Patents by Inventor Seima Kato

Seima Kato 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: 20230091165
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a chart, an optical system, and a light receiving system. The chart is configured to guide light emitted from the first light source to a target optical system. The optical system is configured to form a point image by using light emitted from the second light source. The light receiving system is configured to receive first light emitted from the chart via the target optical system and second light emitted from the point image via the target optical system. The first light and the second light enter different positions of the target optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 9557241
    Abstract: The wavefront aberration measuring method includes measuring an intensity distribution of a measuring light transmitted through or reflected by an object to be measured, by using a light-receiving sensor, calculating a first differential wavefront which is a differential wavefront of the measuring light on the light-receiving sensor, and calculating a second differential wavefront by performing a correction process on the first differential wavefront depending on an incident angle of the measuring light to the light-receiving sensor. The method further includes calculating a wavefront aberration of the object by using the second differential wavefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20160299066
    Abstract: A refractive index measuring method includes measuring a transmitted wavefront of a test object in each of a plurality of arrangements that differ from each other in the position of the test object, estimating a plurality of refractive indices with regard to a reference test object having the same shape as that of the test object, calculating a transmitted wavefront when the reference test object is disposed in each of the plurality of arrangements with regard to each of the plurality of refractive indices, and calculating the refractive index of the test object using the transmitted wavefront of the test object and the transmitted wavefront calculated with regard to the reference test object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20150260605
    Abstract: A refractive-index distribution measuring method includes the steps of measuring a transmitted wavefront of an object, determining a first refractive index distribution of the object based on a measurement result of the transmitted wavefront, determining a third refractive index distribution in a transmission direction of light of the transmitted wavefront based on information related to a second refractive index distribution of the object, and calculating a three-dimensional refractive index distribution of the object based on the first refractive index distribution and the third refractive index distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20140293275
    Abstract: The wavefront aberration measuring method includes measuring an intensity distribution of a measuring light transmitted through or reflected by an object to be measured, by using a light-receiving sensor, calculating a first differential wavefront which is a differential wavefront of the measuring light on the light-receiving sensor, and calculating a second differential wavefront by performing a correction process on the first differential wavefront depending on an incident angle of the measuring light to the light-receiving sensor. The method further includes calculating a wavefront aberration of the object by using the second differential wavefront.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8786863
    Abstract: A transmitted wavefront measuring method comprises the steps of emitting light 101 from a light source 100 onto an object to be measured 120 to receive interfering light transmitted through the object and a diffraction grating 130 on a light receiving portion 140 disposed at a predetermined distance from the diffraction grating to measure an intensity distribution of the interfering light T10, performing a Fourier transform of the intensity distribution to calculate a frequency distribution T20, and obtaining a transmitted wavefront of the object based on a primary frequency spectrum in the frequency distribution T30 to T90. The step of obtaining the transmitted wavefront comprises the steps of performing an inverse Fourier transform of the primary frequency spectrum with reference to a grating frequency of the diffraction grating to calculate a complex amplitude of the interfering light T60, and obtaining the transmitted wavefront based on the complex amplitude T90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8525982
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of measuring a first transmitted wavefront in a first medium having a first refractive index and a second transmitted wavefront in a second medium having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and obtaining a refractive index distribution projected value of the object in each orientation by removing a shape component of the object utilizing measurement results of the first transmitted wavefront and the second transmitted wavefront and each transmitted wavefront of a reference object that has the same shape as that of the object and a specific refractive index distribution and is located in one of the first medium and the second medium with the same orientation as that of the object, and calculating a three-dimensional refractive index distribution of the object based on a plurality of refractive index distribution projected values corresponding to the plurality of orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8520217
    Abstract: A Talbot interferometer includes a diffraction grating, an image pickup device, a moving unit configured to move at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device in an optical axis direction of the test object, and a computer configured to adjust a position of the at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device using the moving unit so that a Talbot condition can be met, based on a spatial frequency spectrum obtained from a plurality of interference fringes captured by the image pickup device while moving the at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device using the moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Naoi, Seima Kato, Naoki Kohara, Chidane Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8508725
    Abstract: The measuring method includes a step of causing reference light to enter an object placed in a first medium to measure a first transmitted wavefront, a step of causing the reference light to enter the object placed in a second medium to measure a second transmitted wavefront, a step of measuring first and second placement positions where the object is placed in the first and second media, and a calculating step of calculating an internal refractive index distribution of the object by using measurement results of the first and second transmitted wavefronts. The calculating step calculates the internal refractive index distribution from which a shape component of the object is removed by using the measurement results of the first and second transmitted wavefronts, and first and second reference transmitted wavefronts of a reference object to be placed at positions identical to the first and second placement positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8477297
    Abstract: The method measures first transmitted wavefronts and second transmitted wavefronts by respectively causing reference light to enter an object placed in plural placement states in a first medium and a second medium, calculates an aberration sensitivity with respect to changes of the placement state of the object, and calculates an alignment error of the object in each placement state by using the aberration sensitivity and the first and second transmitted wavefronts measured in each placement state. The method further calculates first and second reference transmitted wavefronts respectively acquirable when causing the reference light to enter the reference object placed in placement states including the alignment errors in the first medium and the second medium, and calculates a refractive index distribution of the object which a shape component thereof is removed, by using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the first and second reference transmitted wavefronts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8472013
    Abstract: A refractive index distribution measurement method includes the steps of measuring a first transmission wavefront of a test object by introducing reference light to the test object immersed in a first medium having a first refractive index lower than that of the test object by 0.01 or more, measuring a second transmission wavefront of the test object by introducing the reference light to the test object immersed in a second medium having a second refractive index lower than that of the test object by 0.01 or more and different from the first refractive index, and obtaining a refractive index distribution of the test object based on a measurement result of the first transmission wavefront and a measurement result of the second transmission wavefront.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20120139136
