Patents by Inventor Yoshiaki Kurosawa

Yoshiaki Kurosawa 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: 11539180
    Abstract: A laser apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a master oscillator; at least one amplifier disposed on an optical path of a first pulse laser beam output from the master oscillator; a sensor disposed on an optical path of a second pulse laser beam output from the at least one amplifier; and a laser controller. The laser controller causes the laser apparatus to perform burst oscillation based on a burst signal from an external device, and performs processing of controlling a beam parameter based on a sensor output signal obtained from the sensor in a burst duration, and processing of detecting self-oscillation light from the amplifier based on a sensor output signal obtained from the sensor in a burst stop duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20220365454
    Abstract: A mark detecting apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to generate an alignment mark image by imaging of an alignment mark on an object, a detecting unit configured to detect the alignment mark in the alignment mark image, and an adjusting unit configured to adjust a parameter relating to the imaging, based on a learning model generated by learning using the alignment mark image in which the alignment mark could not be detected and a first parameter as the parameter for the imaging of the alignment mark image in which the alignment mark could be detected. The adjusting unit acquires a second parameter as a result of inference processing based on the learning model. The imaging unit performs the imaging in a state where the parameter is adjusted to the second parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Masashi Yamamoto, Tohru Suzuki, Hisatoshi Neya, Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Shingo Yoneda, Masanori Hioki
  • Patent number: 11043784
    Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a plurality of envelope blocks each provided with an optical element and a first temperature sensor and covering part of a laser beam path, the optical element being disposed on the laser beam path, the first temperature sensor being configured to measure a first temperature of gas at a position away from the optical element; an envelope body including the envelope blocks and covering the laser beam path; and a control unit connected with each first temperature sensor and configured to specify an envelope block at which increase of the first temperature is measured in the envelope body as an envelope block at which anomaly is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Hori, Yoshifumi Ueno, Takayuki Yabu, Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10897118
    Abstract: The laser apparatus includes a master oscillator, an amplifier, a power source, and a controller to control the power source. The controller controls the power source such that an excitation intensity of the amplifier in a burst oscillation period performing the burst oscillation is a first excitation intensity, controls the power source such that, if the predetermined repetition frequency is a first repetition frequency, an excitation intensity of the amplifier in a suspension period suspending the burst oscillation is a second excitation intensity equal to or lower than the first excitation intensity, and controls the power source such that, if the predetermined repetition frequency is a second repetition frequency higher than the first repetition frequency, the excitation intensity of the amplifier in the suspension period is a third excitation intensity lower than the second excitation intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20200044407
    Abstract: A laser apparatus includes: a plurality of envelope blocks each provided with an optical element and a first temperature sensor and covering part of a laser beam path, the optical element being disposed on the laser beam path, the first temperature sensor being configured to measure a first temperature of gas at a position away from the optical element; an envelope body including the envelope blocks and covering the laser beam path; and a control unit connected with each first temperature sensor and configured to specify an envelope block at which increase of the first temperature is measured in the envelope body as an envelope block at which anomaly is occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Tsukasa HORI, Yoshifumi UENO, Takayuki YABU, Yoshiaki KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 10461494
    Abstract: A laser apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a master oscillator configured to output laser light, a plurality of amplifiers each configured to include carbon dioxide as a laser medium and amplify the laser light, a first optical path pipe configured to cover a laser optical path between the amplifiers, a gas supply port configured to supply, into the first optical path pipe, gas having lower carbon dioxide concentration than that of the air, a first carbon dioxide densitometer configured to measure carbon dioxide concentration in the first optical path pipe, and an alarm device configured to issue an alarm when the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the first carbon dioxide densitometer exceeds a preset prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Takashi Suganuma
  • Publication number: 20190288478
    Abstract: A laser apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a master oscillator; at least one amplifier disposed on an optical path of a first pulse laser beam output from the master oscillator; a sensor disposed on an optical path of a second pulse laser beam output from the at least one amplifier; and a laser controller. The laser controller causes the laser apparatus to perform burst oscillation based on a burst signal from an external device, and performs processing of controlling a beam parameter based on a sensor output signal obtained from the sensor in a burst duration, and processing of detecting self-oscillation light from the amplifier based on a sensor output signal obtained from the sensor in a burst stop duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 10401615
