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).
  • Publication number: 20210105426
    Abstract: An element includes a plurality of light-receiving elements to photoelectrically convert light received from an object, a convolution processing unit to perform convolution operation on signals that are output from the plurality of light-receiving elements, and a pooling processing unit to sample a signal that is output from the convolution processing unit, based on a predetermined condition. The convolution operation of the convolution processing unit and the sampling of the pooling processing unit are repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru MATSUMOTO, Sota NAKANISHI, Tomohisa ISHIDA, Atsushi MIYAMOTO, Kiyoshi UCHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210104562
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels each including: a first and a second photoelectric conversion unit that perform photoelectric conversion upon light that has passed through a micro lens and generates a charge; a first accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the first conversion unit; a second accumulation unit that accumulates the charge generated by the second conversion unit; a third accumulation unit that accumulates the charges generated by the first and second conversion units; a first transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the first conversion unit to the first accumulation unit; a second transfer unit that transfers the charge generated by the second conversion unit to the second accumulation unit; and a third transfer unit that transfers the charges generated by the first and second conversion units to the third accumulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sota NAKANISHI, Wataru FUNAMIZU, Masahiro JUEN
  • Publication number: 20210104561
    Abstract: Techniques for sub-pixel resolution of an individual observation of ionizing radiation by electrode gerrymandering employ specialized pixel electrode geometries and a contracting-grid search to determine an energy deposition location and an estimate of the total deposited energy. Shaped pixel electrodes in a two-dimensional array of pixel electrodes enable redistribution of induced electrical signals to more than one pixel electrode by extending the pixel electrode's reach beyond that of a conventional pixel electrode so that an area or a portion of the pixel electrode is farther from its center than half a distance between its center and the pixel electrode center of an adjacent neighbor pixel electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Heather L. Durko
  • Publication number: 20210103122
    Abstract: A camera includes: an image capturing unit that outputs a signal by capturing a subject image via an optical system having a focus adjustment optical system; a detection unit that detects an in-focus position at which the subject image is in focus on the image capturing unit by the optical system based on the signal outputted from the image capturing unit; a control unit that controls a position of the focus adjustment optical system so as to focus continuously upon a specified subject based on the in-focus position detected by the detection unit; and an acquisition unit that acquires information related to at least one of a distance to the specified subject, a size of the specified subject, and the optical system; wherein the control unit controls the position of the focus adjustment optical system based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru HABE
  • Publication number: 20210103204
    Abstract: A camera system and a lens barrel are provided in an exchangeable-lens camera including a shake correction mechanism that integrally drives a lens barrel and an imaging unit, it being possible for lenses to be exchanged smoothly, and greater utility and convenience to be obtained. A lens barrel to and from which a camera body can be attached and detached, wherein the lens barrel includes: a first barrel having a first engagement part that engages with a first part of the camera body; a second barrel disposed inside the first barrel, the second barrel having a second engagement part that engages with a second part of the camera body, and having an optical system; and a drive unit that drives the second barrel in relation to the first barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisanori TOGAWA, Takumi NAKANO, Hiroki TAKITA, Marie SHIMOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210098643
    Abstract: This light sensitive element comprises: a substrate; a light absorbing layer containing InGaA, the light absorbing layer being disposed on the substrates; and semiconductor layers containing InAsP. The semiconductor layers are disposed on an upper surface and on a lower surface of the light absorbing layer, respectively. The semiconductor layers constitutes a quantum well structure with the light absorbing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicants: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuzuru IKEHARA, Mutsuo OGURA, Sanae IKEHARA, Kenji MIYAMOTO, Yutaka IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20210093194
    Abstract: The ophthalmic optical system is configured to apply an angular scanning light ray to an eye. M=|?out/?in| is defined, where ?in represents an angle between an incident light ray to the ophthalmic optical system and an optical axis of the ophthalmic optical system, and ?out represents an angle between an exiting light ray exiting from the ophthalmic optical system toward the eye and the optical axis. The ophthalmic optical system satisfies a conditional expression Mpar<Mmax, where Mpar represents M in a case that the incident light ray is a paraxial ray, Mmax represents M in a case that the incident light ray is a ray of a maximum angle of win.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, OPTOS PLC
    Inventors: Gonzalo MUYO, Alistair GORMAN, David M. WILLIAMSON, Makoto FUJIMOTO, Yasufumi NISHI, Azuna NONAKA, Katsuya WATANABE, Miwako YOSHIDA, Kyoya TOKUNAGA, Masahiro MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 10965892
