Patent US5767948A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5767948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lithographic device with a three-dimensionally positionable mask holder
Assignee: ASML Netherlands BV
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Filing: 1996-05-02
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Granted: 1998-06-16
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Expires: 2016-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A lithographic device includes a machine frame which supports a substrate holder, a focusing system and a mask holder in a vertical direction. The substrate holder is displaceable parallel to a horizontal X-direction and a horizontal Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction by a first positioning device, and the mask holder is displaceable parallel to the X-direction by a second positioning device. The substrate holder and the mask holder are displaced synchronously parallel to the X-direction during exposure of a semiconductor substrate. The second positioning device is capable of positioning the mask holder also parallel to the Y-direction and of rotating it about a vertical axis of rotation. Therefore, a displacement of the mask holder has a parallelism to the X-direction which is determined by a positioning accuracy of the second positioning device and which is not adversely affected by a deviation from parallelism and straightness of a guide of the second positioning device. An accuracy with which the semiconductor substrate is exposed is improved by a factor corresponding to an optical reduction factor of the focusing system.
Inventors
- 👤 Erik R. Loopstra
- 👤 Frank B. Sperling
- 👤 Hendricus J.M. Meijer
- 👤 Jan Van Eijk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70691; G03F7/707; G03F7/70716; G03F7/708; G03F7/70808; G03F7/70833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A lithographic device with a machine frame which, seen parallel to a vertical Z-direction, supports in that order a substrate holder which can be positioned by a first positioning device parallel to an X-direction which is perpendicular to the Z-direction and a Y-direction which is perpendicular to the X-direction and to the Z-direction, a focusing system with a main axis directed parallel to the Z-direction, a mask holder which can be positioned parallel to the X-direction by a second positioning device, and a radiation source, wherein the mask holder is also positionable parallel to the Y-direction and rotatable about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the Z-direction by the second positioning device and wherein the second positioning device is provided with a first linear motor by means of which the mask holder can be positioned over comparatively small distances parallel to the X-direction and Y-direction and can be rotated about the axis of rotation of the mask holder and a second linear motor by means of which the mask holder can be positioned over comparatively great distances parallel to the X-direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A lithographic device with a machine frame which, seen parallel to a vertical Z-direction, supports in that order a substrate holder which can be positioned by a first positioning device parallel to an X-direction which is perpendicular to the Z-direction and a Y-direction which is perpendicular to the X-direction and to the Z-direction, a focusing system with a main axis directed parallel to the Z-direction, a mask holder which can be positioned parallel to the X-direction by a second positioning device, and a radiation source, wherein the mask holder is also positionable parallel to the Y-direction and rotatable about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the Z-direction by the second positioning device and wherein the second positioning device is provided with a first linear motor by means of which the mask holder can be positioned over comparatively small distances parallel to the X-direction and Y-direction and can be rotated about the axis of rotation of the mask holder and a second linear motor by means of which the mask holder can be positioned over comparatively great distances parallel to the X-direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force frame which is dynamically isolated from the machine frame and which supports a stationary part of the second positioning device such that a reaction force exerted by the mask holder on the second positioning device during operation and arising from a driving force exerted by the second positioning device on the mask holder can be transmitted exclusively into said force frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mask holder is coupled to the stationary part of the second positioning device exclusively by a Lorentz force of a magnet system and an electric coil system of the second positioning device during operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system controlled by an electric controller and exerting a compensation force on the machine frame during operation, which compensation force has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame having a value equal to a value of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of the mechanical moment of said force of gravity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the machine frame is placed on a base of the lithographic device by means of three dynamic isolators mutually arranged in a triangle, while the force actuator system comprises three separate force actuators which are each integrated with a corresponding one of the dynamic isolators.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the magnet system and the electric coil system belong to the first linear motor, while the second linear motor comprises a stationary part fastened to the force frame and a movable part which is displaceable parallel to the X-direction over a guide of the stationary part, the magnet system of the first linear motor being fastened to the mask holder and the electric coil system of the first linear motor being fastened to the movable part of the second linear motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system controlled by an electric controller and exerting a compensation force on the machine frame during operation, which compensation force has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame having a value equal to a value of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of the mechanical moment of said force of gravity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system controlled by an electric controller and exerting a compensation force on the machine frame during operation, which compensation force has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame having a value equal to a value of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of the mechanical moment of said force of gravity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the machine frame is placed on a base of the lithographic device by means of three dynamic isolators mutually arranged in a triangle, while the force actuator system comprises three separate force actuators which are each integrated with a corresponding one of the dynamic isolators.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet system and the electric coil system belong to the first linear motor, while the second linear motor comprises a stationary part fastened to the force frame and a movable part which is displaceable parallel to the X-direction over a guide of the stationary part, the magnet system of the first linear motor being fastened to the mask holder and the electric coil system of the first linear motor being fastened to the movable part of the second linear motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system controlled by an electric controller and exerting a compensation force on the machine frame during operation, which compensation force has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame having a value equal to a value of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of the mechanical moment of said force of gravity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system controlled by an electric controller and exerting a compensation force on the machine frame during operation, which compensation force has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame having a value equal to a value of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of the mechanical moment of said force of gravity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lithographic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lithographic device is provided with a force actuator system which is controlled by an electric controller and which exerts a compensation force on the machine frame during operation which has a mechanical moment about a reference point of the machine frame of a value which is equal to a value of a sum of a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the substrate holder about said reference point and a mechanical moment of a force of gravity acting on the mask holder about said reference point, and a direction which is opposed to a direction of said sum of mechanical moments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |