Patents by Inventor Soichiro Matsunaga
Soichiro Matsunaga 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).
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Patent number: 11929230Abstract: A large current electron beam is stably emitted from an electron gun of a charged particle beam device. The electron gun of the charged particle beam device includes: a SE tip 202; a suppressor 303 disposed rearward of a distal end of the SE tip; a cup-shaped extraction electrode 204 including a bottom surface and a cylindrical portion and enclosing the SE tip and the suppressor; and an insulator 208 holding the suppressor and the extraction electrode. A shield electrode 301 of a conductive metal having a cylindrical portion 302 is provided between the suppressor and the cylindrical portion of the extraction electrode. A voltage lower than a voltage of the SE tip is applied to the shield electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Kasuya, Akira Ikegami, Kazuhiro Honda, Masahiro Fukuta, Takashi Doi, Souichi Katagiri, Aki Takei, Soichiro Matsunaga
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Patent number: 11894211Abstract: The invention provides an electron beam apparatus that reduces a time required for an electron gun chamber to which a sputter ion pump and a non-evaporable getter pump are connected to reach an extreme high vacuum state. The electron beam apparatus includes an electron gun configured to emit an electron beam and the electron gun chamber to which the sputter ion pump and the non-evaporable getter pump are connected. The electron beam apparatus further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply at least one of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide to the electron gun chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Erina Kawamoto, Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Takashi Doi, Tetsuya Sawahata, Minoru Yamazaki
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Publication number: 20230352262Abstract: In an electron source including a suppressor electrode having an opening at one end portion thereof in a direction along a central axis and an electron emission material having a distal end protruding from the opening, the suppressor electrode further includes a receding portion receding to a position farther from the distal end of the electron emission material than the opening in the direction along the central axis at a position in an outer peripheral direction than the opening, and at least a part of the receding portion is disposed within a diameter of 2810 ?m from a center of the opening. Accordingly, an electron source, an electron gun, and a charged particle beam device such as an electron microscope using the same, in which a machine difference in a device performance due to an axial shift between the electron emission material and the suppressor electrode is reduced, are implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech CorporationInventors: Keigo KASUYA, Shuhei ISHIKAWA, Kenji TANIMOTO, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Hiroshi MORITA, Daigo KOMESU, Kenji MIYATA
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Publication number: 20230298845Abstract: A decelerating electrode of this energy filter comprises: an electrode pair that has an opening; and a cavity portion that provided in a rotationally symmetrical manner with the center of the opening as the optical axis. Voltages with electric potentials that are substantially the same as that of a charged particle beam are independently applied to the both sides of the decelerating electrode. When an electrical field protrudes into the cavity portion provided in the decelerating electrode, a saddle point having the same electric potential as that of incident charged particles is formed inside the decelerating electrode. The saddle point acts as a high pass filter for incident charged particles at an energy resolution of 1 mV or less. By analyzing charged particles which have been energy-separated, it is possible to measure the energy spectrum and ?E at the high resolution of 1 mV or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Kazuhiro HONDA, Hiroyuki ITO, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 11508544Abstract: To stabilize an emitted electron beam, a thermoelectric field emission electron source includes: an electron source having a needle shape; a metal wire to which the electron source is fixed and configured to heat the electron source; a stem fixed to an insulator and configured to energize the metal wire; a first electrode having a first opening portion and arranged such that a tip of the electron source protrudes from the first opening portion; a second electrode having a second opening portion; and an insulating body configured to position the first electrode and the second electrode such that a central axis of the first opening portion and a central axis of the second opening portion coincide with each other, and to provide electrical insulation between the first and second electrodes, so as to provide a structure that reduces an amount of gas released when the first electrode is heated.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Aki Takei, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