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first readout circuit that reads out a first signal, being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion, to a first signal line; a first holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and a first electric current source that supplies the first signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the first holding circuit, wherein: the first holding circuit holds the voltage based on the electric current from the power supply circuit when the first signal is not read out to the first signal line by the first readout circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 10964042
    Abstract: A detection device including: a detector that detects an object from one viewpoint; a reliability calculator that calculates reliability information on the object at the one viewpoint by using a detection result of the detector; and an information calculator that calculates shape information on the object at the one viewpoint by using the detection result of the detector and the reliability information and calculates texture information on the object at the one viewpoint by using the detection result, the information calculator generates model information on the object at the one viewpoint based on the shape information and the texture information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeaki Sugimura, Yoshihiro Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20210086693
    Abstract: An image capture device is mounted in a vehicle. The image capture device includes: an image capture unit; and a setting unit that sets an image capture condition for each region of the image capture unit each having a plurality of pixels, or for each pixel, based upon at least one of a state exterior to the vehicle and a state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko SHIGA, Toru MIYAKOSHI, Satoshi YAMAGUCHI, Akira KINOSHITA, Kaoru YOSHINO, Hitomi NAGANUMA, Takashi KURIYAMA, Koichi FUKUDA, Yuki KITA, Koji NAGAOKA, Tomoya NAKAGAWA, Masakazu SEKIGUCHI, Takashi SHIONOYA
  • Publication number: 20210092341
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging sensor that outputs an imaging signal representing a sequence of frame images of a photographic subject. A buffer memory temporarily stores data of the sequence of frame images from the imaging signal. A release switch is actuated by a user to output an image-taking signal. A controller, upon receipt of the image-taking signal from the release switch: (i) generates moving image data from at least some of the plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory, (ii) generates at least one piece of still image data based on at least one frame image of the plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory, and (iii) associates the moving image data with the still image data and records the moving image data and the still image data in a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi KURIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20210087315
    Abstract: A photocurable composition which can be used to manufacture a three-dimensional object that is formed by stacking a plurality of layers on top of each other, from which the three-dimensional object having excellent transparency, a high glass transition temperature, and a high hardness can be formed, and which exhibits a high curing rate. The photocurable composition is a photocurable composition used to manufacture a three-dimensional object that is formed by stacking a plurality of layers on top of each other. The photocurable composition contains a monofunctional monomer having a polycyclic aliphatic group, a polyfunctional monomer, an alcohol, and an acylphosphine oxide photopolymerization initiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Akiko MIYAKAWA, Masafumi MIZUGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10955349
    Abstract: A fluorescence observation device for observing fluorescence from an observed subject including a negative switching fluorescent substance that undergoes a transition from a deactivated state to an activated state triggered by activation light, and is excited by pump light when in the activated state includes: a first intensity-modulating unit that intensity-modulates the activation light at a frequency f1; a second intensity-modulating unit that intensity-modulates probe light at a frequency f3 different from the frequency f1, the probe light inducing stimulated emission of the observed subject; a light-receiving unit that receives fluorescence from the observed subject irradiated with the pump light, and the intensity-modulated probe light and activation light; and a sensing unit that senses a component with a frequency of f1±f3 in a reception-light signal from the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiro Dake
  • Patent number: 10955661
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 10958848
    Abstract: A digital camera includes an image sensor that can receive a light beam from a subject in a first region (one block) and a second region (another block) and capture images in the first region and second region on different conditions and a control unit that controls image capture by applying multiple image capture conditions to a first process at least in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10958898
    Abstract: An image creation device includes: a storage unit in which target scene three-dimensional information related to a position, a shape and optical characteristics of a structural object present in a virtual target scene, eyeglass lens three-dimensional information related to a position, a shape and optical characteristics of an eyeglass lens and eyeball three-dimensional information related to a position, a shape and optical characteristics of an eye of a wearer viewing the target scene through the eyeglass lens used as a virtual lens; and a retina image creation unit that creates a retina image based upon the target scene three-dimensional information, the eyeglass lens three-dimensional information and the eyeball three-dimensional information, wherein: the retina image is a virtual image projected onto a retina of the eye of the wearer viewing the target scene through the eyeglass lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON-ESSILOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 10958856
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes: a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion unit and a charge accumulating unit that accumulates an electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit; and a connection unit that includes a plurality of linking units each of which electrically connects the charge accumulating units of two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Komai, Yoshiyuki Watanabe, Osamu Saruwatari
  • Publication number: 20210082126
    Abstract: A processing system includes a machine tool including a measuring unit which outputs measurement information for calculating a shape of a processing object, a control unit which generates position information related to a position of the measuring unit at the time of measuring the processing object and outputs the generated position information and a generation time signal indicating a time at which the position information is generated, an acquisition unit which acquires the output position information and the generation time signal, an estimation unit which estimates the time at which the position information is generated on the basis of a time at which the acquisition unit acquires the generation time signal, and a shape calculation unit which calculates a shape of the processing object on the basis of the measurement information, the position information, and the time estimated by the estimation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoaki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20210080553
    Abstract: With a ranging device and a ranging method according to the present embodiment, occurrence of a first event in which the intensity of a detection signal corresponding to reflected light output from a detection unit exceeds a first threshold and occurrence of a second event in which the intensity falls below a second threshold smaller or larger than the first threshold are counted for each predetermined elapsed time after the measuring beam emission from a projector. Based on integration results (i.e., histograms) obtained by integrating the counts for a plurality of times of light emission, a target signal derived from the reflected light can be extracted from the detection signal including random noise derived from external light, a detection time from the light emission to the detection by the detection unit can be determined, and a distance to an object can be precisely determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON VISION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehito NONOMURA
  • Patent number: 10948700
    Abstract: Comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power; an aperture stop S; a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, the distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, the distance between the second lens group G2 and the aperture stop S, the distance between the aperture stop S and the third lens group G3, and the distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 being varied, and the distance between the aperture stop S and the fourth lens group G4 being constant; and a predetermined conditional expression being satisfied, thereby providing a variable magnification optical system which is compact in size and has a high variable magnification ratio and high optical performance, an optical apparatus, and a method for manufacturi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Obama
  • Patent number: 10948318
    Abstract: An encoder, including: a scale that has a pattern and is mountable to a rotary member of an object to be measured; a main body including a detector that detects the pattern, the main body being mountable to a non-rotating portion of the object to be measured; and a holding member including: an abutment portion that is removably provided to the main body from outside the main body and passes through the main body to abut the scale; and a pushing portion that is capable of pushing the abutment portion toward the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 10948684
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens that is removably attachable to a camera body includes: a lens-side mount; a cylindrical portion; a lens-side terminal group; a first lens-side projecting portion disposed at an outer periphery side of the lens-side terminal group, the first lens-side projecting portion projecting outwardly from the cylindrical portion and extending in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion; a third lens-side projecting portion at least partly disposed at a position facing the first lens-side projecting portion across the optical axis, the third lens-side projecting portion projecting outwardly from the cylindrical portion and extending in the circumferential direction; and a cutout provided on the third lens-side projecting portion in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nagaoka, Masateru Asayama, Satoshi Kazahaya
  • Publication number: 20210072019
    Abstract: A measurement condition that enables accurate shape measurement can be set easily. An image analysis device includes an image analyzer 83 configured to detect, in a case of capturing an image of light projected onto an object to be measured, an improper image for shape measurement of the object to be measured, on the basis of design information on the object to be measured, and a measurement condition, and an output unit 88 configured to output detection result information that is information based on a detection result of the image analyzer 83.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sumito NAKANO, Makoto KONDO
  • Publication number: 20210073979
