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：US06094448A

公开(公告)日：2000-07-25

申请号：US248466

申请日：1999-02-11

申请人： Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Frederick G. Erie ,  Alexander I. Ershov

发明人： Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Frederick G. Erie ,  Alexander I. Ershov

IPC分类号： H01S3/08 ,  G02B5/18 ,  G03F7/20 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/13 ,  H01S3/137 ,  H01S3/225

CPC分类号： H01S3/08081 ,  G02B5/1828 ,  G03F7/70025 ,  G03F7/70483 ,  G03F7/70575 ,  H01S3/1055 ,  H01S3/13 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/08009

摘要： A bidirectional bandwidth controlled grating assembly. A spring housing is connected to one of two end plates extending away from the lined surface of the grating. An adjustment rod threaded through the other end plate extends into the spring housing. Inside the spring housing in a preferred embodiment are two compression springs mounted between pressure surfaces in the housing and a piston which is fixed on the adjustment rod. The lined surface of the grating can be made more concave (or less convex) by screwing the rod in a direction into the spring housing compressing one of the springs to push the end plates apart and the surface can be made more convex (or less concave) by screwing the rod in a direction out of the spring housing compressing the other spring to pull the end plates toward each other.

摘要翻译： 双向带宽控制光栅组件。 弹簧壳体连接到远离光栅的衬里表面延伸的两个端板之一。 穿过另一端板的调节杆延伸到弹簧壳体中。 在优选实施例中，在弹簧壳体的内部，两个压缩弹簧安装在壳体中的压力表面和固定在调节杆上的活塞之间。 光栅的衬里表面可以通过将杆沿着弹簧壳体的方向拧入到压缩其中一个弹簧的方向上而变得更凹（或更小的凸起），以将端板推开，并且可以使表面更加凸出 ）通过将杆沿着弹簧壳体外的方向旋拧，压缩另一个弹簧以将端板朝向彼此拉动。

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：US08908735B2

公开(公告)日：2014-12-09

申请号：US13231882

申请日：2011-09-13

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

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

IPC分类号： H01S3/22 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/08 ,  H01S3/00 ,  H01S3/23 ,  H01S3/083 ,  H01S3/10

CPC分类号： H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  H01S3/08004 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/083 ,  H01S3/10092 ,  H01S3/2251 ,  H01S3/2258 ,  H01S3/2333 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S2301/02

摘要： A method and apparatus may comprise a line narrowed pulsed excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser system which may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses which may comprise a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage containing an amplifying gain medium in a second gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator and amplifying the output of the seed laser oscillator to form a laser system output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses, which may comprise a ring power amplification stage.

摘要翻译： 一种方法和装置可以包括线变窄的脉冲准分子或分子氟气放电激光系统，其可以包括种子激光振荡器，其产生包括可以包括第一气体放电准分子或分子氟激光室的脉冲的激光输出光束的输出; 第一振荡器腔内的线窄模块; 在第二气体放电准分子或分子氟激光室中包含放大增益介质的激光放大级，其接收种子激光振荡器的输出并放大种子激光振荡器的输出，以形成激光系统输出，其包括激光输出光束 脉冲，其可以包括环形功率放大级。

公开(公告)号：US08514486B2

公开(公告)日：2013-08-20

申请号：US12927012

申请日：2010-11-03

申请人： Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Norbert R. Bowering ,  Jerzy R. Hoffman

发明人： Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov ,  Norbert R. Bowering ,  Jerzy R. Hoffman

IPC分类号： H01S3/00

CPC分类号： H01S3/105 ,  G03F7/70033 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/115 ,  H01S3/2232 ,  H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/2325 ,  H01S2301/02 ,  H05G2/003 ,  H05G2/008

摘要： A device comprising a laser source producing a continuous output on a beam path and an amplifier is disclosed. The device further includes a partially transmissive, partially reflective optic disposed on said beam path between said laser source and said amplifier. The device further includes a droplet generator positioned to deliver a droplet moving on a path intersecting said beam path, the droplet reflecting light to establish an optical cavity with said optic.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种包括在光束路径上产生连续输出的激光源和放大器的装置。 该装置还包括设置在所述激光源和所述放大器之间的所述光束路径上的部分透射的部分反射光学元件。 该装置还包括液滴发生器，其定位成输送在与所述光束路径相交的路径上移动的液滴，液滴反射光以与所述光学器件建立光学腔。

