公开(公告)号：US07154928B2

公开(公告)日：2006-12-26

申请号：US10875662

申请日：2004-06-23

申请人： Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  William N. Partlo

发明人： Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  William N. Partlo

IPC分类号： H01S3/22 ,  H01S3/223

CPC分类号： H01S3/0812 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  H01S3/08059 ,  H01S3/097 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/1305

摘要： Apparatus/method providing bandwidth control in narrow band short pulse duration gas discharge laser output light pulse beam producing systems, producing a beam comprising pulses at selected pulse repetition races, e.g., comprising a dispersive bandwidth selection optic selecting at least one center wavelength for each pulse determined at least in part by the angle of incidence of the beam containing the respective pulse on the optic; a tuning mechanism operative to select at least one angle of incidence of the beam containing the respective pulse upon the optic; the tuning mechanism comprising a plurality of incidence angle selection elements each defining an angle of incidence for a different spatially separated but not temporally separated portion of the pulse to return from the optic a laser light pulse comprising a plurality of spatially separated but not temporally separated portions, each having one of at least two different selected center wavelengths.

摘要翻译： 在窄带短脉冲持续时间气体放电激光输出光脉冲光束产生系统中提供带宽控制的装置/方法，产生包括选定的脉冲重复轨迹的脉冲的波束，例如包括色散带宽选择光学器件，用于为每个脉冲选择至少一个中心波长 至少部分地由在光学元件上包含相应脉冲的光束的入射角确定; 调谐机构，用于选择在光学元件上包含相应脉冲的光束的至少一个入射角; 所述调谐机构包括多个入射角选择元件，每个入射角选择元件限定所述脉冲的不同的空间分离但不是时间上分离的部分的入射角，以从所述光学器件返回包括多个空间分离但不时间分离的部分的激光脉冲 每个具有至少两个不同选择的中心波长中的一个。

公开(公告)号：US07061961B2

公开(公告)日：2006-06-13

申请号：US11199691

申请日：2005-08-09

申请人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Palash P. Das ,  Stuart L. Anderson ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scot T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd ,  Jeffrey Oicles

发明人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Palash P. Das ,  Stuart L. Anderson ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scot T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd ,  Jeffrey Oicles

IPC分类号： H01S3/22

CPC分类号： G01J1/4257 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70041 ,  G03F7/70333 ,  G03F7/70483 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  G03F7/70933 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  H01S3/02 ,  H01S3/03 ,  H01S3/036 ,  H01S3/038 ,  H01S3/0385 ,  H01S3/0387 ,  H01S3/0404 ,  H01S3/041 ,  H01S3/08004 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/08036 ,  H01S3/0943 ,  H01S3/097 ,  H01S3/09702 ,  H01S3/09705 ,  H01S3/0971 ,  H01S3/0975 ,  H01S3/104 ,  H01S3/105 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/1305 ,  H01S3/134 ,  H01S3/137 ,  H01S3/139 ,  H01S3/22 ,  H01S3/2207 ,  H01S3/223 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/2251 ,  H01S3/2256 ,  H01S3/2258 ,  H01S3/2333 ,  H01S3/2366

摘要： An oscillator-amplifier gas discharge laser system and method is disclosed which may comprise a first laser unit which may comprise a first discharge region which may contain an excimer or molecular fluorine lasing gas medium; a first pair of electrodes defining the first discharge region containing the lasing gas medium, a line narrowing unit for narrowing a spectral bandwidth of output laser light pulse beam pulses produced in said first discharge region; a second laser unit which may comprise a second discharge chamber which may contain an excimer or molecular fluorine lasing gas medium; a second pair of electrodes defining the second discharge region containing the lasing gas medium; a pulse power system providing electrical pulses to the first pair of electrodes and to the second pair of electrodes producing gas discharges in the lasing gas medium between the respective first and second pair of electrodes, and laser parameter control mechanism modifying a selected parameter of a selected laser output light pulse beam pulse produced by said gas discharge laser system by controlling the timing of the occurrence of the gas discharge between the first pair of electrodes and the occurrence of the gas discharge between the second pair of electrodes.

