Nikon Patents

Nikon Corporation manufactures and sells semiconductor and FPD lithography equipment, digital cameras, lenses and accessories, and microscopes and other measuring instruments.

Nikon Patents by Type
  • Nikon Patents Granted: Nikon patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Nikon Patent Applications: Nikon patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 10686987
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an input unit that inputs image data generated by an image capturing unit that has a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group including at least one pixel, and that is capable of performing image-capturing under different imaging conditions for each of the pixel groups and data for the imaging conditions for each of the pixel groups; and a recording control unit that generates image data for each of pixel groups having the same imaging conditions based on the image data inputted from the input unit and records the image data generated for each of the pixel groups having the same imaging conditions in a recording unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyakawa, Naoki Yamagata
  • Patent number: 10686001
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light transmitted through a microlens to generate electric charge; an accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, wherein: the photoelectric conversion unit, the transfer unit, and the accumulation unit are provided along a direction of an optical axis of the microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takagi, Satoshi Nakayama, Ryoji Ando, Takashi Seo, Yohei Matsuoka, Yoshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10684455
    Abstract: A zoom optical system comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power; a front-side lens group; an intermediate lens group having positive refractive power; and a rear-side lens group. The front-side lens group is composed of one or more lens groups and has a negative lens group. At least part of the intermediate lens group is a focusing lens group. The rear-side lens group is composed of one or more lens groups. Upon zooming, the first lens group and the intermediate lens group are moved with respect to an image surface, a distance between the first lens group and the front-side lens group is changed, and a distance between the intermediate lens group and the rear-side lens group is changed. The following conditional expression is satisfied: 0.000<?Fw<0.800 where ?Fw denotes a lateral magnification of the focusing lens group in the wide-angle end state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Shibata, Tomoyuki Sashima
  • Patent number: 10685995
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion layer where light having entered therein undergoes photoelectric conversion; a first electrode disposed at one surface located on one side of the photoelectric conversion layer; and a second electrode disposed at the one surface so as to surround the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Shiro Tsunai
  • Patent number: 10684562
    Abstract: A measurement device is equipped with a surface plate, a slider which holds a substrate and which is movable relative to the surface plate, a drive system that moves the slider, a first position measurement system which measures the slider's first position information relative to the surface plate, a measurement unit having a mark detection system that detects a mark on a substrate, a second position measurement system which measures a relative second position information between the mark detection system and substrate, and a controller which obtains the first position information from the first position measurement system and second position information from the second position measurement system while controlling the slider's movement by the drive system, and obtains position information of a plurality of marks based on detection signals of the mark detection system having detected marks on the substrate, the first position information, and the second position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 10683185
    Abstract: A processing system and a device manufacturing method that can perform manufacturing of an electronic device without stopping the entire manufacturing system, even when the processing state actually implemented on a sheet substrate by a processing device differs from the target processing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kito, Masaki Kato, Kei Nara, Masakazu Hori
  • Patent number: 10686004
    Abstract: An image sensor having a plurality of pixels along a first direction includes: a first pixel having a first photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion and a reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in the first direction relative to a center of the first photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the first photoelectric conversion unit toward the first photoelectric conversion unit; and a second pixel having a second photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion and a second reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in a direction opposite from the first direction relative to a center of the second photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the second photoelectric conversion unit toward the second photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shutaro Kato, Toru Takagi, Takashi Seo, Ryoji Ando
  • Publication number: 20200180214
    Abstract: A photocurable composition for three-dimensional stereolithography which has a lower viscosity and from which a cured product having a high refractive index is obtained, and a three-dimensional object formed by using the composition. The composition is a photocurable composition for three-dimensional stereolithography containing a fluorene monomer, a carbazole monomer, a diluent monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator, the carbazole monomer being contained in an amount of less than 30 wt % with respect to the total amount of the fluorene monomer and the carbazole monomer, and the diluent monomer being contained in an amount of at least 20 wt % with respect to total solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Christophe PROVIN, Akiko MIYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20200183291
