Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Tsuji

Toshihiko Tsuji 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: 9329376
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an imaging unit having an imaging optical system and an imaging device; a measuring unit that measures, for each of a plurality of regions on a specimen, an optical aberration or a physical quantity causing the aberration before the imaging of the specimen is performed; a plurality of optical elements that are inserted in an optical path of the imaging optical system for correcting the aberration and that differ in correction amount; and a control unit that selects an optical element from among the optical elements on the basis of a measurement result of the measuring unit, and inserts the selected optical element into the optical path of the imaging optical system before the imaging of the specimen. The imaging optical system is configured to be capable of forming simultaneously images of the plurality of regions on the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinari Higaki, Miyoko Kawashima, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9332166
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus (1) includes an illumination optical system (100) that includes a light source (110) and is configured to guide light from the light source to a target(B), an imaging optical system configured to capture an image of the target, and a plurality of image sensors (430) arranged on an image plane of the imaging optical system. The illumination optical system includes a plurality of integrators (121,122). Light flux exits from one of the plurality of integrators illuminates at least one of the plurality of image sensors, and light exits from the other integrators illuminates at least one of the plurality of image sensors other than the image sensor illuminated by the light exits from the one of the plurality of integrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kawakami, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8891062
    Abstract: An illumination optical system which illuminates an illumination surface with light from a light source, includes a divider which divides light from the light source to generate a plurality of light beams, a first reflective integrator which uniformizes light intensity distributions of the plurality of light beams generated by the divider, a condenser which condenses the light beam from the first reflective integrator, a second reflective integrator which receives the light beam from the condenser and illuminates the illumination surface, and an aperture stop arranged between the second reflective integrator and the illumination surface, wherein the divider generates the plurality of light beams so that light beams each having a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the light provided from the light source to the divider enter a plane on which the aperture stop is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20140160267
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a measuring section configured to measure a surface shape of an object, an image pickup section configured to obtain images of different areas of the object on an image plane of an image pickup optical system by image pickup elements, a focal-position detecting unit configured to detect a focal position of the object where a focal-position detecting point is focused on the image plane, and a focal-position determining unit configured to determine a focal position of the object at a point different from the focal-position detecting point on the basis of detection of the focal-position detecting unit and measurement of the measuring section. The image pickup section takes the images of the different areas on the basis of determination of the focal-position determining unit while the images are focused on the image pickup elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kawakami, Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130222569
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an illumination optical system including a light source and guiding the light from the light source to an illuminated surface B including an object; a plurality of image sensors for acquiring an image of the illuminated surface formed by an imaging optical system; a measurement unit for measuring a size of the object; and a control unit for determining an image sensor to be used when acquiring the image of the illuminated surface, among the plurality of image sensors, based on a measurement result of the measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kawakami, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20130169788
    Abstract: A microscope 1 includes an illumination device 10 for illuminating a object 30, an optical system 40 for forming an image of the object 30, and an imaging device 50 for capturing the image of the object 30. The imaging device 50 includes a plurality of imaging units. Each of the imaging units includes an image sensor and a movement mechanism for moving the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuji, Hirofumi Fujii, Shun Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20130169859
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus (1) includes an illumination optical system (100) that includes a light source (110) and is configured to guide light from the light source to a target (B), an imaging optical system configured to capture an image of the target, and a plurality of image sensors (430) arranged on an image plane of the imaging optical system. The illumination optical system includes a plurality of integrators (121,122). Light flux exits from one of the plurality of integrators illuminates at least one of the plurality of image sensors, and light exits from the other integrators illuminates at least one of the plurality of image sensors other than the image sensor illuminated by the light exits from the one of the plurality of integrators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kawakami, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20120327208