公开(公告)号：US06625191B2

公开(公告)日：2003-09-23

申请号：US10012002

申请日：2001-11-30

申请人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Palash P. Das ,  Stuart L. Anderson ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scott T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd ,  Jeffrey Oicles

发明人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Palash P. Das ,  Stuart L. Anderson ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scott T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd ,  Jeffrey Oicles

IPC分类号： H01S322

CPC分类号： G01J1/4257 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70041 ,  G03F7/70333 ,  G03F7/70483 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  G03F7/70933 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  H01S3/02 ,  H01S3/03 ,  H01S3/036 ,  H01S3/038 ,  H01S3/0385 ,  H01S3/0387 ,  H01S3/0404 ,  H01S3/041 ,  H01S3/08004 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/08036 ,  H01S3/0943 ,  H01S3/097 ,  H01S3/09702 ,  H01S3/09705 ,  H01S3/0971 ,  H01S3/0975 ,  H01S3/104 ,  H01S3/105 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/1305 ,  H01S3/134 ,  H01S3/137 ,  H01S3/139 ,  H01S3/22 ,  H01S3/2207 ,  H01S3/223 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/2251 ,  H01S3/2256 ,  H01S3/2258 ,  H01S3/2333 ,  H01S3/2366

摘要： An injection seeded modular gas discharge laser system capable of producing high quality pulsed laser beams at pulse rates of about 4,000 Hz or greater and at pulse energies of about 5 mJ or greater. Two separate discharge chambers are provided, one of which is a part of a master oscillator producing a very narrow band seed beam which is amplified in the second discharge chamber. The chambers can be controlled separately permitting separate optimization of wavelength parameters in the master oscillator and optimization of pulse energy parameters in the amplifying chamber. A preferred embodiment in an ArF excimer laser system configured as a MOPA and specifically designed for use as a light source for integrated circuit lithography. In the preferred MOPA embodiment, each chamber comprises a single tangential fan providing sufficient gas flow to permit operation at pulse rates of 4000 Hz or greater by clearing debris from the discharge region in less time than the approximately 0.25 milliseconds between pulses. The master oscillator is equipped with a line narrowing package having a very fast tuning mirror capable of controlling centerline wavelength on a pulse-to-pulse basis at repetition rates of 4000 Hz or greater to a precision of less than 0.2 pm.

公开(公告)号：US06480275B2

公开(公告)日：2002-11-12

申请号：US09772293

申请日：2001-01-29

申请人： Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Scott T. Smith

发明人： Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Scott T. Smith

IPC分类号： G01J318

CPC分类号： G01J3/12 ,  G01J1/4257 ,  G01J3/22 ,  G01J3/26 ,  G01J9/02

摘要： A high resolution etalon-grating monochromator. A preferred embodiment presents an extremely narrow slit function in the ultraviolet range and is very useful for measuring bandwidth of narrow band excimer lasers used for integrated circuit lithography. Light from the laser is focused into a diffuser and the diffused light exiting the diffuser illuminates an etalon. A portion of its light exiting the etalon is collected and directed into a slit positioned at a fringe pattern of the etalon. Light passing through the slit is collimated and the collimated light illuminates a grating positioned in an approximately Littrow configuration which disburses the light according to wavelength. A portion of the dispursed light representing the wavelength corresponding to the selected etalon fringe is passed through a second slit and monitored by a light detector. When the etalon and the grating are tuned to the same precise wavelength a slit function is defined which is extremely narrow such as about 0.034 pm (FWHM) and about 0.091 pm (95 percent integral). The bandwidth of a laser beam can be measured very accurately by a directing portion of the laser beam into the monochromator and scanning the laser wavelength over a range which includes the monochromator slit wavelength.

摘要翻译： 高分辨率标准光栅单色仪。 优选的实施例在紫外范围内呈现非常狭窄的狭缝功能，并且对于测量用于集成电路光刻的窄带准分子激光器的带宽是非常有用的。 来自激光的光被聚焦成漫射器，并且离开扩散器的漫射光照射标准具。 将其从标准具出射的光的一部分收集并引导到位于标准具的边缘图案处的狭缝中。 通过狭缝的光线被准直，并且准直光照射位于大约Littrow配置中的光栅，其根据波长散发光。 表示对应于所选择的标准具条纹的波长的调度光​​的一部分通过第二狭缝并由光检测器监视。 当标准具和光栅调谐到相同的精确波长时，定义狭缝功能，其极窄，例如约0.034μm（FWHM）和约0.091μm（95％积分）。 激光束的带宽可以通过激光束的引导部分进入单色仪并且在包括单色器狭缝波长的范围内扫描激光波长而被非常精确地测量。

公开(公告)号：US5991324A

公开(公告)日：1999-11-23

申请号：US41474

申请日：1998-03-11

申请人： David S. Knowles ,  James H. Azzola ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  Palash P. Das ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Tibor Juhasz ,  Robert G. Ozarski ,  William N. Partlo ,  Daniel A. Rothweil ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Tom A. Watson ,  Richard M. Ness

发明人： David S. Knowles ,  James H. Azzola ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  Palash P. Das ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Tibor Juhasz ,  Robert G. Ozarski ,  William N. Partlo ,  Daniel A. Rothweil ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Tom A. Watson ,  Richard M. Ness

IPC分类号： H01S3/038 ,  G03F7/20 ,  H01S3/02 ,  H01S3/03 ,  H01S3/036 ,  H01S3/0971 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/139 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/22