    Abstract: A beam dump apparatus may include: an attenuator module; a beam dump module; and a control unit. The attenuator module includes: a first beam splitter provided inclined with respect to the optical axis of a laser beam at a first angle; a second beam splitter provided inclined with respect to the optical axis at a second angle; a first beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the first beam splitter enters thereinto; a second beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the second beam splitter enters thereinto; and a first stage that causes the beam splitters to advance into and retreat from the optical path. The beam dump module includes: a mirror; a third beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the mirror enters thereinto; and a second stage that causes the mirror to advance into and retreat from the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Takashi Suganuma
  • Patent number: 10374381
    Abstract: A beam adjusting apparatus of an extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus may include: a first pair of mirrors constituted by a first concave mirror and a first convex mirror, provided along the optical path of the pulsed laser beam; a second pair of mirrors constituted by a second concave mirror and a second convex mirror, which are arranged in an order reversed from the order of arrangement of the first concave mirror and the first convex mirror, provided along the optical path of the pulsed laser beam downstream from the first pair of mirrors; and a moving apparatus configured to simultaneously increase or simultaneously decrease the distance between the first concave mirror and the first convex mirror and the distance between the second concave mirror and the second convex mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Suzuki, Takashi Suganuma, Akihiro Takayama, Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 10337805
    Abstract: A heat storage device (1) of the present disclosure includes: a heat storage container (10) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for a heat medium; a plate-like heat storage body (4) disposed in the heat storage container (10) and having a heat storage material (4a) and an envelope (4b) containing the heat storage material (4a); a plate-like spacer (6) placed on the heat storage body (4) in the heat storage container (10) and having a plurality of contact portions (6a) that are in contact with the heat storage body (4) and a plurality of non-contact portions (6b) that are spaced from the heat storage body (4), the contact portions (6a) and the non-contact portions (6b) being alternately formed in a specific direction; and a plurality of flow paths (5) for leading the heat medium from the inlet (2) to the outlet (3), the flow paths being formed by a surface of the heat storage body (4) and the non-contact portions (6b) and extending in a direction intersecting the specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro Suzuki, Hironori Tomita, Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Atsunori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10194515
    Abstract: A beam delivery system may include: beam adjusters configured to adjust a divergence angle of a pulse laser beam; a beam sampler configured to separate a part of the pulse laser beam outputted from a first beam adjuster provided at the most downstream among the beam adjusters to acquire a sample beam; a beam monitor configured to receive the sample beam and output a monitored diameter; and a beam delivery controller configured to control the beam adjusters based on the monitored diameter. The beam delivery controller may adjust each of beam adjusters other than the first beam adjuster selected one after another from the most upstream so that the monitored diameter at the beam monitor becomes a predetermined value specific to the beam adjuster, and adjust the first beam adjuster so that the pulse laser beam becomes focused at a position downstream of a target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Ueno, Takashi Suganuma, Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20180375283
    Abstract: The laser apparatus includes a master oscillator, an amplifier, a power source, and a controller to control the power source. The controller controls the power source such that an excitation intensity of the amplifier in a burst oscillation period performing the burst oscillation is a first excitation intensity, controls the power source such that, if the predetermined repetition frequency is a first repetition frequency, an excitation intensity of the amplifier in a suspension period suspending the burst oscillation is a second excitation intensity equal to or lower than the first excitation intensity, and controls the power source such that, if the predetermined repetition frequency is a second repetition frequency higher than the first repetition frequency, the excitation intensity of the amplifier in the suspension period is a third excitation intensity lower than the second excitation intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA
  • Publication number: 20180351322
    Abstract: A laser apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a master oscillator configured to output laser light, a plurality of amplifiers each configured to include carbon dioxide as a laser medium and amplify the laser light, a first optical path pipe configured to cover a laser optical path between the amplifiers, a gas supply port configured to supply, into the first optical path pipe, gas having lower carbon dioxide concentration than that of the air, a first carbon dioxide densitometer configured to measure carbon dioxide concentration in the first optical path pipe, and an alarm device configured to issue an alarm when the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the first carbon dioxide densitometer exceeds a preset prescribed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA, Takashi SUGANUMA
  • Patent number: 10122145
    Abstract: A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator, a plurality of amplifiers, a photodetector device configured to detect a light beam traveling back along a laser beam path, and a controller. The photodetector device may include a first photodetector configured to detect energy of a light beam traveling back along the laser beam path and a second photodetector configured to detect power of the light beam traveling back along the laser beam path. The controller may be configured to determine that a return beam is generated when the intensity of the energy detection signal exceeds a first threshold. The controller may be configured to determine that a self-oscillation beam is generated when the intensity of the power detection signal exceeds a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Hideo Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20180189562
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a character recognition apparatus includes a character string image acquisition unit, a combination graph generation unit, a combination graph integration unit and an output unit. The character string image acquisition unit acquires a character string image. The combination graph generation unit performs a character recognition process on the character string image and generates a combination graph. The combination graph integration unit integrates a plurality of combination graphs generated from a plurality of character string images including an identical character string or integrates a plurality of combination graphs generated by performing a plurality of different character recognition processes on the single character string image. The output unit outputs the integrated combination graph or a recognition character string obtained based on the integrated combination graph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiro YOSHIDA, Yoshiaki KUROSAWA
  • Publication number: 20170317464
    Abstract: A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator, a plurality of amplifiers, a photodetector device configured to detect a light beam traveling back along a laser beam path, and a controller. The photodetector device may include a first photodetector configured to detect energy of a light beam traveling back along the laser beam path and a second photodetector configured to detect power of the light beam traveling back along the laser beam path. The controller may be configured to determine that a return beam is generated when the intensity of the energy detection signal exceeds a first threshold. The controller may be configured to determine that a self-oscillation beam is generated when the intensity of the power detection signal exceeds a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA, Hideo HOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20170299857
    Abstract: A beam dump apparatus may include: an attenuator module; a beam dump module; and a control unit. The attenuator module includes: a first beam splitter provided inclined with respect to the optical axis of a laser beam at a first angle; a second beam splitter provided inclined with respect to the optical axis at a second angle; a first beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the first beam splitter enters thereinto; a second beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the second beam splitter enters thereinto; and a first stage that causes the beam splitters to advance into and retreat from the optical path. The beam dump module includes: a mirror; a third beam dumper provided such that the laser beam from the mirror enters thereinto; and a second stage that causes the mirror to advance into and retreat from the optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA, Takashi SUGANUMA
  • Patent number: 9776542
    Abstract: A vehicle heating apparatus is a heating apparatus to be mounted on or built in a vehicle seat at a position below a sitting portion of the vehicle seat. The vehicle heating apparatus includes: a housing having an intake port, a blowing port, and an internal space serving as a flow path of air from the intake port to the blowing port; a fan provided in the internal space of the housing; and a heater provided in the internal space of the housing. In a usage state where the vehicle heating apparatus is mounted on or built in the vehicle seat, the blowing port is located above the intake port and opens downwardly with respect to a horizontal direction. Thereby, the amount of heating required for the heater is further reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takehiko Ise, Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Atsunori Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20170280544
    Abstract: A beam delivery system may include: beam adjusters configured to adjust a divergence angle of a pulse laser beam; a beam sampler configured to separate a part of the pulse laser beam outputted from a first beam adjuster provided at the most downstream among the beam adjusters to acquire a sample beam; a beam monitor configured to receive the sample beam and output a monitored diameter; and a beam delivery controller configured to control the beam adjusters based on the monitored diameter. The beam delivery controller may adjust each of beam adjusters other than the first beam adjuster selected one after another from the most upstream so that the monitored diameter at the beam monitor becomes a predetermined value specific to the beam adjuster, and adjust the first beam adjuster so that the pulse laser beam becomes focused at a position downstream of a target position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi UENO, Takashi SUGANUMA, Yoshiaki KUROSAWA
  • Publication number: 20170259717
    Abstract: A vehicle heating apparatus is a heating apparatus to be mounted on or built in a vehicle seat at a position below a sitting portion of the vehicle seat. The vehicle heating apparatus includes: a housing having an intake port, a blowing port, and an internal space serving as a flow path of air from the intake port to the blowing port; a fan provided in the internal space of the housing; and a heater provided in the internal space of the housing. In a usage state where the vehicle heating apparatus is mounted on or built in the vehicle seat, the blowing port is located above the intake port and opens downwardly with respect to a horizontal direction. Thereby, the amount of heating required for the heater is further reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Takehiko ISE, Yoshiaki KUROSAWA, Atsunori HASHIMOTO