Patents by Inventor Norio Kimura

Norio Kimura 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: 9074994
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a glass substrate for imprint including a glass substrate with a pattern surface and a transmissive conductive film coating at least part of the pattern surface, includes an electron beam irradiation step of irradiating the pattern surface of the glass substrate for imprint disposed on a stage with an electron beam having a predetermined irradiation area; an electron detection step of simultaneously detecting electrons from the pattern surface by the electron beam irradiation by means of a detection surface with a plurality of pixels; and a defect detection step of obtaining an image of the pattern surface based on the electrons detected by the detection surface and detecting a defect of the pattern surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Norio Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150060666
    Abstract: A technique capable of improving the ability to observe a specimen using an electron beam in an energy region which has not been conventionally given attention is provided. This specimen observation method comprises: irradiating the specimen with an electron beam; detecting electrons to be observed which have been generated and have obtained information on the specimen by the electron beam irradiation; and generating an image of the specimen from the detected electrons to be observed. The electron beam irradiation comprises irradiating the specimen with the electron beam with a landing energy set in a transition region between a secondary emission electron region in which secondary emission electrons are detected and a mirror electron region in which mirror electrons are detected, thereby causing the secondary emission electrons and the mirror electrons to be mixed as the electrons to be observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Takeshi Murakami, Yoshihiko Naito, Kenji Terao, Norio Kimura, Kenji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8937283
    Abstract: A technique capable of improving the ability to observe a specimen using an electron beam in an energy region which has not been conventionally given attention is provided. This specimen observation method comprises: irradiating the specimen with an electron beam; detecting electrons to be observed which have been generated and have obtained information on the specimen by the electron beam irradiation; and generating an image of the specimen from the detected electrons to be observed. The electron beam irradiation comprises irradiating the specimen with the electron beam with a landing energy set in a transition region between a secondary emission electron region in which secondary emission electrons are detected and a mirror electron region in which mirror electrons are detected, thereby causing the secondary emission electrons and the mirror electrons to be mixed as the electrons to be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hatakeyama, Takeshi Murakami, Yoshihiko Naito, Kenji Terao, Norio Kimura, Kenji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8925913
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device such as a feed mechanism includes a pick-up roller and a cover member. The pick-up roller feeds, into an apparatus, a sheet such as a document on a placing table such as a document placing table on which the sheet is placed. The cover member such as a pick-up cover covers the pick-up roller. The cover member is supported at both ends thereof on a shaft of the pick-up roller or on shaft bearings that receive the shaft of the pick-up roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kubo, Shinya Kitaoka, Takehisa Shimazu, Takeshi Akai, Takuma Ariga, Fumiyuki Heishi, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki, Norio Kimura, Hiroaki Utagawa, Kenji Hayasaka, Jun Yamada, Kenichiro Morita, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Satoshi Saito
  • Patent number: 8895960
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided and includes a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a channel forming region composed of an organic semiconductor material layer and a source/drain electrode made of a metal. A portion of the source/drain electrode in contact with the organic semiconductor material layer comprising the channel forming region is covered with an electrode coating material. Because the electrode coating material is composed of organic molecules having a functional group which can be bound to a metal ion and a functional group that binds to the source/drain electrode composed of the metal, low contact resistance and high mobility can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Murata, Nobuhide Yoneya, Norio Kimura
  • Patent number: 8840103
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Fukumoto, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Atsushi Fujita, Masataka Fukuchi, Ryuji Yoshida, Hideki Tobinaga, Norio Kimura, Kenichiro Morita, Koki Sakano, Takuya Sano, Takuya Morinaga, Takashi Nakano
  • Publication number: 20140166679
    Abstract: A beverage container includes a container main body, an inner lid portion that covers the container main body, a spout portion which is formed on the inner lid portion and through which a beverage is discharged, a spout blocking portion 3a that blocks the spout portion, an outer lid portion disposed so as to be able to engage with and disengage from the inner lid portion, a ventilation portion that allows air to flow between the inside and the outside of the container main body, and a vent blocking portion formed on the outer lid portion or the inner lid portion to block the ventilation portion when the outer lid portion is placed to close the inner lid portion. A cancellation operation portion which cancels engagement between the outer lid portion and the inner lid portion is formed, and the beverage container further includes a ventilation adjusting protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Pigeon Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Arai, Masakazu Yoshida, Norio Kimura
  • Patent number: 8736926
