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).

  • Patent number: 11929230
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Kasuya, Akira Ikegami, Kazuhiro Honda, Masahiro Fukuta, Takashi Doi, Souichi Katagiri, Aki Takei, Soichiro Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11894211
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erina Kawamoto, Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Takashi Doi, Tetsuya Sawahata, Minoru Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20230352262
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo KASUYA, Shuhei ISHIKAWA, Kenji TANIMOTO, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Hiroshi MORITA, Daigo KOMESU, Kenji MIYATA
  • Publication number: 20230298845
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HONDA, Hiroyuki ITO, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 11508544
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Aki Takei, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
  • Publication number: 20220351934
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Erina KAWAMOTO, Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Keigo KASUYA, Takashi DOI, Tetsuya SAWAHATA, Minoru YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20220199349
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo KASUYA, Akira IKEGAMI, Kazuhiro HONDA, Masahiro FUKUTA, Takashi DOI, Souichi KATAGIRI, Aki TAKEI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 11322329
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kusunoki, Tomihiro Hashizume, Keigo Kasuya, Noriaki Arai, Hiromitsu Seino, Minoru Kaneda, Takashi Ohshima, Soichiro Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20220037107
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Aki Takei, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
  • Patent number: 11227740
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Yasunari Sohda, Souichi Katagiri, Makoto Sakakibara, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
  • Publication number: 20210327674
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Toshiaki KUSUNOKI, Tomihiro HASHIZUME, Keigo KASUYA, Noriaki ARAI, Hiromitsu SEINO, Minoru KANEDA, Takashi OHSHIMA, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 10903037
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Kasuya, Shuhei Ishikawa, Kenji Tanimoto, Hajime Kawano, Hideo Todokoro, Souichi Katagiri, Takashi Doi, Soichiro Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20200266020
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Yasunari SOHDA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Makoto SAKAKIBARA, Hajime KAWANO, Takashi DOI
  • Publication number: 20200090897
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Keigo KASUYA, Shuhei ISHIKAWA, Kenji TANIMOTO, Hajime KAWANO, Hideo TODOKORO, Souichi KATAGIRI, Takashi DOI, Soichiro MATSUNAGA
  • Publication number: 20190198284
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro MATSUNAGA, Yasunari SOHDA, Souichi KATAGIRI, Hajime KAWANO, Takashi DOI
  • Patent number: 9006654
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Hajime Kawano
  • Publication number: 20150034835
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Hajime Kawano