Preionization arrangement for a gas laser
    1.
    发明授权
    Preionization arrangement for a gas laser 失效
    气体激光器的预处理装置

    公开(公告)号:US06618422B2

    公开(公告)日:2003-09-09

    申请号:US09863931

    申请日:2001-05-22

    IPC分类号: H01S300

    摘要: A preionization device for a gas laser comprises an internal preionization electrode having a dielectric housing around it and an external preionization electrode displaced from the dielectric housing by a small gap. The dielectric housing includes two cylindrical regions of differing outer radii of curvature. An open end of the housing has a larger radius of curvature than the other end which is closed. The internal electrode connects to circuitry external to the discharge chamber via a conductive feedthrough which penetrates through the housing. The external circuitry prevents voltage oscillations caused by residual energy stored as capacitance in the dielectric housing. The external preionization electrode, which is connected electrically to one of the main discharge electrodes, is formed to shield the internal preionization electrode from the other main discharge electrode to prevent arcing therebetween. The external electrode is also formed to shield the outer gas volume and walls of the discharge chamber from the preionization unit. A semi-transparent external electrode prevents charged particles emanating from the main discharge area from settling on the housing and causing field distortion and discharge instabilities.

    摘要翻译: 用于气体激光器的预电离装置包括其周围具有介电壳体的内部预电离电极和通过小间隙从绝缘壳体移位的外部预电离电极。 介电壳体包括具有不同外部曲率半径的两个圆柱形区域。 外壳的开口端具有比封闭的另一端更大的曲率半径。 内部电极通过穿透壳体的导电馈通连接到放电室外部的电路。 外部电路防止由绝缘外壳中的电容存储的剩余能量引起的电压振荡。 与主放电电极之间电连接的外部预电离电极被形成为将内部预电离电极与另一个主放电电极屏蔽,以防止它们之间的电弧。 外部电极也形成为将外部气体体积和排出室的壁与预电离单元进行屏蔽。 半透明外部电极防止从主放电区域发出的带电粒子沉降在壳体上并导致场失真和放电不稳定。

    Preionization arrangement for gas laser
    2.
    发明授权
    Preionization arrangement for gas laser 失效
    气体激光器的预处理装置

    公开(公告)号:US06650679B1

    公开(公告)日:2003-11-18

    申请号:US09247887

    申请日:1999-02-10

    IPC分类号: H01S3097

    摘要: A preionization device for a gas laser comprises an internal preionization electrode having a dielectric housing around it and an external preionization electrode displaced from the dielectric housing by a small gap. The dielectric housing includes two cylindrical regions of differing outer radii of curvature. An open end of the housing has a larger radius of curvature than the other end which is closed. The internal electrode connects to circuitry external to the discharge chamber via a conductive feedthrough which penetrates through the housing. The external circuitry prevents voltage oscillations caused by residual energy stored as capacitance in the dielectric housing. The external preionization electrode, which is connected electrically to one of the main discharge electrodes, is formed to shield the internal preionization electrode from the other main discharge electrode to prevent arcing therebetween. The external electrode is also formed to shield the outer gas volume and walls of the discharge chamber from the preionization unit. A semi-transparent external electrode prevents charged particles emanating from the main discharge area from settling on the housing and causing field distortion and discharge instabilities.

    摘要翻译: 用于气体激光器的预电离装置包括其周围具有介电壳体的内部预电离电极和通过小间隙从绝缘壳体移位的外部预电离电极。 介电壳体包括具有不同外部曲率半径的两个圆柱形区域。 外壳的开口端具有比封闭的另一端更大的曲率半径。 内部电极通过穿透壳体的导电馈通连接到放电室外部的电路。 外部电路防止由绝缘外壳中的电容存储的剩余能量引起的电压振荡。 与主放电电极之间电连接的外部预电离电极被形成为将内部预电离电极与另一个主放电电极屏蔽,以防止它们之间的电弧。 外部电极也形成为将外部气体体积和排出室的壁与预电离单元进行屏蔽。 半透明外部电极防止从主放电区域发出的带电粒子沉降在壳体上并导致场失真和放电不稳定。

    Discharge unit for a high repetition rate excimer or molecular fluorine laser

    公开(公告)号:US06466599B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-10-15

    申请号:US09453670

    申请日:1999-12-03

    IPC分类号: H01S3225

    摘要: A laser for an excimer or molecular fluorine laser includes an electrode chamber connected with a gas flow vessel and having a pair of main electrodes and a preionization unit each connected to a discharge circuit. A spoiler is provided within the electrode chamber and is shaped to provide a more uniform gas flow through the discharge area between the main electrodes, to shield one of the preionization units from one of the main electrodes, and to reflect acoustic waves generated in the discharge area into the gas flow vessel for absorption therein. A spoiler unit may include a pair of opposed spoiler elements on either side of the discharge area. One or both main electrodes includes a base portion and a center portion which may be a nipple protruding from the base portion. The center portion substantially carries the periodic discharge current such that the discharge width is and may be significantly less than the width of the base portion. The curvatures of both main electrodes may conform to the curvature of the gas flow through the discharge chamber to further improve aerodynamic performance. A plurality of low inductive conducting ribs are connected to the grounded main electrode and shaped to provide a more uniform flow of gases through openings defined between adjacent ribs.