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a sheet feeding unit, a separation section disposed downstream in a sheet conveyance direction from the sheet feeding unit, a conveyance member to transport a sheet separated by the separation section, a trailing-edge detector disposed at a first conveyance distance (L1) downstream from a separation position (Ab) and including a rotary follower and a rotation detector, a first leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector, and a controller. The trailing-edge detector A detects a sheet length in the sheet conveyance direction. The controller causes the sheet feeding unit to start sheet feeding in response to detection of the leading edge of the sheet by the first leading-edge detector when the detected sheet length equals a predetermined reference length and in other cases in response to detection of the trailing edge of the sheet by the trailing-edge detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Suzuki, Hideki Tobinaga, Atsushi Kanaya, Shinya Kitaoka, Norio Kimura, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Kenichiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20140091215
    Abstract: An electro-optical inspection apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing adhesion of dust or particles to the sample surface as much as possible. A stage (100) on which a sample (200) is placed is disposed inside a vacuum chamber (112) that can be evacuated to vacuum, and a dust collecting electrode (122) is disposed to surround a periphery of the sample (200). The dust collecting electrode (122) is applied with a voltage having the same polarity as a voltage applied to the sample (200) and an absolute value that is the same or larger than an absolute value of the voltage. Thus, because dust or particles such as particles adhere to the dust collecting electrode (122), adhesion of the dust or particles to the sample surface can be reduced. Instead of using the dust collecting electrode, it is possible to form a recess on a wall of the vacuum chamber containing the stage, or to dispose on the wall a metal plate having a mesh structure to which a predetermined voltage is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji WATANABE, Masahiro HATAKEYAMA, Yoshihiko NAITO, Tatsuya KOHAMA, Kenji TERAO, Takeshi MURAKAMI, Takehide HAYASHI, Kiwamu TSUKAMOTO, Hiroshi SOBUKAWA, Norio KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20140084531
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a separation sheet feeding mechanism having a paper feeding belt and a separation roller; and an adjustment mechanism that changes contact state of the paper feeding belt to the separation roller by changing relative position of the paper feeding belt and the separation roller, and changes and adjusts separation performance of the separation roller for the subsequent sheet, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cam follower member changing the relative position of the feeding belt and the separation roller, the cam member includes a first cam face and a second cam face which are formed at each rotation radius position in accordance with the rotation angle position, and are spaced apart in the rotation radius direction, and the cam follower member has a contact unit guided by the first cam face and the second cam face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi FUKUMOTO, Mamoru KAMBAYASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Atsushi FUJITA, Masataka FUKUCHI, Ryuji YOSHIDA, Hideki TOBINAGA, Norio KIMURA, Kenichiro MORITA, Koki SAKANO, Takuya SANO, Takuya MORINAGA, Takashi NAKANO
  • Patent number: 8657135
    Abstract: An artificial nipple can include a nipple tip section that can sufficiently reach the sucking fossa and can be appropriately squashed The artificial nipple can have a base section that widens to match an attachment object, an areola section formed contiguously to the base section and that extends while narrowing gradually, and a nipple section that extends from the areola section and that narrows more than the areola section. A flange section can be provided in the base section with a predetermined thickness. A check valve can be formed with a valve body so as to be entirely accommodated within the thickness dimension of the flange, and provided in the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pigeon Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamashita, Norio Kimura, Masakazu Yoshida, Mitsuo Tashiro
  • Patent number: 8641035
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a sheet housing unit that houses sheets in a stacked manner; a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to a predetermined conveyance target position; a sheet pick-up unit that picks up outermost one of the sheets housed in the sheet housing unit for conveying to a sheet conveying unit side; a separating and conveying unit that separates the next sheet from the outermost sheet, and conveys only the outermost sheet to the sheet conveying unit; and a sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit that detects presence or absence of movement of a sheet in the conveying direction. The sheet-conveyance-movement detecting unit is arranged at a position at which the outermost sheet and the next sheet may overlap each other, and a separation portion is located downstream of the pick-up position and is an area where a separation action of the separating and conveying unit works.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mamoru Kambayashi, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki, Kenichiro Morita
  • Patent number: 8636275
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a separating and feeding unit which has a separating member and a paper feeding member coming into contact with the separating member at a predetermined separating pressure, and separates and feeds an original sheet by sheet from a bundle of originals placed on an original placing table; a conveying unit which conveys the original separated by the separating and feeding unit toward a scanning position; a separating pressure switching unit which applies and releases the separating pressure and which is controlled by a control unit to release the separating pressure after a leading edge of a preceding sheet of the original has passed through the separating and feeding unit and to apply the separating pressure before a sheet of original separated and fed next to the preceding sheet of original is fed from the bundle of original to the separating and feeding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mamoru Kambayashi, Motoya Sano, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Michitaka Suzuki, Yoshito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8624182