CPC分类号： G01J9/0246 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70041 ,  G03F7/70358 ,  G03F7/70558 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  H01S3/02 ,  H01S3/03 ,  H01S3/036 ,  H01S3/0971 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/1392

摘要： A reliable, modular, production quality narrow-band KrF excimer laser capable of producing 10 mJ laser pulses at 1000 Hz with a bandwidth of about 0.6 pm or less. The present invention is especially suited to long-term round-the-clock operation in the lithographic production of integrated circuits. Improvements over prior art lasers include a single upstream preionizer tube and acoustic baffles. A preferred embodiment includes reduced fluorine concentration, an anode support bar shaped to reduce aerodynamic reaction forces on blower bearings, a modified pulse power system providing faster pulse rise time, an output coupler with substantially increased reflectivity, a line narrowing module with CaF prism beam expanders, a more accurate wavemeter, a laser computer controller programmed with new and improved pulse energy control algorithm.

摘要翻译： 一种可靠，模块化，生产质量好的窄带KrF准分子激光器，能够以1000Hz的频率产生10mJ的激光脉冲，带宽约为0.6μm或更小。 本发明特别适用于集成电路的平版印刷生产中的长期全天候操作。 现有技术的激光器的改进包括单个上游预分解器管和声学挡板。 优选的实施例包括减少的氟浓度，阳极支撑杆形状以减小鼓风机轴承上的空气动力反作用力，改进的脉冲电源系统提供更快的脉冲上升时间，输出耦合器具有显着增加的反射率，具有CaF棱镜扩束器的线窄化模块 ，更准确的波长计，激光计算机控制器编程，具有新的改进的脉冲能量控制算法。

公开(公告)号：US20180020532A1

公开(公告)日：2018-01-18

申请号：US15208548

申请日：2016-07-12

申请人： William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Daniel J.W. Brown ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

发明人： William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Daniel J.W. Brown ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

IPC分类号： H05G2/00

摘要： A device is disclosed herein which may comprise a droplet generator producing droplets of target material; a sensor providing an intercept time signal when a droplet reaches a preselected location; a delay circuit coupled with said sensor, the delay circuit generating a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time signal; a laser source responsive to a trigger signal to produce a laser pulse; and a system controlling said delay circuit to provide a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time by a first delay time to generate a light pulse that is focused on a droplet and a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time by a second delay time to generate a light pulse which is not focused on a droplet.

公开(公告)号：US07838854B2

公开(公告)日：2010-11-23

申请号：US12220560

申请日：2008-07-25

申请人： J. Martin Algots ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Oscar Hemberg ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Dennis W. Cobb

发明人： J. Martin Algots ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Oscar Hemberg ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Dennis W. Cobb

IPC分类号： H01J35/20

CPC分类号： H05G2/003 ,  H05G2/005 ,  H05G2/006

摘要： An EUV plasma formation target delivery system and method is disclosed which may comprise: a target droplet formation mechanism comprising a magneto-restrictive or electro-restrictive material, a liquid plasma source material passageway terminating in an output orifice; a charging mechanism applying charge to a droplet forming jet stream or to individual droplets exiting the passageway along a selected path; a droplet deflector intermediate the output orifice and a plasma initiation site periodically deflecting droplets from the selected path, a liquid target material delivery mechanism comprising a liquid target material delivery passage having an input opening and an output orifice; an electromotive disturbing force generating mechanism generating a disturbing force within the liquid target material, a liquid target delivery droplet formation mechanism having an output orifice; and/or a wetting barrier around the periphery of the output orifice.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种EUV等离子体形成靶递送系统和方法，其可以包括：目标液滴形成机构，其包括磁阻或电子限制材料，终止于输出孔的液体等离子体源材料通道; 将电荷施加到液滴形成喷射流或沿着选定路径离开通道的各个液滴的充电机构; 在输出孔之间的液滴偏转器和等离子体引发位置周期性地偏转来自所选择的路径的液滴;液体靶材料输送机构，包括具有输入开口和输出孔的液体靶材料输送通道; 产生在液体目标材料内的干扰力的电动干扰力产生机构，具有输出孔的液体目标传送液滴形成机构; 和/或围绕输出孔周边的润湿屏障。

公开(公告)号：US20080283776A1

公开(公告)日：2008-11-20

申请号：US12220560

申请日：2008-07-25

申请人： J. Martin Algots ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Oscar Hemberg ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Dennis W. Cobb

发明人： J. Martin Algots ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  Oscar Hemberg ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Dennis W. Cobb

IPC分类号： G21K5/00

CPC分类号： H05G2/003 ,  H05G2/005 ,  H05G2/006

摘要： An EUV plasma formation target delivery system and method is disclosed which may comprise: a target droplet formation mechanism comprising a magneto-restrictive or electro-restrictive material, a liquid plasma source material passageway terminating in an output orifice; a charging mechanism applying charge to a droplet forming jet stream or to individual droplets exiting the passageway along a selected path; a droplet deflector intermediate the output orifice and a plasma initiation site periodically deflecting droplets from the selected path, a liquid target material delivery mechanism comprising a liquid target material delivery passage having an input opening and an output orifice; an electromotive disturbing force generating mechanism generating a disturbing force within the liquid target material, a liquid target delivery droplet formation mechanism having an output orifice; and/or a wetting barrier around the periphery of the output orifice.