    Abstract: A liquid crystal exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate with an illumination light via a projection optical system is equipped with: a substrate holder that holds the substrate; a substrate encoder system that includes head units and scales, and acquires the position information of the substrate holder on the basis of the output of the head units; and a drive section that relatively moves one of the head units and the scales on the substrate holder with respect to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo AOKI, Atsushi HARA, Takachika SHIMOYAMA, Toru KAWAGUCHI, Katsuhiro SHIMATAKE, Iori NODA
  • Publication number: 20200183256
    Abstract: An interchangeable device that is attachable to an electronic device includes a first communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a first path; and a second communication unit communicating with the electronic device via a second path. The first path includes a first contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal indicating whether it is possible to perform communication via the first path, a second contact that communicates a first clock signal with the electronic device, a third contact to which a signal is input from the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal, and a fourth contact that outputs a signal to the electronic device synchronized with the first clock signal. The second path includes a seventh contact communicating a second clock signal with the electronic device, and an eighth contact that outputs to the electronic device a signal synchronized with the second clock signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuharu IMAFUJI, Masafumi OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10678034
    Abstract: A variable magnification optical system includes, in order from an object: a first lens group (G1) having a negative refractive power; a second lens group (G2); a third lens group (G3); a fourth lens group (G4) having a negative refractive power; and a fifth lens group (G5) having a positive refractive power, the system performing varying magnification by changing the distance between the first and second lens groups, the distance between the second and third lens groups, the distance between the third and fourth lens groups, and the distance between the fourth and fifth lens groups, and the fourth lens group including a 42nd lens group (G42) configured to be movable so as to have a component in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis and a 41st lens group (G41) disposed at an object-side of the 42nd lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 10677791
    Abstract: A fluidic device includes a valve configured to adjust a fluid flow in a first direction of a flow path. The fluidic device includes: a diaphragm of the valve; a first substrate having a groove that constitutes the flow path and a protrusion part at a position facing the diaphragm in the groove; and a second substrate to which the diaphragm is fixed at a first fixation part and a second fixation part, wherein a length from a first end part of the protrusion part to a second end part of the protrusion part seen in the first direction is greater than a length from the first fixation part to the second fixation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Miyamoto, Masaru Kato
  • Patent number: 10678030
    Abstract: A zoom optical system comprises, in order from an object: a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power; a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power; and a subsequent group (GR) including at least one lens group. Upon zooming, distances between the first lens group (G1) and the second lens group (G2) and between the second lens group (G2) and the subsequent group (GR) change. The subsequent group (GR) comprises a focusing group (Gfc) having negative refractive power for focusing. The first lens group (G1) comprises a 1-1st lens that has positive refractive power and is disposed closest to the object. The focusing group comprises a lens (L37) having positive refractive power and a lens (L38) having negative refractive power. Following conditional expressions are satisfied: 1.00<fFP/(?fFN)<2.00 1.80<f1/fw<2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Machida
  • Patent number: 10680031
    Abstract: A first circuit layer including a first semiconductor substrate with photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light and generates charge, and a first wiring layer with wiring that reads out signal based upon charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; second circuit layer including a second wiring layer with wiring connected to the wiring of the first wiring layer, and a second semiconductor substrate with a through electrode connected to the wiring of the second wiring layer; third circuit layer including a third semiconductor substrate with a through electrode connected to the through electrode of the second circuit layer, and third wiring layer with wiring connected to the through electrode of the third semiconductor substrate; and a fourth circuit layer including a fourth wiring layer with wiring connected to the wiring of the third wiring layer, and fourth semiconductor substrate connected to the wiring of the fourth wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsumoto, Toru Takagi
  • Patent number: 10678141
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a liquid immersion member including a first member and a second member and configured to form a liquid immersion space of the liquid, a driving apparatus configured to move the second member with respect to the first member; and a controller configured to control the driving apparatus. The controller controls the driving apparatus so that a first operation of the second member in a first movement period of the substrate between exposure termination of a first shot region and exposure start of a second shot region is different from a second operation of the second member in a second movement period of the substrate between exposure termination of a third shot region and exposure start of a fourth shot region, the first and second shot regions being included in the same row, the third and fourth shot regions being arranged in different rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Sato
