Patents by Inventor Yuji Kudo

Yuji Kudo 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: 10859376
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including: an input unit into which shape data of a surface to be measured including a plurality of recesses is input; and a setting unit that detects each of the plurality of recesses on the basis of the input shape data and sets, for the detected recess, a region to be removed including the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Kudo
  • Patent number: 10274313
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of measuring a surface of an object having a curved shape by measuring a distance from a measurement head to the object, includes: setting a measuring region of the object and a threshold value of concave and convex; acquiring shape reference data including the curved shape of the object; acquiring three-dimensional data of the surface of the object by measuring the distance between the object in the measuring region and the measurement head; acquiring curve removed data by removing the shape reference data from the three-dimensional data; calculating second reference data by calculating first reference data based on the curve removed data, by removing data exceeding the threshold value with respect to the first reference data, from the curve removed data, and by averaging the curve removed data; and calculating shape data of the concave and convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakai, Yutaka Watanabe, Yasuhiro Takahama, Harumasa Ito, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20170248419
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including: an input unit into which shape data of a surface to be measured including a plurality of recesses is input; and a setting unit that detects each of the plurality of recesses on the basis of the input shape data and sets, for the detected recess, a region to be removed including the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji KUDO
  • Publication number: 20170248410
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of measuring a surface of an object having a curved shape by measuring a distance from a measurement head to the object, includes: setting a measuring region of the object and a threshold value of concave and convex; acquiring shape reference data including the curved shape of the object; acquiring three-dimensional data of the surface of the object by measuring the distance between the object in the measuring region and the measurement head; acquiring curve removed data by removing the shape reference data from the three-dimensional data; calculating second reference data by calculating first reference data based on the curve removed data, by removing data exceeding the threshold value with respect to the first reference data, from the curve removed data, and by averaging the curve removed data; and calculating shape data of the concave and convex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi SAKAI, Yutaka WATANABE, Yasuhiro TAKAHAMA, Harumasa ITO, Yuji KUDO
  • Patent number: 8705034
    Abstract: In an evaluation device, an analyzer is rotated so that the azimuth of the transmission axis of the analyzer has an inclination angle of 90 degrees±3 degrees with respect to the transmission axis of a polarizer. An imaging camera captures a regularly reflected image of a wafer under each condition, and an image processing unit evaluates the shape of a repeating pattern and detects dose defects and focus defects on the basis of the two images of the wafer captured by the imaging camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukazawa, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20130329222
    Abstract: There is provide an inspection apparatus configured to detect a change in shape of a pattern in the depth direction o the pattern, the apparatus including: an illumination section 20 which illuminates a wafer 5 having a periodic pattern with an illumination light having transmittance with respect to the wafer 5; a reflected diffraction light detecting section 30 which outputs a first detection signal by receiving a reflected diffraction light generated by the pattern on a surface, of the wafer, on an illumination side illuminated with the illumination light; a transmitted diffraction light detecting section 40 which outputs a second detection signal by receiving a transmitted diffraction light generated by the pattern to a back surface, of the wafer, opposite to the illumination side; and a signal processing section 51 which detects a state of the pattern based on at least one of the first and second detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Yuji Kudo
  • Patent number: 8334977
    Abstract: In an evaluation device an analyzer is rotated so that the azimuth of the transmission axis of the analyzer has an inclination angle of 90 degrees±3 degrees with respect to the transmission axis of a polarizer. An imaging camera captures a regularly reflected image of a wafer under each condition, and an image processing unit evaluates the shape of a repeating pattern and detects dose defects and focus defects on the basis of the two images of the wafer captured by the imaging camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukazawa, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20110235038