    Abstract: An image-processing device including: a determination unit that determines a captured image on the basis of a ratio of cells and a distribution of the cells in the captured image acquired by imaging a sample including cells; and an area setting unit that sets an area used for analyzing the cells of the sample on the basis of a result of the determination acquired by the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mamiko MASUTANI, Kenta IMAI, Wataru TOMOSUGI, Takuro SAIGO, Chisako IWAMOTO, Masafumi YAMASHITA, Kenichi OHBA
  • Publication number: 20210073271
    Abstract: In a database, product image data is accumulated. A search portion acquires product image data having the image characteristics information that is the same as or similar to the image characteristics information that indicates the characteristics of the image of input image data from the database for the input image data. A search server outputs information on another product that is different from the product corresponding to the product image data together with the product image data acquired by the search portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya INOUE, Toru IWAOKA, Michiko NOBORISAKA, Masayuki HATORI, Tomohide HAMADA, Yutaka IWASAKI, Hideki SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20210072622
    Abstract: An accessory includes: a detection terminal; a first power supply terminal through which a first power supply voltage is supplied; a second power supply terminal through which a second power supply voltage is supplied; a ground terminal; a ready terminal; a first clock terminal; a first data terminal; a second data terminal; a second clock terminal; a third data terminal; a first circuit to which the first power supply voltage is supplied through the first power supply terminal; and a second circuit to which the second power supply voltage is supplied through the second power supply terminal, wherein: the ground terminal is used as a ground potential for the first circuit and the second circuit; and a distance between the second clock terminal and the first power supply terminal is longer than a distance between the first clock terminal and the first power supply terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki FUNAOKA
  • Publication number: 20210069847
    Abstract: A processing system includes a control unit that generates positional information related to a position of a measuring unit at a time of measuring a processing object and outputs the generated positional information and a generation period signal indicating a period during which the positional information is generated, an acquisition unit that acquires the positional information and the generation period signal which have been output, an acquisition interval calculation unit that calculates a statistical value indicating an interval between acquisition periods regarding a plurality of generation period signals acquired by the acquisition unit, an estimation unit that estimates the period during which the positional information is generated on the basis of the statistical value calculated by the acquisition interval calculation unit, and a shape calculation unit that calculates a shape of the processing object based on measurement information, the positional information, and the period estimated by the estimat
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicants: NIKON CORPORATION, DMG MORI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki YAMADA, Shizuo NISHIKAWA, Satoshi MIYAMOTO, Junichi MORISHITA
  • Publication number: 20210074746
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a pixel substrate that includes a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion executed on light having entered therein and an output unit that generates a signal based upon the electric charge and outputs the signal; and an arithmetic operation substrate that is laminated on the pixel substrate and includes an operation unit that generates a corrected signal by using a reset signal generated after the electric charge in the output unit is reset and a photoelectric conversion signal generated based upon an electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit and executes an arithmetic operation by using corrected signals each generated in correspondence to one of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210074756
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit that converts incident light into an electric charge, the incident light being incident from one side of a substrate, and an output unit that outputs a signal caused by the electric charge, the plurality of pixels being arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and an accumulation unit provided to be stacked on the photoelectric conversion unit on a side opposite to the one side of the substrate, the accumulation unit accumulating the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi KOMAI
  • Publication number: 20210072651
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus has: a substrate holder holding a substrate and can move in the X and Y-axes directions; a Y coarse movement stage movable in the Y-axis direction; a first measurement system acquiring 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 acquiring position information on the Y coarse movement stage by heads on 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 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: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo AOKI
  • Publication number: 20210073992
    Abstract: A current observation area is determined exploratorily from among a plurality of candidate areas, on the basis of a plurality of observed areas in a biological tissue. A plurality of reference images obtained by means of low-magnification observation of the biological tissue are utilized at this time. A learning image is acquired by means of high-magnification observation of the determined current observation area. A plurality of convolution filters included in an estimator can be utilized to evaluate the plurality of candidate areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohki KONISHI, Mitsuo SUGA, Hideo NISHIOKA
  • Patent number: 10942424