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Publication number: 20220351934Abstract: The invention provides an electron beam apparatus that reduces a time required for an electron gun chamber to which a sputter ion pump and a non-evaporable getter pump are connected to reach an extreme high vacuum state. The electron beam apparatus includes an electron gun configured to emit an electron beam and the electron gun chamber to which the sputter ion pump and the non-evaporable getter pump are connected. The electron beam apparatus further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply at least one of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide to the electron gun chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2019Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech CorporationInventors: Erina KAWAMOTO, Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Keigo KASUYA, Takashi DOI, Tetsuya SAWAHATA, Minoru YAMAZAKI
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Publication number: 20220199349Abstract: A large current electron beam is stably emitted from an electron gun of a charged particle beam device. The electron gun of the charged particle beam device includes: a SE tip 202; a suppressor 303 disposed rearward of a distal end of the SE tip; a cup-shaped extraction electrode 204 including a bottom surface and a cylindrical portion and enclosing the SE tip and the suppressor; and an insulator 208 holding the suppressor and the extraction electrode. A shield electrode 301 of a conductive metal having a cylindrical portion 302 is provided between the suppressor and the cylindrical portion of the extraction electrode. A voltage lower than a voltage of the SE tip is applied to the shield electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech CorporationInventors: Keigo KASUYA, Akira IKEGAMI, Kazuhiro HONDA, Masahiro FUKUTA, Takashi DOI, Souichi KATAGIRI, Aki TAKEI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 11322329Abstract: The invention provides an electron source including a columnar chip of a hexaboride single crystal, a metal pipe that holds the columnar chip of the hexaboride single crystal, and a filament connected to the metal pipe at a central portion. The columnar chip of the hexaboride single crystal is formed into a cone shape at a portion closer to a tip than a portion held in the metal pipe, and a tip end portion having the cone shape has a (310) crystal face. Schottky electrons are emitted from the (310) crystal face. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a novel electron source having monochromaticity, long-term stability of an emitter current, and high current density.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiaki Kusunoki, Tomihiro Hashizume, Keigo Kasuya, Noriaki Arai, Hiromitsu Seino, Minoru Kaneda, Takashi Ohshima, Soichiro Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20220037107Abstract: To stabilize an amount of electron beam emitted from a thermoelectric field emission electron source. A thermoelectric field emission electron source includes: an electron source 301 having a needle shape; a metal wire 302 to which the electron source is fixed and configured to heat the electron source; a stem 303 fixed to an insulator and configured to energize the metal wire; a first electrode 304 having a first opening portion 304a and arranged such that a tip of the electron source protrudes from the first opening portion; a second electrode 306 having a second opening portion 306a; and an insulating body 307 configured to position the first electrode and the second electrode such that a central axis of the first opening portion and a central axis of the second opening portion coincide with each other, and provide electrical insulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, so as to provide a structure in which an amount of gas released when the first electrode is heated is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2018Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Aki Takei, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
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Patent number: 11227740Abstract: In order to provide an electron gun capable of maintaining a small spot diameter of a beam converged on a sample even when a probe current applied to the sample is increased, a magnetic field generation source 301 is provided with respect to an electron gun including: an electron source 101; an extraction electrode 102 configured to extract electrons from the electron source 101; an acceleration electrode 103 configured to accelerate the electrons extracted from the electron source 101; and a first coil 104 and a first magnetic path 201 having an opening on an electron source side, the first coil 104 and the first magnetic path 201 forming a control lens configured to converge an electron beam emitted from the acceleration electrode 103. The magnetic field generation source is provided for canceling a magnetic field, at an installation position of the electron source 101, generated by the first coil 104 and the first magnetic path 201.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Yasunari Sohda, Souichi Katagiri, Makoto Sakakibara, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
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Publication number: 20210327674Abstract: The invention provides an electron source including a columnar chip of a hexaboride single crystal, a metal pipe that holds the columnar chip of the hexaboride single crystal, and a filament connected to the metal pipe at a central portion. The columnar chip of the hexaboride single crystal is formed into a cone shape at a portion closer to a tip than a portion held in the metal pipe, and a tip end portion having the cone shape has a (310) crystal face. Schottky electrons are emitted from the (310) crystal face. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a novel electron source having monochromaticity, long-term stability of an emitter current, and high current density.