公开(公告)号：US20120305810A1

公开(公告)日：2012-12-06

申请号：US13493871

申请日：2012-06-11

申请人： Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

发明人： Alexander I. Ershov ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

IPC分类号： G21K5/04 ,  F21V21/00

CPC分类号： H05G2/003 ,  G03F7/70033 ,  G03F7/70175 ,  G03F7/70916 ,  H05G2/005 ,  H05G2/008 ,  Y10S422/906

摘要： Devices and corresponding methods of use are described herein that may include an enclosing structure defining a closed loop flow path and a system generating a plasma at a plasma site, e.g. laser produced plasma system, where the plasma site may be in fluid communication with the flow path. For the device, a gas may be disposed in the enclosing structure which may include an ion-stopping buffer gas and/or an etchant. A pump may be provided to force the gas through the closed loop flow path. One or more heat exchangers removing heat from gas flowing in the flow path may be provided. In some arrangements, a filter may be used to remove at least a portion of a target species from gas flowing in the flow path.

摘要翻译： 本文描述了设备和相应的使用方法，其可以包括限定闭环流动路径的封闭结构和在等离子体位置处产生等离子体的系统，例如， 激光产生的等离子体系统，其中等离子体位置可以与流动路径流体连通。 对于该装置，气体可以设置在封闭结构中，其可以包括离子停止缓冲气体和/或蚀刻剂。 可以提供泵以迫使气体通过闭环流动路径。 可以提供一种或多种热交换器来从流动路径中流动的气体中除去热量。 在一些布置中，可以使用过滤器来从在流动路径中流动的气体中去除至少一部分目标物种。

公开(公告)号：US07885309B2

公开(公告)日：2011-02-08

申请号：US11787180

申请日：2007-04-13

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

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

IPC分类号： H01S3/22

CPC分类号： H01S3/225 ,  H01S3/005 ,  H01S3/0057 ,  H01S3/08004 ,  H01S3/08009 ,  H01S3/083 ,  H01S3/10092 ,  H01S3/2251 ,  H01S3/2258 ,  H01S3/2333 ,  H01S3/2383 ,  H01S2301/02

摘要： A method and apparatus may comprise a line narrowed pulsed excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser system which may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses which may comprise a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage containing an amplifying gain medium in a second gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator and amplifying the output of the seed laser oscillator to form a laser system output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses, which may comprise a ring power amplification stage.

公开(公告)号：US07872245B2

公开(公告)日：2011-01-18

申请号：US12214736

申请日：2008-06-19

申请人： Georgiy O. Vaschenko ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Norbert R. Bowering ,  David C. Brandt ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Rodney D. Simmons ,  Oleh V. Khodykin ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

发明人： Georgiy O. Vaschenko ,  Alexander N. Bykanov ,  Norbert R. Bowering ,  David C. Brandt ,  Alexander I. Ershov ,  Rodney D. Simmons ,  Oleh V. Khodykin ,  Igor V. Fomenkov

IPC分类号： A61N5/00 ,  G21G5/00

CPC分类号： H05G2/003 ,  H05G2/006 ,  H05G2/008

摘要： Devices are disclosed herein which may comprise an EUV reflective optic having a surface of revolution that defines a rotation axis and a circular periphery. The optic may be positioned to incline the axis at a nonzero angle relative to a horizontal plane, and to establish a vertical projection of the periphery in the horizontal plane with the periphery projection bounding a region in the horizontal plane. The device may further comprise a system delivering target material, the system having a target material release point that is located in the horizontal plane and outside the region, bounded by the periphery projection and a system generating a laser beam for irradiating the target material to generate an EUV emission.

摘要翻译： 本文公开的装置可以包括具有限定旋转轴线和圆形周边的旋转表面的EUV反射光学元件。 光学元件可以被定位成相对于水平面以非零角度倾斜轴，并且在水平面中建立周边的垂直投影，其中周边突起界定水平面中的一个区域。 该装置还可以包括传送目标材料的系统，该系统具有位于水平面内的区域外的外围突起的边界材料释放点和产生用于照射目标材料产生的激光束的系统 EUV排放。