    Abstract: A camera body at which one or more camera accessories, at which light from a subject enters, are detachably mountable, includes: a body-side terminal; and a communication unit that communicates with at least one of the camera accessories, wherein: the communication unit requests, via the body-side terminal, the camera accessory for a discriminating signal indicating whether or not another camera accessory capable of communicating with the camera body is mountable on a subject side of the camera accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 10944924
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor substrate 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, and a second semiconductor substrate provided with a supply unit for the pixel, the supply unit supplying the transfer unit with a transfer signal to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saruwatari, Shutaro Kato, Ryoji Ando, Yojiro Tezuka, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 10943462
    Abstract: A method implemented by a computer, the method includes: detecting a position of an electronic device capable of communicating with a portable device; setting a range of a position at which the electronic device provides a notification pertaining to the portable device based on a position of the electronic device that has communicated with the portable device; and providing the notification based on the range set in the setting and the position of the electronic device detected in the detecting of a position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hasegawa, Noriyasu Kotani, Hisashi Tai, Terutada Akiyama, Taichi Goto, Hiroshi Kamehara, Yu Murakoshi, Masakazu Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 10943933
    Abstract: An imaging device having a first surface on which light is incident and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, includes a photoelectric conversion section including semiconductors having a same conductivity type, in which an impurity concentration on the second surface side is higher than an impurity concentration on the first surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 10942457
    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: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mineyuki Nishino, Katsushi Nakano, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20210059515
    Abstract: In an ophthalmology system, an right-eye imaged image is displayed on a display section for presentation to an observer through an optical unit and a reflection member. A left-eye imaged image is also displayed on a display section for presentation to an observer through an optical unit and a reflection member. A separation between the left and right imaged images is made wider than a spacing between the left and right optical units. This enables image presentation with the optical axes for the observer viewing the images intersecting in front so as to cause a convergence angle to arise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro KAWASAKI, Ryoichi SATAKA, Masahiro MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 10939060
    Abstract: An image sensor that captures an image of light from a predetermined depth of a subject, includes: a photoelectric converter that photoelectrically converts light including interference light of light from the subject and reference light; a discrimination unit that locks in and detects a signal component having an interference frequency in an interference light component corresponding to the predetermined depth from a signal output from the photoelectric converter; and a floating diffusion unit that temporarily accumulates an electric charge resulting from the photoelectric conversion by the photoelectric converter; wherein: the discrimination unit includes: a transfer unit that transfers the signal to the floating diffusion unit; and a sampling unit that samples the electric charge accumulated in the floating diffusion unit at a sampling frequency determined based on the interference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Ohkouchi
  • Patent number: 10935894
    Abstract: A substrate stage device that moves a substrate has: a noncontact holder that supports the substrate in a noncontact manner; a first drive section that moves the noncontact holder; scale plates that serve as a reference of movement of the noncontact holder; a first measurement section that has scale plates and Y heads, one of the scale plates and the Y heads being provided at the noncontact holder and the other of the scale plates and the Y heads being provided between the scale plates and the noncontact holder, and that measures position information of the Y heads; a second measurement section that measures position information of the other of the scale plates and the Y heads; and a position measurement system that obtains position information of the noncontact holder on the basis of the position information measured by the first and the second measurement sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Aoki
  • Patent number: 10937823
    Abstract: An image-capturing element manufacturing method includes: preparing a first substrate having a plurality of pixels that are two-dimensionally continuously arrayed; preparing a second substrate having a plurality of circuit blocks that respectively have connection terminals to a power supply and a reference potential and that are electrically independent from each other, each of the plurality of circuit blocks having at least some of circuits to read out signals from the plurality of pixels; laminating the first substrate and the second substrate to electrically couple the plurality of circuit blocks and the plurality of pixels overlapping therewith; and cutting circuit blocks around at least one of the plurality of circuit blocks and pixels overlapping therewith to form a laminate in which the plurality of pixels are laminated onto the at least one of the plurality of circuit blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Narui, Toru Takagi
  • Patent number: 10934451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid polymerizable composition including a phosphine oxide or a phosphine sulphide monomer composition with mineral nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed therein, as well as its use for the preparation of a transparent polymeric material having a high refractive index and its use in the optical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: Nikon Corporation, Essilor International