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Toshiaki KUSUNOKI, Tomihiro HASHIZUME, Keigo KASUYA, Noriaki ARAI, Hiromitsu SEINO, Minoru KANEDA, Takashi OHSHIMA, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 10903037Abstract: An object of the invention is to stably supply an electron beam from an electron gun, that is, to prevent variation in intensity of the electron beam. The invention provides a charged particle beam device that includes an electron gun having an electron source, an extraction electrode to which a voltage used for extracting electrons from the electron source is applied, and an acceleration electrode to which a voltage used for accelerating the electrons extracted from the electron source is applied, a first heating unit that heats the extraction electrode, and a second heating unit that heats the acceleration electrode.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Kasuya, Shuhei Ishikawa, Kenji Tanimoto, Hajime Kawano, Hideo Todokoro, Souichi Katagiri, Takashi Doi, Soichiro Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20200266020Abstract: In order to provide an electron gun capable of maintaining a small spot diameter of a beam converged on a sample even when a probe current applied to the sample is increased, a magnetic field generation source 301 is provided with respect to an electron gun including: an electron source 101; an extraction electrode 102 configured to extract electrons from the electron source 101; an acceleration electrode 103 configured to accelerate the electrons extracted from the electron source 101; and a first coil 104 and a first magnetic path 201 having an opening on an electron source side, the first coil 104 and the first magnetic path 201 forming a control lens configured to converge an electron beam emitted from the acceleration electrode 103. The magnetic field generation source is provided for canceling a magnetic field, at an installation position of the electron source 101, generated by the first coil 104 and the first magnetic path 201.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2017Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Yasunari SOHDA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Makoto SAKAKIBARA, Hajime KAWANO, Takashi DOI
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Publication number: 20200090897Abstract: An object of the invention is to stably supply an electron beam from an electron gun, that is, to prevent variation in intensity of the electron beam. The invention provides a charged particle beam device that includes an electron gun having an electron source, an extraction electrode to which a voltage used for extracting electrons from the electron source is applied, and an acceleration electrode to which a voltage used for accelerating the electrons extracted from the electron source is applied, a first heating unit that heats the extraction electrode, and a second heating unit that heats the acceleration electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Keigo KASUYA, Shuhei ISHIKAWA, Kenji TANIMOTO, Hajime KAWANO, Hideo TODOKORO, Souichi KATAGIRI, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
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Publication number: 20190198284Abstract: Provided is a high-brightness, high-current electron source including a wire-like member. The wire-like member has an electron emission plane at the tip of the wire-like member. The electron emission plane has a projectingly curved surface. At least the surface of the electron emission plane is formed of an amorphous material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2016Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Yasunari SOHDA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Hajime KAWANO, Takashi DOI
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Patent number: 9006654Abstract: An embodiment is to provide a technique that continuously applies a certain amount of an electron beam to a sample by selecting a beam applied to the sample from an electron beam emitted from an electron source in a scanning electron microscope. A charged particle apparatus is configured, including: a mechanism that detects the distribution of electric current strength with respect to the emitting direction of an electron beam emitted from an electron source; a functionality that predicts a fluctuation of an electric current applied to a sample by predicting the distribution of the electric current based on the detected result; a functionality that determines a position at which a beam applied to the sample is acquired based on the predicted result; and a mechanism that controls a position at which a probe beam is acquired based on the determined result.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Hajime Kawano
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Publication number: 20150034835Abstract: An embodiment is to provide a technique that continuously applies a certain amount of an electron beam to a sample by selecting a beam applied to the sample from an electron beam emitted from an electron source in a scanning electron microscope. A charged particle apparatus is configured, including: a mechanism that detects the distribution of electric current strength with respect to the emitting direction of an electron beam emitted from an electron source; a functionality that predicts a fluctuation of an electric current applied to a sample by predicting the distribution of the electric current based on the detected result; a functionality that determines a position at which a beam applied to the sample is acquired based on the predicted result; and a mechanism that controls a position at which a probe beam is acquired based on the determined result.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Hajime Kawano