  • Patent number: 10681322
    Abstract: A plurality of kinds of color filters are disposed at each of pixels in accordance with a color array of two rows and two columns at a pixel section of a solid state imaging device. A first signal outputting circuit and a second signal outputting circuit each perform an addition read of electrical signals from the pixels of one/the other color included in a line to be read. An addition controlling circuit shifts sampling positions of the pixels which are added at a time of the addition read by a unit of the color array between the first signal outputting circuit and a second signal outputting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taku Arii
  • Patent number: 10678152
    Abstract: On a substrate conforming to a layout method for a plurality of marks for detection using a plurality of mark detection systems of which the detection centers are arranged at a predetermined spacing along an X-axis direction, a plurality of shot areas are formed in both an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction orthogonal thereto in an XY plane, and sets including at least two marks separated in the X-axis direction are repeatedly arranged along the X-axis direction at spacing of a length in the X-axis-direction of each shot area, and the marks belonging to each set are separated from each other in the X-axis direction by a spacing determined based arrangement in the X-axis direction of the plurality of mark detection systems and the length. It is thereby possible to reliably detect a plurality of marks on a substrate using a plurality of mark detection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Publication number: 20200173911
    Abstract: A polarization property image measurement device includes: a first radiation unit that radiates light beams in different polarization conditions onto a target object after subjecting the light beams to intensity modulation at frequencies different from one another; a light receiving unit including first photoelectric conversion units that photoelectrically convert the light beams having been radiated from the first radiation unit and scattered at the target object in correspondence to each of the different polarization conditions, and second photoelectric conversion units that photoelectrically convert visible light from the target object; and a processor that detects signals individually output from the first photoelectric conversion units at the different frequencies and differentiates each signal from other signals so as to determine an origin of the signal as one of the light beams; and creates an image of the target object based upon signals individually output from the second photoelectric conversion un
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori KOJIMA, Satoru ODATE, Toru TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20200174375
    Abstract: An illumination optical system is used with a reflective imaging optical system configured to form an image of a pattern arranged on a first plane onto a second plane, and is configured to illuminate an illumination area on the first plane with a light from a light source. The illumination optical system includes one or more reflecting mirrors configured to reflect the light from the light source to the first plane such that the reflected light reaches the first plane after crossing an optical path of a light which travels in the reflective imaging optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio KAWABE
  • Publication number: 20200174373
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus that scans and exposes each of a plurality of areas on a glass substrate, by irradiating the substrate with an illumination light via a projection optical system and relatively driving the substrate with respect to the illumination light, is equipped with: a substrate holder that levitates and supports a first area of the substrate; a substrate carrier that holds the glass substrate levitated and supported by the substrate holder; an X coarse movement stage that drives the substrate holder; an X voice coil motor that drives the substrate carrier; and a controller that controls the X coarse movement stage and the X voice coil motor so that the substrate holder and the substrate carrier are driven, respectively, in scanning exposure. Accordingly, an exposure apparatus with improved position controllability of an object can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo AOKI
  • Publication number: 20200176298
    Abstract: In a carrier system, a chuck unit is used to hold a placed wafer from above, and vertical-motion pins use suction to hold the wafer from below. Then, the chuck unit and the vertical-motion pins are subsequently lowered until a bottom surface of the wafer comes into contact with a wafer table. During the lowering, the holding force exerted by the chuck unit and the arrangement of chuck members are optimally adjusted such that, as a result of the restraint of the wafer by the chuck unit and the vertical-motion pins, localized surplus-restraint is imparted to the wafer, and warping does not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go ICHINOSE, Taisuke IBE
  • Patent number: 10670847
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens group having negative refractive power; a second lens group having positive refractive power; a third lens group having negative refractive power and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. Upon varying magnification, distances between the first lens group and the second lens group, between the second lens group and the third lens group and between the third lens group and the fourth lens group vary. The second lens group includes a front lens group, an aperture stop, and a rear lens group. Each of the front lens group and the rear lens group includes at least one positive lens. At least a part of the lenses in the second lens group is moved as a group to have a component in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fujimoto, Takeshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 10674102