    Abstract: The method measures first transmitted wavefronts and second transmitted wavefronts by respectively causing reference light to enter an object placed in plural placement states in a first medium and a second medium, calculates an aberration sensitivity with respect to changes of the placement state of the object, and calculates an alignment error of the object in each placement state by using the aberration sensitivity and the first and second transmitted wavefronts measured in each placement state. The method further calculates first and second reference transmitted wavefronts respectively acquirable when causing the reference light to enter the reference object placed in placement states including the alignment errors in the first medium and the second medium, and calculates a refractive index distribution of the object which a shape component thereof is removed, by using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the first and second reference transmitted wavefronts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8077391
    Abstract: A wavefront aberration measuring device includes a mask placed in an object plane of a to-be-tested optical system and having a pattern including a pinhole producing a spherical wave and adjoining diffraction gratings each ruled with lines oriented in a direction different from the other; an illumination optical system that illuminates an area of the mask with light emitted from a light source; a light splitter that splits the light from the pattern transmitted through the to-be-tested optical system; an image pickup unit that takes an image of interference fringes produced by the split light, the image being used in measuring wavefront aberration of the to-be-tested optical system; a detector that detects respective light quantities of respective diffracted beams from the respective illuminated diffraction gratings; and a control unit that controls alignment of the illuminated area of the mask and the pattern in accordance with a detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chidane Ouchi, Masanobu Hasegawa, Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20110292379
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of measuring a first transmitted wavefront in a first medium having a first refractive index and a second transmitted wavefront in a second medium having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and obtaining a refractive index distribution projected value of the object in each orientation by removing a shape component of the object utilizing measurement results of the first transmitted wavefront and the second transmitted wavefront and each transmitted wavefront of a reference object that has the same shape as that of the object and a specific refractive index distribution and is located in one of the first medium and the second medium with the same orientation as that of the object, and calculating a three-dimensional refractive index distribution of the object based on a plurality of refractive index distribution projected values corresponding to the plurality of orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 8004691
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes a pinhole mask, located on an object plane of an optical system to be measured, and having a plurality of pinholes for generating a spherical wave from a measuring light beam, and a diffraction grating for splitting the measuring light beam that has passed the pinhole mask and the optical system, in which Lg=m·Pg2/? is met, where Pg is a grating pitch of the diffraction grating, ? is a wavelength of the measuring light beam, m is an integer other than zero, and Lg is a distance between the diffraction grating and an image plane of the optical system. The measuring apparatus detects an interferogram formed by interference between a plurality of the measuring light beams split by the diffraction grating. The plurality of measuring light beams includes an aberration of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chidane Ouchi, Akihiro Nakauchi, Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20110134438
    Abstract: The measuring method includes a step of causing reference light to enter an object placed in a first medium to measure a first transmitted wavefront, a step of causing the reference light to enter the object placed in a second medium to measure a second transmitted wavefront, a step of measuring first and second placement positions where the object is placed in the first and second media, and a calculating step of calculating an internal refractive index distribution of the object by using measurement results of the first and second transmitted wavefronts. The calculating step calculates the internal refractive index distribution from which a shape component of the object is removed by using the measurement results of the first and second transmitted wavefronts, and first and second reference transmitted wavefronts of a reference object to be placed at positions identical to the first and second placement positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Patent number: 7952726
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a first mask that is arranged on an object plane of a target optical system, and has a window that transmits measurement light, a second mask that has a reflection surface for reducing coherence of the measurement light, and a diffraction grating configured to split the measurement light that has been reflected on the second mask, has passed the first mask and the target optical system, wherein a distance Lg between the diffraction grating and an image plane of the target optical system satisfies Lg=m·Pg2/? where Pg is a grating pitch of the diffraction grating, ? is a wavelength of the measurement light, and m is an integer except for 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seima Kato, Chidane Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20100271636
    Abstract: A Talbot interferometer includes a diffraction grating, an image pickup device, a moving unit configured to move at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device in an optical axis direction of the test object, and a computer configured to adjust a position of the at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device using the moving unit so that a Talbot condition can be met, based on a spatial frequency spectrum obtained from a plurality of interference fringes captured by the image pickup device while moving the at least one of the diffraction grating and the image pickup device using the moving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Naoi, Seima Kato, Naoki Kohara, Chidane Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20100245842
    Abstract: A transmitted wavefront measuring method comprises the steps of emitting light 101 from a light source 100 onto an object to be measured 120 to receive interfering light transmitted through the object and a diffraction grating 130 on a light receiving portion 140 disposed at a predetermined distance from the diffraction grating to measure an intensity distribution of the interfering light T10, performing a Fourier transform of the intensity distribution to calculate a frequency distribution T20, and obtaining a transmitted wavefront of the object based on a primary frequency spectrum in the frequency distribution T30 to T90. The step of obtaining the transmitted wavefront comprises the steps of performing an inverse Fourier transform of the primary frequency spectrum with reference to a grating frequency of the diffraction grating to calculate a complex amplitude of the interfering light T60, and obtaining the transmitted wavefront based on the complex amplitude T90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seima Kato
  • Publication number: 20100190115
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a first mask that is arranged on an object plane of a target optical system, and has a window that transmits measurement light, a second mask that has a reflection surface for reducing coherence of the measurement light, and a diffraction grating configured to split the measurement light that has been reflected on the second mask, has passed the first mask and the target optical system, wherein a distance Lg between the diffraction grating and an image plane of the target optical system satisfies Lg=m·Pg2/? where Pg is a grating pitch of the diffraction grating, ? is a wavelength of the measurement light, and m is an integer except for 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seima Kato, Chidane Ouchi