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an imaging unit having an imaging optical system and an imaging device; a measuring unit that measures, for each of a plurality of regions on a specimen, an optical aberration or a physical quantity causing the aberration before the imaging of the specimen is performed; a plurality of optical elements that are inserted in an optical path of the imaging optical system for correcting the aberration and that differ in correction amount; and a control unit that selects an optical element from among the optical elements on the basis of a measurement result of the measuring unit, and inserts the selected optical element into the optical path of the imaging optical system before the imaging of the specimen. The imaging optical system is configured to be capable of forming simultaneously images of the plurality of regions on the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinari Higaki, Miyoko Kawashima, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8284378
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes first and second reflection integrators. The second reflection integrator forms a plurality of linear light sources using light from the first reflection integrator. The illumination optical system further includes a pair of flat plane mirrors that are arranged parallel to the meridional line direction on the second reflection integrator and opposite to each other so as to sandwich the plurality of linear light sources in between, a unit for changing an aperture shape of an aperture stop arranged at an exit side of the second reflection integrator in a direction perpendicular to the meridional line direction so that the aperture stop has an optical Fourier transformation relationship with the surface to be illuminated, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust an interval between the pair of flat plane mirrors as the aperture shape of the aperture stop is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20120170013
    Abstract: An illumination optical system which illuminates an illumination surface with light from a light source, includes a divider which divides light from the light source to generate a plurality of light beams, a first reflective integrator which uniformizes light intensity distributions of the plurality of light beams generated by the divider, a condenser which condenses the light beam from the first reflective integrator, a second reflective integrator which receives the light beam from the condenser and illuminates the illumination surface, and an aperture stop arranged between the second reflective integrator and the illumination surface, wherein the divider generates the plurality of light beams so that light beams each having a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the light provided from the light source to the divider enter a plane on which the aperture stop is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8035668
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus which forms a pattern on an object. The apparatus includes an exposure head structure in which a plurality of elemental exposure units are arrayed, each elemental exposure unit including (i) at least one light source for emitting exposure light and (ii) an optical element which forms an image of the at least one light source on the object, for exposing the object. Positions of the images of the at least one light source in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the object include plural positions different from each other. A sensor detects a position of the surface of the object and produces a detection result. A controller receives the detection result and controls the exposure head structure such that a pattern is formed on the object by the exposure is selected to expose the object based on the detection result by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuro Sugita, Kazuaki Ohmi, Takao Yonehara, Toshihiko Tsuji, Takaaki Terashi, Tohru Kohda, Shinji Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 7714987
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a first optical unit configured to condense light from a light source, a catoptric integrator configured to form plural secondary light sources using light from the first optical unit, the catoptric integrator including plural cylindrical reflection surfaces having the same generatrix direction, an aperture stop arranged perpendicular to the generatrix direction, and a second optical unit configured to superpose light from each secondary light source onto an illumination surface, wherein the catoptric integrator includes plural integrator parts each having plural cylindrical reflection surfaces, and the plural integrator parts are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the generatrix direction and to an arrangement direction of the cylindrical reflection surfaces and located at an incident side of the aperture stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20100053584
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes first and second reflection integrators. The second reflection integrator forms a plurality of linear light sources using light from the first reflection integrator. The illumination optical system further includes a pair of flat plane mirrors that are arranged parallel to the meridional line direction on the second reflection integrator and opposite to each other so as to sandwich the plurality of linear light sources in between, a unit for changing an aperture shape of an aperture stop arranged at an exit side of the second reflection integrator in a direction perpendicular to the meridional line direction so that the aperture stop has an optical Fourier transformation relationship with the surface to be illuminated, and an adjustment unit configured to adjust an interval between the pair of flat plane mirrors as the aperture shape of the aperture stop is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7538856