    Abstract: In an evaluation device (1), an analyzer (42) is rotated so that the azimuth of the transmission axis of the analyzer (42) has an inclination angle of 90 degrees±3 degrees with respect to the transmission axis of a polarizer (32), an imaging camera (44) captures a regularly reflected image of a wafer (10) under each condition, and an image processing unit (50) evaluates the shape of a repeating pattern and detects dose defects and focus defects on the basis of the two images of the wafer (10) captured by the imaging camera (44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukazawa, Yuji Kudo
  • Patent number: 7978310
    Abstract: A liquid immersion type projection optical system that can stably prevent the outflow of immersion liquid into inside of an optical system and can maintain good imaging performance. In the projection optical system of the present invention, an optical path between a light transmitting member (Lp) disposed closest to a second surface (W) side and the second surface is filled with a liquid (Lm1) having a refractive index greater than 1.1, and a light shielding film (36) for shielding the passing of light is formed on the side surfaces (41, 42) of the light transmitting member. When D is a space between the second surface and the light shielding film, ? is a maximum incident angle of an image forming beam which reaches the second surface, and Ym is a maximum image height on the second surface, the condition of 0.25<D/Ym×tan ?<1.7 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Ikezawa, Yuji Kudo, Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 7907268
    Abstract: A surface inspection method inspects a surface of a wafer having a repeated pattern formed by double patterning. The method includes: a first step (S121) which applies an inspection light to a surface of a wafer; a second step (S122) which detects a diffracted light from the surface of the wafer to which the inspection light has been applied; and a third step (S123) which checks whether a defect is present in the repeated pattern according to the diffracted light detected in the second step. The second step detects a diffracted light corresponding to a pattern having a pitch multiplied by 2 with respect to the pitch of the repeated pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujimori, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20100177312
    Abstract: A surface inspection method inspects a surface of a wafer having a repeated pattern formed by double patterning. The method includes: a first step (S121) which applies an inspection light to a surface of a wafer; a second step (S122) which detects a diffracted light from the surface of the wafer to which the inspection light has been applied; and a third step (S123) which checks whether a defect is present in the repeated pattern according to the diffracted light detected in the second step. The second step detects a diffracted light corresponding to a pattern having a pitch multiplied by 2 with respect to the pitch of the repeated pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Fujimori, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20100159401
    Abstract: A liquid immersion type projection optical system that can stably prevent the outflow of immersion liquid into inside of an optical system and can maintain good imaging performance. In the projection optical system of the present invention, an optical path between a light transmitting member (Lp) disposed closest to a second surface (W) side and the second surface is filled with a liquid (Lm1) having a refractive index greater than 1.1, and a light shielding film (36) for shielding the passing of light is formed on the side surfaces (41, 42) of the light transmitting member. When D is a space between the second surface and the light shielding film, ? is a maximum incident angle of an image forming beam which reaches the second surface, and Ym is a maximum image height on the second surface, the condition of 0.25<D/Ym×tan ?<1.7 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori IKEZAWA, Yuji KUDO, Yasuhiro OMURA
  • Patent number: 7710653
    Abstract: A liquid immersion type projection optical system that can stably prevent the outflow of immersion liquid into inside of an optical system and can maintain good imaging performance. In the projection optical system of the present invention, an optical path between a light transmitting member (Lp) disposed closest to a second surface (W) side and the second surface is filled with a liquid (Lm1) having a refractive index greater than 1.1, and a light shielding film (36) for shielding the passing of light is formed on the side surfaces (41, 42) of the light transmitting member. When D is a space between the second surface and the light shielding film, ? is a maximum incident angle of an image forming beam which reaches the second surface, and Ym is a maximum image height on the second surface, the condition of 0.25<D/Ym×tan ?<1.7 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Ikezawa, Yuji Kudo, Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 7706074
    Abstract: A projection optical system provided with at least one of optical members made of a calcium fluoride single crystal, wherein each of the optical members satisfies at least any one of the following conditions of (i) to (iii): (i) an RMS value of a spatial frequency component having a number of periods fPD in partial diameter in a range from 10 periods to 50 periods inclusive out of fluctuation of a transmission wavefront relative to light having a wavelength of 633 nm is equal to or below 0.35 nm/cm; (ii) an RMS value of a spatial frequency component having a number of periods fPD in partial diameter in a range from 10 periods to 100 periods inclusive out of fluctuation of a transmission wavefront relative to light having a wavelength of 633 nm is equal to or below 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Kudo, Takeshi Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20090011368
