摘要:
A liquid immersion lithography system includes projection optics (PL) and a showerhead (604). The projection optics are configured to expose a substrate (W) with a patterned beam. The showerhead includes a first nozzle (610) and a second nozzle (612) that are configured to be at different distances from a surface of the substrate during an exposure operation.
摘要:
A positioning device (3, 97, 179) with a first displacement unit (25, 189) for displacing a first object holder (11, 181) and a second displacement unit (27, 191) for displacing a second object holder (13, 183). The object holders can be displaced by the positoning device alternately from a measuring position into an operational position and can be displaced by the respective displacement units independently of one another in the measuring position and in the operational position. The displacement units are provided with force actuators which each have a first part (47, 49; 117, 119; 215, 217) which is coupled to the relevant object holder and which is displaceable under the influence of a driving force relative to a second part (59, 61; 133, 135, 137, 139; 219, 221) which is fastened to a balancing unit (69, 149, 205) which is common to the two displacement units. The balancing unit is displaceably guided relative to a base (81, 209), so that reaction forces of the displacement units are converted into displacements of the balancing unit relative to the base, and mechanical vibrations in the balancing unit and the base are prevented. The use of the force actuators prevents the displacements of the balancing unit from disturbing the positions of the object holders relative to the base. The positioning device is further provided with a control unit (83, 169, 237) by means of which at least the parts (47, 49; 121, 123; 219, 221) directed parallel to an X-direction of the X-actuators (39, 41; 105, 107; 211, 213) coupled to the object holders are held in positions parallel to the X-direction. It is also prevented in this manner that positions of the object holders relative to the base are interfered with by rotations of the balancing unit caused by the reaction forces of the displacement units. The positioning device can be used in a lithographic device for the displacement of a semiconductor substrate relative to an exposure system of the lithographic device and for the displacement of a mask relative to the exposure system.
摘要:
A cooling apparatus is disclosed that has a first cooling structure (220), in thermal contact with a heat source (210) having a temperature greater than a cool structure (250), comprising a channel through which a cooling fluid is passed, an isolator (230) between the heat source and the cool structure, the isolator in thermal contact with the first cooling structure and comprising a material of low thermal conductivity, and a second cooling (240) structure between the isolator and the cool structure, the second cooling structure comprising a channel through which cooling fluid is passed.
摘要:
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a time-saving height measurement method is used. While in a projection station (105, 108, 111) the pattern of a mask (129) is projected on the fields of a first substrate (120), the height of the fields of a second substrate (121) is measured in a measuring station (133). In the measuring station, the height of the substrate fields and the height of the substrate holder (113) are measured by a first height sensor (150) and a second height sensor (160), respectively, and the value of the height of the substrate holder associated with the ideal height of the substrate field is determined for each substrate field. In the projection station, only the height of the substrate holder (111) is controlled by a third height sensor (180). The second and third height sensors are preferably part of a composite XY interferometer system extended with a Z measuring axis.
摘要:
A positioning device (3, 97, 179) with a first displacement unit (25, 189) for displacing a first object holder (11, 181) and a second displacement unit (27, 191) for displacing a second object holder (13, 183). The object holders can be displaced by the positoning device alternately from a measuring position into an operational position and can be displaced by the respective displacement units independently of one another in the measuring position and in the operational position. The displacement units are provided with force actuators which each have a first part (47, 49; 117, 119; 215, 217) which is coupled to the relevant object holder and which is displaceable under the influence of a driving force relative to a second part (59, 61; 133, 135, 137, 139; 219, 221) which is fastened to a balancing unit (69, 149, 205) which is common to the two displacement units. The balancing unit is displaceably guided relative to a base (81, 209), so that reaction forces of the displacement units are converted into displacements of the balancing unit relative to the base, and mechanical vibrations in the balancing unit and the base are prevented. The use of the force actuators prevents the displacements of the balancing unit from disturbing the positions of the object holders relative to the base. The positioning device is further provided with a control unit (83, 169, 237) by means of which at least the parts (47, 49; 121, 123; 219, 221) directed parallel to an X-direction of the X-actuators (39, 41; 105, 107; 211, 213) coupled to the object holders are held in positions parallel to the X-direction. It is also prevented in this manner that positions of the object holders relative to the base are interfered with by rotations of the balancing unit caused by the reaction forces of the displacement units. The positioning device can be used in a lithographic device for the displacement of a semiconductor substrate relative to an exposure system of the lithographic device and for the displacement of a mask relative to the exposure system.
摘要:
A mask assembly suitable for use in a lithographic process, the mask assembly comprising a patterning device; and a pellicle frame configured to support a pellicle and mounted on the patterning device with a mount; wherein the mount is configured to suspend the pellicle frame relative to the patterning device such that there is a gap between the pellicle frame and the patterning device; and wherein the mount provides a releasably engageable attachment between the patterning device and the pellicle frame.
摘要:
A positioning device (3) suitable for use in a lithographic device with an exposure position and a characterization position has a displacement system (35) comprising a first displacement unit (39) and a second displacement unit (41) to which object holders (21, 23) can be coupled alternately. The first displacement unit is suitable for carrying out a first series of positioning steps of a first object holder (21) in a first position and for displacing the first object holder from the first position into an intermediate position (M', M'') between the first position and a second position. The second displacement unit is suitable for carrying out a second series of positioning steps of a second object holder (23) in the second position simultaneously with an independently from the first displacement unit and for displacing the second object holder from the second position into the intermediate position. In the intermediate position, the object holders are exchanged, after which the first series of positioning steps can be carried out by the first displacement unit with the second object holder in the first position and the second series of positioning steps can be carried out by the second displacement unit with the first object holder in the second position.
摘要:
The invention relates to a positioning device (3) comprising a first part (33) and a second part (35) having an object table (5). The second part can be displaced relative to the first part parallel to an X-direction and parallel to a Y-direction which is perpendicular to the X-direction and can be rotated relative to the first part about an axis of rotation (73) directed parallel to a Z-direction which is perpendicular to the X-direction and perpendicular to the Y-direction by means of three motors (75, 77, 79) which each comprises a permanent-magnet system (97, 99, 101) and an electrical-coil system (81, 83, 85) cooperating with the permanent-magnet system. The electrical-coil systems each comprises windings which are mainly directed parallel to a main axis (87, 89, 91) of the electrical-coil system which is directed perpendicularly to the Z-direction. According to the invention, the main axis of each of the three motors encloses an angle of substantially 120° with the main axis of each of the two other motors. In this manner, the points of application on the second part of the driving forces of the three motors are uniformly distributed relative to the second part, so that the driving forces can be uniformly transmitted to the object table by means of a relatively light and simple stiffening structure (119) of the second part. In a special embodiment of the positioning device, the main axes of the three motors are mutually arranged in a star-shaped configuration. In a further embodiment of the positioning device (3'), the main axes (87', 89', 91') of the three motors (75', 77', 79') are mutually arranged in a triangular configuration. The positioning device is used in a lithographic device according to the invention for displacing a substrate table (5) of the lithographic device relative to a focusing unit of the lithographic device.