Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Nishisaka

Toshihiro Nishisaka 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: 20140001369
    Abstract: A chamber apparatus used with an external apparatus having an obscuration region may include: a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated; a collector mirror provided in the chamber for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light; a support for securing the collector mirror to the chamber; and an output port provided to the chamber for allowing the extreme ultraviolet light collected by the collector mirror to be introduced therethrough into the external apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiro NISHISAKA, Yukio WATANABE, Tamotsu ABE, Osamu WAKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20130240645
    Abstract: A target supply device may include a tank formed cylindrically with a first material, a cylindrical portion for covering the tank, the cylindrical portion being formed of a second material having higher tensile strength than the first material, a first lid formed of the second material and having a through-hole, the first lid being provided at one end in an axial direction of the cylindrical portion, a second lid formed of the second material and provided at another end opposite the one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and a nozzle provided to be in fluid communication with the interior of the tank and to pass through the through-hole, the nozzle being formed of the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC
    Inventors: Takanobu Ishihara, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20130075625
    Abstract: A target supply unit includes a nozzle through which a target material is outputted, and a first electrically conductive member having a first opening formed therein and positioned to face the nozzle in a direction into which the target material is outputted through the nozzle. The first electrically conductive member is positioned so that the first opening is located below the nozzle in a gravitational direction. The target supply unit includes a voltage generator which applies a voltage between the target material and the first electrically conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Takayuki YABU, Yoshifumi UENO, Junichi FUJIMOTO, Yukio WATANABE, Toshihiro NISHISAKA
  • Publication number: 20130048878
    Abstract: A target supply unit includes a nozzle unit having a through-hole to allow a target material to be outputted therethrough. A cover is provided to cover the nozzle unit, the cover having a through-hole to allow the target material to pass therethrough. A discharge device is included to pump out gas inside a space defined by the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Hakaru MIZOGUCHI, Takayuki Yabu, Toshihiro Nishisaka
  • Patent number: 8324600
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and controlling a target trajectory within a chamber apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light from plasma generated by irradiating a droplet target supplied from a target injection nozzle with a driver laser beam from an external driver laser. The apparatus includes: a nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a position and an angle of the target injection nozzle; a target trajectory measuring unit for measuring a target trajectory to obtain trajectory information on the target trajectory; a target trajectory angle detecting unit for obtaining a value related to an angle deviation between the target trajectory represented by the trajectory information and a predetermined target trajectory; and a nozzle adjustment controller for controlling the nozzle adjustment mechanism based on the value related to the angle deviation such that the droplet target passes through a predetermined laser beam irradiation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hayashi, Tooru Abe, Kouji Kakizaki, Toshihiro Nishisaka
  • Publication number: 20120228527
    Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus prevents debris staying and accumulating within a chamber from contaminating the chamber and deteriorating the performance of an important optical component. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a driver laser for applying a laser beam to a target supplied to a predetermined position within the chamber to generate plasma; a collector mirror provided within the chamber, for collecting and outputting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma; an exhaust path communicating with the chamber and connected to an exhausting device, for maintaining an interior of the chamber at a certain pressure; a catching chamber provided in the exhaust path, for catching debris generated from the plasma; and a collecting unit for collecting the caught debris out of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd./Gigaphoton, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu ABE, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Masato Moriya, Takeshi Asayama, Hideo Hoshino, Hakaru Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8212228
    Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus prevents debris staying and accumulating within a chamber from contaminating the chamber and deteriorating the performance of an important optical component. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a driver laser for applying a laser beam to a target supplied to a predetermined position within the chamber to generate plasma; a collector mirror provided within the chamber, for collecting and outputting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma; an exhaust path communicating with the chamber and connected to an exhausting device, for maintaining an interior of the chamber at a certain pressure; a catching chamber provided in the exhaust path, for catching debris generated from the plasma; and a collecting unit for collecting the caught debris out of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Abe, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Masato Moriya, Takeshi Asayama, Hideo Hoshino, Hakaru Mizoguchi