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a first optical unit that collects light emitted from a light source; a reflective integrator that has a plurality of cylindrical reflection surfaces, whose generating lines are oriented in a uniform direction, and forms a plurality of linear light sources by using the light emitted from the first optical unit; a pair of flat mirrors that are disposed parallel to the generating lines so as to face each other with the plurality of linear light sources residing therebetween; an aperture stop that is disposed perpendicular to the generating lines and has an opening for allowing the light emitted from the plurality of linear light sources to pass therethrough; and a second optical unit that integrates beams of the light emitted from the plurality of linear light sources that have passed through the opening one on top of another in an illumination target plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090027641
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a first optical unit that collects light emitted from a light source; a reflective integrator that has a plurality of cylindrical reflection surfaces, whose generating lines are oriented in a uniform direction, and forms a plurality of linear light sources by using the light emitted from the first optical unit; a pair of flat mirrors that are disposed parallel to the generating lines so as to face each other with the plurality of linear light sources residing therebetween; an aperture stop that is disposed perpendicular to the generating lines and has an opening for allowing the light emitted from the plurality of linear light sources to pass therethrough; and a second optical unit that integrates beams of the light emitted from the plurality of linear light sources that have passed through the opening one on top of another in an illumination target plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20080088814
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a first optical unit configured to condense light from a light source, a catoptric integrator configured to form plural secondary light sources using light from the first optical unit, the catoptric integrator including plural cylindrical reflection surfaces having the same generatrix direction, an aperture stop arranged perpendicular to the generatrix direction, and a second optical unit configured to superpose light from each secondary light source onto an illumination surface, wherein the catoptric integrator includes plural integrator parts each having plural cylindrical reflection surfaces, and the plural integrator parts are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the generatrix direction and to an arrangement direction of the cylindrical reflection surfaces and located at an incident side of the aperture stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KAJIYAMA, Toshihiko TSUJI
  • Patent number: 7324187
    Abstract: Disclosed is an illumination optical system and an exposure apparatus having the same, and specifically, as an aspect of the invention, an illumination optical system for illuminating a surface to be illuminated, that includes an aperture stop for defining an effective light source distribution upon a predetermined plane which is substantially in a Fourier transform relation with the surface to be illuminated, and a detector disposed adjacent an opening of the aperture stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuji, Akira Yabuki
  • Patent number: 7274435
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus that irradiates excitation laser onto a target, and generates from generated plasma a light source for generating illumination light of an extreme ultraviolet region or an X-ray region includes an illumination optical system that uses the illumination light to illuminate a catoptric reticle that forms a pattern to be transferred, the illumination optical system including a first mirror closest to the light source, an ellipsoidal mirror for condensing the illumination light in front of the first mirror in the illumination optical system, and a projection optical system that reduces and projects the pattern reflected on the reticle onto an object to be exposed, wherein light where an optical-axis direction of the excitation laser proceeds beyond a position that generates the plasma by the excitation laser does not interfere with components in the exposure apparatus including the illumination and projection optical systems, and the ellipsoidal mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Hiura, Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7265816
    Abstract: An illumination optical system for illuminating a target surface using light from a light source includes a modified illumination generator for generating a modified illumination with a predetermined polarization state for the target surface, wherein the modified illumination generator includes a ?/4 phase plate unit that includes a ?/4 phase plate for converting a circularly polarized light into a linearly polarized light in a predetermined direction, and a diffractive optical element unit that is arranged in a substantially conjugate relationship with the target surface, and includes a diffractive optical element used for the ?/4 phase plate to generate a predetermined illumination intensity distribution when the diffractive optical element unit receives the linearly polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20070164234
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus is provided in which, even when a projection optical system and substrate are in close proximity, collisions between the projection optical system and the substrate or the substrate stage can be easily avoided. An exposure apparatus EX having a projection optical system (30) which projects and transfers a pattern (PA) formed on a mask (R) onto a substrate (W), and a substrate stage (42), positioned below the projection optical system (30), which moves in directions substantially perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis (AX) of the projection optical system (30) while supporting the substrate (W), comprises a detector (81), positioned on the outer periphery of the projection optical system (30), and which detects the position of the substrate stage (42) or substrate W along the direction of the optical axis (AX), and a control device (70), which based on the detection results of the detector (81), stops or reverses the movement of the substrate stage (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Tsuji, Kenichi Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Katsushi Nakano