    Discharge unit for a high repetition rate excimer or molecular fluorine laser

    公开(公告)号:US06414978B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-07-02

    申请号:US09826296

    申请日:2001-04-03

    IPC分类号: H01S322

    摘要: A laser for an excimer or molecular fluorine laser includes an electrode chamber connected with a gas flow vessel and having a pair of main electrodes and a preionization unit each connected to a discharge circuit. A spoiler is provided within the electrode chamber and is shaped to provide a more uniform gas flow through the discharge area between the main electrodes, to shield one of the preionization units from one of the main electrodes, and to reflect acoustic waves generated in the discharge area into the gas flow vessel for absorption therein. A spoiler unit may include a pair of opposed spoiler elements on either side of the discharge area. One or both main electrodes includes a base portion and a center portion which may be a nipple protruding from the base portion. The center portion substantially carries the periodic discharge current such that the discharge width is and may be significantly less than the width of the base portion. The curvatures of both main electrodes may conform to the curvature of the gas flow through the discharge chamber to further improve aerodynamic performance. A plurality of low inductive conducting ribs are connected to the grounded main electrode and shaped to provide a more uniform flow of gases through openings defined between adjacent ribs.

    Discharge unit for a high repetition rate excimer or molecular fluorine laser

    公开(公告)号:US06556609B2

    公开(公告)日:2003-04-29

    申请号:US09826301

    申请日:2001-04-03

    IPC分类号: H01S322

    摘要: A laser for an excimer or molecular fluorine laser includes an electrode chamber connected with a gas flow vessel and having a pair of main electrodes and a preionization unit each connected to a discharge circuit. A spoiler is provided within the electrode chamber and is shaped to provide a more uniform gas flow through the discharge area between the main electrodes, to shield one of the preionization units from one of the main electrodes, and to reflect acoustic waves generated in the discharge area into the gas flow vessel for absorption therein. A spoiler unit may include a pair of opposed spoiler elements on either side of the discharge area. One or both main electrodes includes a base portion and a center portion which may be a nipple protruding from the base portion. The center portion substantially carries the periodic discharge current such that the discharge width is and may be significantly less than the width of the base portion. The curvatures of both main electrodes may conform to the curvature of the gas flow through the discharge chamber to further improve aerodynamic performance. A plurality of low inductive conducting ribs are connected to the grounded main electrode and shaped to provide a more uniform flow of gases through openings defined between adjacent ribs.

    Discharge unit for a high repetition rate excimer or molecular fluorine laser

    公开(公告)号:US06430205B2

    公开(公告)日:2002-08-06

    申请号:US09826372

    申请日:2001-04-03

    IPC分类号: H01S322

    摘要: A laser for an excimer or molecular fluorine laser includes an electrode chamber connected with a gas flow vessel and having a pair of main electrodes and a preionization unit each connected to a discharge circuit. A spoiler is provided within the electrode chamber and is shaped to provide a more uniform gas flow through the discharge area between the main electrodes, to shield one of the preionization units from one of the main electrodes, and to reflect acoustic waves generated in the discharge area into the gas flow vessel for absorption therein. A spoiler unit may include a pair of opposed spoiler elements on either side of the discharge area. One or both main electrodes includes a base portion and a center portion which may be a nipple protruding from the base portion. The center portion substantially carries the periodic discharge current such that the discharge width is and may be significantly less than the width of the base portion. The curvatures of both main electrodes may conform to the curvature of the gas flow through the discharge chamber to further improve aerodynamic performance. A plurality of low inductive conducting ribs are connected to the grounded main electrode and shaped to provide a more uniform flow of gases through openings defined between adjacent ribs.

    Excimer or molecular fluorine laser system with precision timing
    7.
    发明申请
    Excimer or molecular fluorine laser system with precision timing 有权
    准分子或分子氟激光系统具有精确时序

    公开(公告)号:US20050031004A1

    公开(公告)日:2005-02-10

    申请号:US10699763

    申请日:2003-11-03

    摘要: A Master Oscillator (MO)—Power Amplifier (PA) configuration (MOPA) can be used advantageously in an excimer laser system for micro-lithography applications, where semiconductor manufacturers demand powers of 40 W or more in order to support the throughput requirements of advanced lithography scanner systems. The timing of discharges in discharge chambers of the MO and PA can be precisely controlled using a common pulser to drive the respective chambers. The timing of the discharges further can be controlled through the timing of the pre-ionization in the chambers, or through control of the reset current in the final compression stages of the pulser. A common pulser, or separate pulser circuits, also can be actively controlled in time using a feedback loop, with precision timing being achieved through control of the pre-ionization in each individual discharge chamber. Yet another system provides for real-time compensation of time delay jitter of discharge pulses in the chambers.