  • Publication number: 20120119118
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source system in which parts of an EUV light source apparatus can easily be replaced. The system includes: (i) an extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus having a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated, a target supply unit for supplying a target material into the chamber, a driver laser for irradiating the target material supplied by the target supply unit with a laser beam to generate plasma, and a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light radiated from the plasma to allow the extreme ultraviolet light to enter projection optics of exposure equipment; and (ii) a lifting apparatus provided to lift and move a replacement part which is a part of the extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yukio WATANABE, Osamu Wakabayashi, Junichi Fujimoto, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Hideo Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20120104290
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light by exciting a target material to turn the target material into plasma may include: a frame; a chamber in which the extreme ultraviolet light is generated; a target supply unit for supplying the target material into the chamber; a first connection member for connecting the frame and the chamber flexibly; a mechanism for fixing the target supply unit to the frame; and a second connection member for connecting the target supply unit to the chamber flexibly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nishisaka, Yukio Watanabe, Osamu Wakabayashi, Hideo Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20110309260
    Abstract: A chamber apparatus used with an external apparatus having an obscuration region may include: a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated; a collector mirror provided in the chamber for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light; a support for securing the collector mirror to the chamber; and an output port provided to the chamber for allowing the extreme ultraviolet light collected by the collector mirror to be introduced therethrough into the external apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nishisaka, Yukio Watanabe, Tamotsu Abe, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20100294958
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and controlling a target trajectory within a chamber apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light from plasma generated by irradiating a droplet target supplied from a target injection nozzle with a driver laser beam from an external driver laser. The apparatus includes: a nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a position and an angle of the target injection nozzle; a target trajectory measuring unit for measuring a target trajectory to obtain trajectory information on the target trajectory; a target trajectory angle detecting unit for obtaining a value related to an angle deviation between the target trajectory represented by the trajectory information and a predetermined target trajectory; and a nozzle adjustment controller for controlling the nozzle adjustment mechanism based on the value related to the angle deviation such that the droplet target passes through a predetermined laser beam irradiation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hideyuki HAYASHI, Tooru Abe, Kouji Kakizaki, Toshihiro Nishisaka
  • Publication number: 20100193711
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source system in which parts of an EUV light source apparatus can easily be replaced. The system includes: (i) an extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus having a chamber in which extreme ultraviolet light is generated, a target supply unit for supplying a target material into the chamber, a driver laser for irradiating the target material supplied by the target supply unit with a laser beam to generate plasma, and a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light radiated from the plasma to allow the extreme ultraviolet light to enter projection optics of exposure equipment; and (ii) a lifting apparatus provided to lift and move a replacement part which is a part of the extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Yukio WATANABE, Osamu Wakabayashi, Junichi Fujimoto, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Hideo Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20100051832
    Abstract: An EUV light source apparatus by which detachment of a chamber or a part of the chamber, movement to a maintenance area, and highly accurate placement relative to projection optics can be performed easily for maintenance of the EUV light source apparatus. The EUV light source apparatus is an apparatus for generating plasma by applying a laser beam to a target material within a chamber and entering EUV light radiated from the plasma into projection optics of exposure equipment, and includes a positioning mechanism for positioning the chamber or a maintenance unit of the chamber in a predetermined location where an optical axis of the collected extreme ultraviolet light and an optical axis of the projection optics of the exposure equipment are aligned, and a movement mechanism for moving the chamber or the maintenance unit of the chamber between the predetermined location and a maintenance area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Toshihiro NISHISAKA, Yukio WATANABE, Osamu WAKABAYASHI, Kouji KAKIZAKI, Michio SHINOZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090224181