    Abstract: An electro-optical inspection apparatus prevents adhesion of dust or particles to a sample surface, wherein a stage on which a sample is placed is disposed inside a vacuum chamber that can be evacuated, and a dust collecting electrode is disposed to surround a periphery of the sample. The dust collecting electrode is applied with a voltage having the same polarity as a voltage applied to the sample and an absolute value that is the same or larger than an absolute value of the voltage. Because dust or particles adhere to the dust collecting electrode, adhesion of the dust or particles to the sample surface can be reduced. Instead of using the dust collecting electrode, it is possible to form a recess on a wall of the vacuum chamber, or to dispose on the wall a metal plate having a mesh structure to which a predetermined voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Masahiro Hatakeyama, Yoshihiko Naito, Tatsuya Kohama, Kenji Terao, Takeshi Murakami, Takehide Hayashi, Kiwamu Tsukamoto, Hiroshi Sobukawa, Norio Kimura
  • Patent number: 8614839
    Abstract: In an image reader, a reading member fixedly mounted in the image reader reads an image on a sheet conveyed into the image reader. A guide is disposed opposite the reading member to support the sheet with respect to the reading member. A guide moving member moves the guide with respect to the reading member in a main scanning direction in which the reading member reads the image on the sheet. A guide rotating member rotates the guide in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. A controller controls the reading member to scan different positions on the guide moved by the guide moving member and rotated by the guide rotating member to generate shading data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoya Sano, Takashi Fujii, Hiroshi Kubo, Shinya Kitaoka, Takeshi Akai, Atsushi Kanaya, Shingo Matsushita, Norio Kimura, Kenichiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20130320611
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device such as a feed mechanism includes a pick-up roller and a cover member. The pick-up roller feeds, into an apparatus, a sheet such as a document on a placing table such as a document placing table on which the sheet is placed. The cover member such as a pick-up cover covers the pick-up roller. The cover member is supported at both ends thereof on a shaft of the pick-up roller or on shaft bearings that receive the shaft of the pick-up roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Hiroshi KUBO, Shinya KITAOKA, Takehisa SHIMAZU, Takeshi AKAI, Takuma ARIGA, Fumiyuki HEISHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Yoshito SUZUKI, Norio KIMURA, Hiroaki UTAGAWA, Kenji HAYASAKA, Jun YAMADA, Kenichiro MORITA, Ikuhisa OKAMOTO, Satoshi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20130315610
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an ADF includes: a sheet-feed cover unit; a switch unit to be switched on or off depending on whether the sheet-feed cover unit is open or closed and including a first terminal, to which a first voltage, by which a driving motor is driven, is input, and a second terminal connected to the driving motor; and an open/close-detection circuit unit that includes a first switch circuit and a second switch circuit. The first switch circuit is switched on or off based on a threshold voltage that is larger than a second voltage to be generated in the driving motor by a jammed-document removing motion and smaller than the first voltage. The open/close-detection circuit unit detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is closed when the second switch circuit is energized, but detects that the sheet-feed cover unit is open when the second switch circuit is de-energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroaki UTAGAWA, Hiroshi KUBO, Shinya KITAOKA, Takehisa SHIMAZU, Takeshi AKAI, Fumiyuki HEISHI, Norio KIMURA, Yoshito SUZUKI, Jun YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8592438
    Abstract: A plant disease control composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof, and one or more anilinopyrimidine compounds selected from the group consisting of 4,6-dimethyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrimidinamine, 4-methyl-N-phenyl-6-(1-propynyl)-2-pyrimidinamine and 4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenyl-2-pyrimidinamine has an excellent plant disease control effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Intellectual Property Service, Ltd
    Inventors: Masanao Takaishi, Norio Kimura
  • Patent number: 8444135
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a loading section, a first conveyance member a separation section, a first sheet length detector to detect whether the sheet is longer than a predetermined length slightly longer than a specific sheet size in the sheet conveyance direction, a trailing-edge detector disposed downstream from the separation section, a leading-edge detector disposed downstream from the trailing-edge detector a distance smaller than the specific sheet size and from the first conveyance member a distance longer than the specific sheet size, and a controller. When the sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined length, the controller starts sheet feeding when the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge of the sheet, and when the sheet is smaller than that, the controller starts sheet feeding when either the leading-edge detector detects the leading edge of the sheet or the trailing-edge detector detects the trailing edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Morita, Hideki Tobinaga, Shinya Kitaoka, Mamoru Kambayashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Atsushi Kanaya, Norio Kimura, Yoshito Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8393935
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus polishes a periphery (a bevel portion, a notch portion, an edge-cut portion) of a substrate by bringing a polishing tool into sliding contact with the periphery of the substrate. The polishing apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate, and a polishing head configured to polish the periphery of the substrate held by the substrate holder using the polishing tool. The polishing head includes a press pad for pressing the polishing tool against the periphery of the substrate, and a linear motor configured to reciprocate the press pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Kimura, Kenya Ito, Tamami Takahashi, Masaya Seki