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a second image sensor having an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light, and a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, in which a pixel for focus detection is provided in the second image sensor or the first image sensor. Therefore, an AF method can be realized independently of a pixel for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 10670977
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus that moves a substrate equipped with: a substrate holder which can move in the X-axis and the Y-axis directions; a Y coarse movement stage can move in the Y-axis direction, a first measurement system acquiring position information on the substrate holder with heads provided at the substrate holder and a scale provided at the Y coarse movement stage; a second measurement system acquiring position information on the Y coarse movement stage with heads at the Y coarse movement stage and a scale; and a control system controlling the position of the substrate holder based on position information acquired by the first and the second measurement systems, and the first measurement system irradiates a measurement beam on the scale while moving the heads in the X-axis direction, and the second measurement system irradiates a measurement beam on the scale while moving the heads in the Y-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Aoki
  • Patent number: 10670848
    Abstract: A variable magnification optical system is provided which includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, a fourth lens group G4, and a subsequent lens group GR. Upon zooming, each of distances between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4, between the fourth lens group G4 and the subsequent lens group GR is varied, and upon focusing, the third lens group G3 is moved along an optical axis. A predetermined condition is satisfied. Consequently, the optical system enables a focusing lens group to be downsized and made light and also enables high speed auto focusing and quietness upon auto focusing to be realized without increasing the size of a barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Machida
  • Patent number: 10674065
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20200164463
    Abstract: A processing apparatus is equipped with: a first stage system that has a table on which a workpiece is placed and moves the workpiece held by the table; a beam irradiation system that includes a condensing optical system to emit beams; and a controller to control the first stage system and the beam irradiation system, and processing is performed to a target portion of the workpiece while the table and the beams from the condensing optical system are relatively moved, and at least one of an intensity distribution of the beams at a first plane on an exit surface side of the condensing optical system and an intensity distribution of the beams at a second plane whose position in a direction of an optical axis of the condensing optical system is different from the first plane can be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi SHIBAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10663704
    Abstract: The art has, disposed in order from an object, a first lens group (G1) having positive refractive power, a second lens group (G2) having negative refractive power, a third lens group (G3) having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group (G4) having positive refractive power, in which zooming is made by varying an air distance between the first lens group (G1) and the second lens group (G2), and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: 0.60<f4/fw<1.15??(1) where f4 denotes a focal distance of the fourth lens group (G4), and fw denotes a focal distance of a zoom lens in a wide-angle end state upon focusing on infinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Matsuo, Haruo Sato
  • Publication number: 20200162662
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display and a control unit. The display displays a plurality of images of a subject captured in a first image-capturing region of an image sensor. The control unit controls the image sensor so as to set image-capturing conditions for the first image-capturing region to be different from image-capturing conditions for a second image-capturing region of the image sensor by using an image selected from the plurality of images displayed on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi TSUCHIYA, Yuuki ASANO, Shuhei YOSHIKAWA, Aiko NAMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10656136
    Abstract: An observation apparatus includes: an area calculation unit that calculates a colony area based on an image in which a cell colony is captured; a cell number calculation unit that calculates, based on the image, the number of cells included in a target colony of which an area is calculated by the area calculation unit; and a density calculation unit that calculates, based on the area of the target colony calculated by the area calculation unit and the number of the cells included in the target colony calculated by the cell number calculation unit, a density of the cells included in the target colony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasujiro Kiyota, Hiroaki Kii
  • Patent number: 10658157
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus scans a substrate in a Y-axis direction and also adjusts irradiation position of a plurality of beams, based on correction information obtained from the same number of distortion tables as the beams, the distortion tables including information concerning change of irradiation position of the plurality of beams of a multibeam optical system. Especially, the irradiation position of the plurality of beams in the Y-axis direction is adjusted by individually controlling irradiation timing of the plurality of beams irradiated on the substrate from the multibeam optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 10656401
