Patent US4593371A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5658700A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5658700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus having a plurality of measurement devices and a semiconductor manufacturing method using the same
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-26
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Granted: 1997-08-19
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Expires: 2015-04-26
Abstract
Abstract An exposure apparatus for manufacturing semiconductors is provided in order to make stages for carrying a wafer compact and to increase their rigidity. The apparatus has an exposure optical system, stages for carrying a wafer, a section for moving the stages relative to the exposure optical system, and first and second measurement sections. The first measurement section measures the positions of the stages, including the positions of the stages when the wafer is exposed to incident radiation. The second measurement means measures at least the positions of the stages at a wafer replacement position, where the first measurement means cannot be used for measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshikazu Sakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70691; G03F7/70716
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A semiconductor exposure apparatus for exposing a wafer, said semiconductor exposure apparatus comprising: an exposure optical system for exposing the wafer to incident radiation; a plurality of stages for carrying a wafer, said plurality of stages comprising X and Y stages that can move in an X direction and a Y direction, respectively, the X direction and the Y direction being perpendicular to an exposure optical axis of said exposure optical system, and a finely adjustable stage disposed thereon that can move finely at least in a Z direction; movement means for moving each of said plurality of stages relative to said exposure optical system; first measurement means for measuring the positions of each of said plurality of stages, including the position of each of said plurality of stages when the wafer is exposed by said exposure optical system, said first measurement means comprising laser length-measuring machines for measuring positions with long strokes, wherein said first measurement means is ineffective for measurement when said X and Y stages are located at a replacement position of the wafer and said finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement; and second measurement means for measuring the position of each of said plurality of stages when said stages are located at the replacement position of the wafer, and said finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement, said second measurement means comprising sensors for measuring the X and Y coordinates of each of said plurality of stages with short strokes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A semiconductor exposure apparatus for exposing a wafer, said semiconductor exposure apparatus comprising: an exposure optical system for exposing the wafer to incident radiation; a plurality of stages for carrying a wafer, said plurality of stages comprising X and Y stages that can move in an X direction and a Y direction, respectively, the X direction and the Y direction being perpendicular to an exposure optical axis of said exposure optical system, and a finely adjustable stage disposed thereon that can move finely at least in a Z direction; movement means for moving each of said plurality of stages relative to said exposure optical system; first measurement means for measuring the positions of each of said plurality of stages, including the position of each of said plurality of stages when the wafer is exposed by said exposure optical system, said first measurement means comprising laser length-measuring machines for measuring positions with long strokes, wherein said first measurement means is ineffective for measurement when said X and Y stages are located at a replacement position of the wafer and said finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement; and second measurement means for measuring the position of each of said plurality of stages when said stages are located at the replacement position of the wafer, and said finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement, said second measurement means comprising sensors for measuring the X and Y coordinates of each of said plurality of stages with short strokes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movement means moves said X stage, said Y stage, and said finely adjustable stage in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively; and said finely adjustable stage comprises mirror surfaces disposed perpendicularly to the X and Y directions for positional measurement by said laser length-measuring machines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for switching position control using position measurement by said first measurement means and position control using position measurement by said second measurement means before and after a period when said first measurement means is ineffective for measurement, and means for setting a reference position of said first measurement means before said switching means switches position control from using position measurement by said second measurement means to using position measurement by said first measurement means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second measurement means comprises one of an electrostatic sensor and an eddy-current sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second measurement means comprises a plurality of measurement sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
254 words
A semiconductor exposure method for exposing a wafer, said semiconductor exposure method comprising: exposing the wafer to incident radiation using an exposure optical system; providing a plurality of stages for carrying a wafer, the plurality of stages comprising X and Y stages that can move in an X direction and a Y direction, respectively, the X direction and the Y direction being perpendicular to an exposure optical axis of the exposure optical system, and a finely adjustable stage disposed thereon that can move finely at least in a Z direction; moving each of the plurality of stages relative to the exposure optical system using movement means; measuring, using first measurement means, the positions of each of the plurality of stages, including the position of each of the plurality of stages when the wafer is exposed by the exposure optical system, the first measurement means comprising laser length-measuring machines for measuring positions with long strokes, wherein the first measurement means is ineffective for measurement when the X and Y stages are located at a replacement position of the wafer and the finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement; and measuring, using second measurement means, the position of each of the plurality of stages when the stages are located at the replacement position of the wafer, and the finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement, the second measurement means comprising sensors for measuring the X and Y coordinates of each of the plurality of stages with short strokes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
254 words
A semiconductor exposure method for exposing a wafer, said semiconductor exposure method comprising: exposing the wafer to incident radiation using an exposure optical system; providing a plurality of stages for carrying a wafer, the plurality of stages comprising X and Y stages that can move in an X direction and a Y direction, respectively, the X direction and the Y direction being perpendicular to an exposure optical axis of the exposure optical system, and a finely adjustable stage disposed thereon that can move finely at least in a Z direction; moving each of the plurality of stages relative to the exposure optical system using movement means; measuring, using first measurement means, the positions of each of the plurality of stages, including the position of each of the plurality of stages when the wafer is exposed by the exposure optical system, the first measurement means comprising laser length-measuring machines for measuring positions with long strokes, wherein the first measurement means is ineffective for measurement when the X and Y stages are located at a replacement position of the wafer and the finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement; and measuring, using second measurement means, the position of each of the plurality of stages when the stages are located at the replacement position of the wafer, and the finely adjustable stage lowers in the Z direction for wafer replacement, the second measurement means comprising sensors for measuring the X and Y coordinates of each of the plurality of stages with short strokes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising moving, using the movement means, the X stage, the Y stage, and the finely adjustable stage in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively, and wherein the finely adjustable stage comprises mirror surfaces disposed perpendicularly to the X and Y directions for positional measurement by the laser length-measuring machines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising switching position control using position measurement by the first measurement means and position control using position measurement by the second measurement means before and after a period when the first measurement means is ineffective for measurement, and setting a reference position of the first measurement means before said switching step switches position control from using position measurement by the second measurement means to using position measurement by the first measurement means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the second measurement means comprises one of an electrostatic sensor and an eddy-current sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the second measurement means comprises a plurality of measurement sensors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-18 | 2001-02-17 | 2001-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-18 | 2005-02-17 | 2005-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-18 | 2009-02-17 | 2009-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |