates comprises a first movement mechanism moving a substrate to be treated in a horizontal direction, a second movement mechanism moving the substrate in a vertical direction, a rotation mechanism rotating the substrate in a substrate plane, an illumination tool irradiating the substrate from a sidewise direction in a state where the substrate is held in a desired height position by the second movement mechanism, an image sensor picking up an image on a back surface of the substrate in an irradiated state, an edge position sensor sensing plural edge positions of the substrate from an image obtained by the image sensor, and a control computer obtaining a positional shift of the substrate based on the edge positions sensed by the edge position sensor and correcting a positional shift of the horizontal and rotation directions by the first movement and rotation mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Soichiro Mitsui, Toru Tojo, Kiminobu Akeno