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a first optical element and a second optical element capable of separating incident light according to a wavelength of the incident light. The first optical element includes a first separation section having first optical characteristics for reflecting light in a first wavelength band, transmitting light in a second wavelength band, and partially transmitting and partially reflecting light in a third wavelength band. The second optical element includes a second separation section having second optical characteristics for separating incident light that is incident in two wavelength bands including the first wavelength band or the second wavelength band and the third wavelength band into the light in the first wavelength band or the light in the second wavelength band and the light in the third wavelength band according to the wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Mori, Tomoya Saito
  • Patent number: 10656529
    Abstract: A control system, of a plurality of heads, acquires grating correction information related to at least two of scales in a first grating group and scales in a second grating group, based on position information of a movable body measured using at least four heads irradiating measurement beams on at least two of the scales and scales. The grating correction information is used to control movement of the movable body using at least three heads irradiating at least two of the scales and scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori Shirato, Takashi Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20200153193
    Abstract: A pulsed light generation device, includes: a first optical fiber through which first pulsed light and second pulsed light, having an intensity that decreases while an intensity of the first pulsed light increases, and increases while the intensity of the first pulsed light decreases, having been multiplexed and entered therein, are propagated; and a second optical fiber at which the first pulsed light, having exited the first optical fiber and entered therein, is amplified while being propagated therein, wherein: at the first optical fiber, phase modulation occurs in the first pulsed light due to cross phase modulation caused by the second pulsed light; and self-phase modulation occurring in the first pulsed light at the second optical fiber is diminished by the phase modulation having occurred at the first optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira TOKUHISA
  • Publication number: 20200148700
    Abstract: What is provided is a compound, a pattern forming substrate, a coupling agent, and a pattern formation method. The compound is represented by Formula (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, Kanagawa University
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWAKAMI, Kazuo YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10652485
    Abstract: When the amplification ratio is low and strong incident light causes a large charge, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is weak is also weak, but when the amplification ratio is high in regions where the incident light is weak, the signal retrieved from regions where the incident light is strong becomes saturated. Therefore, the dynamic range of the imaging unit is narrow. Provided is an imaging unit comprising an imaging section that includes a first group having one or more pixels and a second group having one or more pixels different from those of the first group; and a control section that, while a single charge accumulation is performed in the first group, causes pixel signals to be output by performing charge accumulation in the second group a number of times differing from a number of times charge accumulation is performed in the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiro Tsunai
  • Patent number: 10649196
    Abstract: A structured illumination microscope includes: a first illumination optical system configured to irradiate, from a first direction, a sample with activating light for activating a fluorescent substance included in the sample; a second illumination optical system configured to irradiate, from a second direction that is different from the first direction, the sample with interference fringes of exciting light for exciting the fluorescent substance; a control unit configured to control a direction and a phase of the interference fringes; an imaging optical system configured to form an image of the sample irradiated with the interference fringes; an imaging element configured to take the image formed by the imaging optical system to generate a first image; and a demodulation unit configured to generate a second image by using a plurality of the first images generated by the imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisao Osawa
  • Patent number: 10649348
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus includes: a substrate holder which can move in the X-axis and Y-axis directions; a Y coarse movement stage which can move in the Y-axis direction; a first measurement system which acquires position information on the substrate holder by heads on the substrate holder and a scale on the Y coarse movement stage; a second measurement system which acquires position information on the Y coarse movement stage by heads on the Y coarse movement stage and a scale; and a control system which controls the position of the substrate holder based on position information acquired by the first and second measurement systems. The first measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the X-axis direction with respect to the scale, and the second measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving the heads in the Y-axis direction with respect to the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Aoki
  • Patent number: 10652495
    Abstract: An imaging sensor comprising: an imaging chip in which a plurality of pixel are arranged in a matrix; and a signal processing chip that is each provided for one or more pixel columns or one or more pixel rows, has a device that performs signal processing on a pixel signal output from a pixel, and is stacked with the imaging chip is provided. For example, the device that performs signal processing is an A/D converter that converts a pixel signal output from the pixel into a digital signal, and when a pixel signal output from the pixel is converted into a digital signal, at least two or more A/D converters among the A/D converters are controlled in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20200145601
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro TSUNAI, Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20200142320
    Abstract: A liquid crystal exposure apparatus has a measurement system having scales arranged apart from each other in the X-axis direction provided at a substrate stage holding a substrate and heads each irradiating the scales with a measurement beam; and a measurement device that measures positions of head units in the Y-axis direction. The measurement system measures a position of the substrate holder in directions of three degrees of freedom within a plane, based on measurement information of at least three heads. Each of the heads move off of one scale while the substrate holder is moved in the X-axis direction and moves to irradiate another scale adjacent to the one scale, and correction information to control movement of the substrate holder using the head moving to irradiate another scale is acquired, based on measurements of at least three heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takachika SHIMOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10642159
    Abstract: An information calculation method includes: calculating liquid information regarding a liquid on an object, which faces an optical member that emits exposure light, when moving the object; and calculating region information indicating a region, in which the liquid information satisfies predetermined conditions, on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mineyuki Nishino, Katsushi Nakano, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10645788
    Abstract: An X-ray generation device that emits X-rays due to an electron beam emitted from a cathode arriving at a target, includes: first and second high voltage power supplies that are connected in series between the cathode and the target, and both of which accelerate the electron beam; and wherein the second high voltage power supply outputs a second high voltage so that, with respect to a phase of a ripple component of a first high voltage generated by the first high voltage power supply, a phase of a ripple component of the second high voltage generated by the second high voltage power supply has a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Endo, Satoshi Miura
  • Patent number: 10642169
    Abstract: An alignment system is equipped with: an alignment system having an objective optical system, an irradiation system and a beam receiving system; and a calculation system, the objective optical system including an objective transparent plate that faces a wafer movable in a Y-axis direction, the irradiation system irradiating a grating mark provided at the wafer with measurement beams via the objective transparent plate while scanning the measurement beams in the Y-axis direction, the beam receiving system receiving diffraction beams from the grating mark of the measurement beams via the objective optical system, and the calculation system obtaining positional information of the grating mark on the basis of the output of the beam receiving system, wherein the objective transparent plate deflects or diffracts the diffraction beams diffracted at the grating mark toward the beam receiving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200133022
    Abstract: A method for designing an eyeglass lens includes: displaying an image upon a display device while maintaining a positional relationship of a face of a subject and the display device; acquiring information in which visual sensitivity of the subject is evaluated on the basis of an impression received by the subject who has viewed the image; and designing an eyeglass lens on the basis of the information in which the sensitivity is evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON-ESSILOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20200137361
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of microlenses arranged in a two-dimensional pattern; and a plurality of pixels that are provided in correspondence to each of the microlenses and receive lights of different color components, respectively. Pixels that are provided at adjacent microlenses among the microlenses and that receive lights of same color components, are adjacently arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20200137343
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor layer provided with a pixel, including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an electric charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, a second semiconductor layer provided with a supply unit that supplies the transfer unit with a transfer signal for transferring the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, and a third semiconductor layer into which a signal is inputted, the signal being based on the electric charge that has been transferred to the accumulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kamashita, Atsushi Komai, Toru Takagi, Tomohisa Ishida
  • Publication number: 20200137279
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first pixel and a second pixel, each of which comprises a first photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a first charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts light that has passed through the micro lens and generates a second charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates at least one of the first charge and the second charge, a first transfer unit that transfers the first charge to the accumulation unit, and a second transfer unit that transfers the second charge to the accumulation unit; and a control unit that outputs, to the first transfer unit of the first pixel and to the second transfer unit of the second pixel, a signal that causes the first charge of the first pixel and the second charge of the second pixel to be transferred to their accumulation units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi SEO
  • Patent number: D885462
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nagaoka, Osamu Katsuda
  • Patent number: D885463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Nagaoka, Osamu Katsuda