    Abstract: An extreme ultra violet light source apparatus in which debris staying and accumulating within a chamber can be prevented from contaminating the chamber and deteriorating the performance of important optical component. The extreme ultra violet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which extreme ultra violet light is generated; a driver laser for applying a laser beam to a target supplied to a predetermined position within the chamber to generate plasma; a collector mirror provided within the chamber, for collecting and outputting the extreme ultra violet light radiated from the plasma; an exhaust path communicating with the chamber and connected to an exhausting device, for maintaining an interior of the chamber at a certain pressure; a catching chamber provided in the exhaust path, for catching debris generated from the plasma; and a collecting unit for collecting the caught debris out of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Tamotsu Abe, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Someya, Masato Moriya, Takeshi Asayama, Hideo Hoshino, Hakaru Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 6577664
    Abstract: An excimer laser device capable of suppressing vibration of a cross flow fan, and preventing breakage of magnetic bearings when the vibration increases is provided. For this purpose, the device has a configuration that in the excimer laser device including magnetic bearings (12) each having an inner ring section (10, 30) and an outer ring section (11, 31), and a cross flow fan (1) for circulating a laser gas in a chamber (2), touch-down bearings (15) are provided on the outer peripheral side of a rotating shaft (9), and the inner peripheral face of an inner peripheral portion (15B) of the touch-down bearing (15) and the outer peripheral face of the rotating shaft (9) are disposed opposite each other with a predetermined clearance smaller than a gap (4) between the outer peripheral face of the inner ring section (10, 30) and the inner peripheral face of the outer ring section (11, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nara, Toshihiro Nishisaka
  • Patent number: 6389049
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for pulsed laser comprising a power source, main discharge electrodes for generating a laser beam, a main discharge capacitor charged with electrical charges for generating the main discharge between the main discharge electrodes, and a switching circuit for performing switching operations to charge the main discharge capacitor with electrical charges supplied from the power source in a prescribed repetition cycle, is provided, in parallel to the main discharge capacitors, with a circuit element for consuming or grounding the reverse current from the power source caused by overshoot generated directly after the main discharge, thereby attaining stable laser output without ill effects from overshoot voltage generated directly following discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventors: Daisuke Yoshida, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Yuichi Takabayashi, Takashi Matsunaga, Hisashi Yanase, Tadao Shibuya, Yasuo Kataoka, Masayuki Tani, Eiji Sasamoto, Hiroyuki Hiyoshi, Kiyoshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20020003820
    Abstract: A discharge circuit for pulsed laser comprising a power source, main discharge electrodes for generating a laser beam, a main discharge capacitor charged with electrical charges for generating the main discharge between the main discharge electrodes, and a switching circuit for performing switching operations to charge the main discharge capacitor with electrical charges supplied from the power source in a prescribed repetition cycle, is provided, in parallel to the main discharge capacitors, with a circuit element for consuming or grounding the reverse current from the power source caused by overshoot generated directly after the main discharge, thereby attaining stable laser output without ill effects from overshoot voltage generated directly following discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: DAISUKE YOSHIDA, TOSHIHIRO NISHISAKA, YUICHI TAKABAYASHI, TAKASHI MATSUNAGA, HISASHI YANASE, TADAO SHIBUYA, YASUO KATAOKA, MASAYUKI TANI, EIJI SASAMOTO, HIROYUKI HIYOSHI, KIYOSHI HARA
  • Patent number: 6337872
    Abstract: The invention provides an once through fan for an excimer laser apparatus having a reduced vibration and being capable of increasing a rotational speed. In order to obtain this, in an once through fan (1) for an excimer laser apparatus provided with a blade portion (6) having a plurality of blades, a rotary shaft (4) for rotating the blade portion and a magnetic bearing (7) rotatably supporting the rotary shaft in a non-contact manner so as to circulate a laser gas sealed within a chamber (2) in accordance with a rotation of the blade portion, a rotor (21) of a motor (23) installed within the chamber (2) and rotating the rotary shaft (4) is mounted on an outer peripheral portion of the rotary shaft, and at least one magnetic bearing (7, 7) for supporting the rotary shaft is arranged in each of both sides in an axial direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Nara, Kiyoharu Nakao, Hakaru Mizoguchi, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Tatsuo Enami
  • Patent number: 5754579
    Abstract: A first object is to stabilize output of laser light. In order to achieve the first object, if it is detected by an output detection means (15) that the output (E) of laser light (La) has departed from a target value, whilst maintaining the voltage of a power source (17) at a fixed value or in a fixed range, the amount of laser gas supplied to a laser chamber (4) is controlled such that the output (E) of laser light becomes the target value. A second object is to reduce the wear of the pre-ionization electrodes and to prevent drop in output of laser light. The second object is achieved as follows. Specifically, the pulse current discharged from primary capacitor (C1) is stepped up in voltage by a pulse transformer and is charged onto a secondary capacitor (C2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Hakaru Mizoguchi, Toshihiro Nishisaka, Hiroshi Komori