    Inventors: Mathieu Feuillade, Guillaume Cantagrel
  • Patent number: 10931907
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light and generates a charge; and an A/D conversion unit that converts the analog signal generated due to charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit into a digital signal, wherein: the A/D conversion unit includes a comparison unit that compares the analog signal with a reference signal and a first circuit layer including a first capacitor for generating the reference signal and a second circuit layer laminated to the first circuit layer and including with a second capacitor for generating the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoki Hirata
  • Patent number: 10928187
    Abstract: Prediction of a distribution of light in an illumination pupil of an illumination system includes identifying component(s) of the illumination system the adjustment of which affects this distribution and simulating the distribution based on a point spread function defined in part by the identified components. The point spread function has functional relationship with configurable setting of the illumination settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Gene Smith, Eric Peter Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20210048754
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus is provided with: a substrate holder which holds a substrate and which can move in the X- 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 substrate holder by means of heads provided on substrate holder and a scale provided on Y coarse movement stage; a second measurement system which acquires position information on Y coarse movement stage by means of heads provided on Y coarse movement stage and a scale; and a control system which controls the position of substrate holder based on position information acquired by first and second measurement systems. The first measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving heads in X-axis direction with respect to the scale, and second measurement system irradiates a measurement beam while moving heads in Y-axis direction with respect to the scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo AOKI
  • Patent number: 10921583
    Abstract: An ocular optical system (EL) comprises, in order from an eye point (EP), a first lens group (G1) having a positive refractive power and a second lens group (G2) having a positive refractive power. The second lens group (G2) includes a cemented lens having two optical members cemented together. A cemented surface of the cemented lens is a diffraction optical surface configuring a diffraction grating. A lens surface on one side in a lens constituting the first lens group (G1) is a first Fresnel surface (FSa), and a lens surface on one side in the cemented lens of the second lens group (G2) is a second Fresnel surface (FSb).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho Matsumoto, Atsushi Sekine, Hidetsugu Takagi
  • Patent number: 10924697
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a first imaging region that captures an image of light entering through an optical system under a first imaging condition and generates a detection signal to perform focus detection of the optical system; and a second imaging region that captures an image of the light entering through the optical system under a second imaging condition other than the first imaging condition and generates an image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ota
  • Patent number: 10924699
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Publication number: 20210041789
    Abstract: In corner sections of first to fourth quadrants whose origin point is a center of an upper surface of a stage, three each of two-dimensional heads are provided. The three each of two-dimensional heads include one first head and two second heads. The stage is driven, while measuring a position of the stage using three first heads that face a two-dimensional grating of a scale plate provided above the stage from the four first heads, and during the driving, difference data of measurement values of the two second heads with respect to the first head in a measurement direction are taken in for head groups to which the three first heads belong, respectively, and using the difference data, grid errors are calibrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi SHIBAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10914614
    Abstract: Provided is an encoder apparatus including: a scale provided to a rotation shaft of a drive apparatus and having a predetermined pattern; a detector that detects the predetermined pattern; a rotation information calculator that calculates rotation information on the rotation shaft by using detection results of the detector; an eccentricity information calculator; and a corrector that corrects the rotation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiyo Takahashi, Akihiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10917575
    Abstract: A portable information device including a body, a position information portion that is provided in the body and that outputs position information, an image sensor that is provided in the body, a display system that is provided in the body and that displays, on a local field in a screen field, relevant information based on the position information such that the displayed relevant information is overlapped on a real-time image, an input portion that is provided on the body and, by use of which user operates an icon, the icon being displayed on the local field such that the displayed icon is overlapped on the real-time image and an imaging button that is provided, separately from the input portion, on the body and that is operated by user to capture a subject image via the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Inoue, Toru Iwaoka, Michiko Noborisaka, Masayuki Hatori, Tomohide Hamada