公开(公告)号：US06801560B2

公开(公告)日：2004-10-05

申请号：US10056619

申请日：2002-01-23

申请人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  German E. Rylov ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scott T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd

发明人： David S. Knowles ,  Daniel J. W. Brown ,  Richard L. Sandstrom ,  German E. Rylov ,  Eckehard D. Onkels ,  Herve A. Besaucele ,  David W. Myers ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  William N. Partlo ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Richard C. Ujazdowski ,  Richard M. Ness ,  Scott T. Smith ,  William G. Hulburd

IPC分类号： H01S322

CPC分类号： H01S3/2366 ,  G01J9/00 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70041 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  G03F7/70933 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  H01S3/0071 ,  H01S3/02 ,  H01S3/03 ,  H01S3/036 ,  H01S3/038 ,  H01S3/0385 ,  H01S3/0387 ,  H01S3/0404 ,  H01S3/041 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/08004 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/08036 ,  H01S3/0943 ,  H01S3/097 ,  H01S3/09702 ,  H01S3/09705 ,  H01S3/0971 ,  H01S3/0975 ,  H01S3/104 ,  H01S3/105 ,  H01S3/1305 ,  H01S3/134 ,  H01S3/139 ,  H01S3/22 ,  H01S3/2207 ,  H01S3/223 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/2251 ,  H01S3/2256 ,  H01S3/2258 ,  H01S3/2333

摘要： An injection seeded modular gas discharge laser system capable of producing high quality pulsed laser beams at pulse rates of about 4,000 Hz or greater and at pulse energies of about 5 mJ or greater. Two separate discharge chambers are provided, one of which is a part of a master oscillator producing a very narrow band seed beam which is amplified in the second discharge chamber. The chambers can be controlled separately permitting separate optimization of wavelength parameters in the master oscillator and optimization of pulse energy parameters in the amplifying chamber. A preferred embodiment in a F2 laser system configured as a MOPA and specifically designed for use as a light source for integrated circuit lithography. In the preferred MOPA embodiment, each chamber comprises a single tangential fan providing sufficient gas flow to permit operation at pulse rates of 4000 Hz or greater by clearing debris from the discharge region in less time than the approximately 0.25 milliseconds between pulses. The master oscillator is equipped with a line selection package for selecting the strongest F2 spectral line.

公开(公告)号：US07164144B2

公开(公告)日：2007-01-16

申请号：US10900839

申请日：2004-07-27

申请人： William N. Partlo ,  Norbert Bowering ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  David W. Myers ,  Ian Roger Oliver ,  John Viatella ,  Robert N. Jacques

发明人： William N. Partlo ,  Norbert Bowering ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  David W. Myers ,  Ian Roger Oliver ,  John Viatella ,  Robert N. Jacques

IPC分类号： H01J35/20

CPC分类号： G03F7/70033 ,  B82Y10/00 ,  G03F7/70175 ,  G03F7/70916 ,  G21K1/062 ,  G21K2201/061 ,  G21K2201/065 ,  G21K2201/067 ,  H05G2/003 ,  H05G2/005 ,  H05G2/006 ,  H05G2/008

摘要： A laser produced plasma (“LPP”) extreme ultraviolet (“EUV”) light source control system comprises a target delivery system adapted to deliver moving plasma initiation targets and an EUV light collection optic having a focus defining a desired plasma initiation site, a target tracking and feedback system comprising: at least one imaging device providing as an output an image of a target stream track, and a stream track error detector detecting an error in the position of the target stream track in at least one axis generally perpendicular to the target stream track from a desired stream track intersecting the desired plasma initiation site.

摘要翻译： 激光产生的等离子体（“LPP”）极紫外（“EUV”）光源控制系统包括适于传送移动等离子体引发目标的目标传送系统和具有定义所需等离子体起始位置的焦点的EUV光收集光学元件，靶 跟踪和反馈系统，包括：至少一个成像装置，其提供目标流轨迹的图像作为输出;以及流轨道误差检测器，其检测目标流轨迹在大致垂直于目标的至少一个轴上的位置的误差 来自与期望的等离子体起始位点相交的所需流道的流轨道。