    Abstract: An object is to provide a high-resolution and economical exposure method suitable for use in formation of a fine pattern for making up an electronic device. Two diffraction gratings (P1, P2) are located in series in an optical path; the two diffraction gratings (P1, P2) and a wafer or the like (W) for making up an electronic device are arranged with a predetermined spacing; a light-dark pattern of interference fringes generated by the diffraction gratings (P1, P2) is transferred onto the wafer or the like (W) to effect exposure. The exposure is done while changing a positional relation between the wafer or the like (W) and the diffraction gratings (P1, P2) according to need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Yutaka Ichihara, Ayako Nakamura, Naomasa Shiraishi, Akikazu Tanimoto, Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20080123086
    Abstract: A projection optical system provided with at least one of optical members made of a calcium fluoride single crystal, wherein each of the optical members satisfies at least any one of the following conditions of (i) to (iii): (i) an RMS value of a spatial frequency component having a number of periods fPD in partial diameter in a range from 10 periods to 50 periods inclusive out of fluctuation of a transmission wavefront relative to light having a wavelength of 633 nm is equal to or below 0.35 nm/cm; (ii) an RMS value of a spatial frequency component having a number of periods fPD in partial diameter in a range from 10 periods to 100 periods inclusive out of fluctuation of a transmission wavefront relative to light having a wavelength of 633 nm is equal to or below 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kudo, Takeshi Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20070222962
    Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus is able to well suppress a change in a polarization state of light in an optical path and to illuminate a surface to be illuminated, with light in a desired polarization state or in an unpolarized state. The illumination optical apparatus illuminates the surface to be illuminated, based on light with a polarization degree of not less than 0.9 supplied from a light source. The illumination optical apparatus comprises a polarization setter disposed in the optical path between the light source and the surface to be illuminated, and adapted for setting a polarization state of light reaching the surface to be illuminated, to a predetermined polarization state, and a holding member for supporting one optical surface of at least one optically transparent member incorporated in an optical system in the optical path between the light source and the surface to be illuminated, at three points located in three regions respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Kudo
  • Publication number: 20070188879
    Abstract: A liquid immersion type projection optical system that can stably prevent the outflow of immersion liquid into inside of an optical system and can maintain good imaging performance. In the projection optical system of the present invention, an optical path between a light transmitting member (Lp) disposed closest to a second surface (W) side and the second surface is filled with a liquid (Lm1) having a refractive index greater than 1.1, and a light shielding film (36) for shielding the passing of light is formed on the side surfaces (41, 42) of the light transmitting member. When D is a space between the second surface and the light shielding film, ? is a maximum incident angle of an image forming beam which reaches the second surface, and Ym is a maximum image height on the second surface, the condition of 0.25<D/Ym×tan ?<1.7 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Ikezawa, Yuji Kudo, Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 6864959
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus including an irradiation optical system including a light source and irradiating a mask with irradiation light beams, a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern of the mask on a substrate, a plurality of first fly-eye type optical integrators each having an emission side focal plane disposed on a Fourier transformed surface with respect to the pattern of the mask in the irradiation optical system or on a plane adjacent to the same and having a center located at a plurality of positions which are eccentric from the optical axis of the irradiation optical system, a plurality of second fly-eye type optical integrators each having an emission side focal plane disposed on a Fourier transformed plane with respect to the incidental end of each of a plurality of the first fly-eye type optical integrators or on a plane adjacent to the same and being disposed to correspond to a plurality of the first fly-eye type optical integrators, and a light divider for dividing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Naomasa Shiraishi, Yuji Kudo
  • Patent number: 6848409
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold adapted to be attached to a side wall of the engine, and an air cleaner for supplying intake air to the intake manifold. The air cleaner is disposed opposite to the side wall of the engine while interposing therebetween the intake manifold. The air cleaner has an air cleaner main body joined with the intake manifold to constitute a single unit. The air cleaner main body is made of a material lower in the strength than a material which the intake manifold is made of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Kudo, Masahiro Murata