    摘要翻译: 主振荡器(MO) - 功率放大器(PA)配置(MOPA)可以有利地用于微光刻应用的准分子激光系统,其中半导体制造商需要40W或更高的功率,以支持先进的吞吐量要求 光刻扫描仪系统。 可以使用公共脉冲发生器来精确地控制MO和PA的放电室中的放电定时以驱动各个室。 放电的时间进一步可以通过室内预电离的定时或通过控制脉冲发生器的最终压缩级中的复位电流来控制。 公共脉冲发生器或单独的脉冲发生器电路也可以使用反馈回路在时间上有效地控制,通过在每个单独的放电室中控制预电离来实现精确时序。 另一个系统提供对腔室中的放电脉冲的时间延迟抖动的实时补偿。

    Excimer or molecular fluorine laser system with precision timing
    8.
    发明授权
    Excimer or molecular fluorine laser system with precision timing 有权
    准分子或分子氟激光系统具有精确时序

    公开(公告)号:US07308013B2

    公开(公告)日:2007-12-11

    申请号:US10699763

    申请日:2003-11-03

    IPC分类号: H01S3/22

    摘要: A Master Oscillator (MO)—Power Amplifier (PA) configuration (MOPA) can be used advantageously in an excimer laser system for micro-lithography applications, where semiconductor manufacturers demand powers of 40 W or more in order to support the throughput requirements of advanced lithography scanner systems. The timing of discharges in discharge chambers of the MO and PA can be precisely controlled using a common pulser to drive the respective chambers. The timing of the discharges further can be controlled through the timing of the pre-ionization in the chambers, or through control of the reset current in the final compression stages of the pulser. A common pulser, or separate pulser circuits, also can be actively controlled in time using a feedback loop, with precision timing being achieved through control of the pre-ionization in each individual discharge chamber. Yet another system provides for real-time compensation of time delay jitter of discharge pulses in the chambers.

    摘要翻译: 主振荡器(MO) - 功率放大器(PA)配置(MOPA)可以有利地用于微光刻应用的准分子激光系统,其中半导体制造商需要40W或更高的功率,以支持先进的吞吐量要求 光刻扫描仪系统。 可以使用公共脉冲发生器来精确地控制MO和PA的放电室中的放电定时以驱动各个室。 放电的时间进一步可以通过室内预电离的定时或通过控制脉冲发生器的最终压缩级中的复位电流来控制。 公共脉冲发生器或单独的脉冲发生器电路也可以使用反馈回路在时间上有效地控制,通过在每个单独的放电室中控制预电离来实现精确定时。 另一个系统提供对腔室中的放电脉冲的时间延迟抖动的实时补偿。

    Laser system sealing
    9.
    发明申请
    Laser system sealing 审中-公开
    激光系统密封

    公开(公告)号:US20050083984A1

    公开(公告)日:2005-04-21

    申请号:US10963284

    申请日:2004-10-12

    CPC分类号: H01S3/036 H01S3/03 H01S3/225

    摘要: The lifetime of the laser gas in a laser system such as an excimer laser can be increased by changing the way in which the laser system is sealed. In addition to primary seals used to seal the reservoir chamber and discharge channel, at least one secondary seal can be used between the primary seals and the surrounding environment in order to further prevent permeation of impurities into the discharge chamber, as well as to create an intermediate gas volume. A controlled atmosphere can be generated in the intermediate gas volume, which can be at a slightly higher pressure than the surrounding environment in order to resist the flow of impurities through the secondary seal(s). Further, a flow of purge gas can be introduced into the controlled atmosphere in order to carry away any impurities that leak through the secondary seal(s).

    摘要翻译: 通过改变激光系统被密封的方式,可以增加诸如准分子激光器之类的激光系统中的激光气体的寿命。 除了用于密封储存室和排出通道的主密封件之外,可以在主密封件和周围环境之间使用至少一个二次密封件,以便进一步防止杂质渗透到排放室中,并且产生 中间气体体积。 可以在中间气体体积中产生受控的气氛,其可以处于比周围环境稍高的压力,以抵抗杂质通过二次密封件的流动。 此外,吹扫气体流可以被引入到受控气氛中,以便携带通过二次密封件泄漏的任何杂质。

    Cooled electrodes for high repetition excimer or molecular fluorine lasers
    10.
    发明申请
    Cooled electrodes for high repetition excimer or molecular fluorine lasers 审中-公开
    用于高重复准分子或分子氟激光器的冷却电极

    公开(公告)号:US20050002427A1

    公开(公告)日:2005-01-06

    申请号:US10833455

    申请日:2004-04-28

    摘要: The consumption and/or erosion of electrodes in high repetition rate gas discharge lasers, such as excimer or molecular fluorine lasers, can be reduced using any of a number of temperature regulation approaches described herein. A flow of a cooling medium can be used to remove heat from the electrodes during laser operation, in order to reduce the rate of consumption and/or erosion. The rate of erosion can be controlled by adjusting the rate and/or temperature of the cooling medium flowing through the electrodes, or in bodies in good thermal contact with those electrodes. The cooled electrodes also can function to remove heat from the laser gas, and can have finned surfaces to facilitate such heat removal. Regulating the temperature of the electrodes and laser gas also can function to minimize resonance effects in the laser gas due to the presence of temperature gradients.

    摘要翻译: 高重复率气体放电激光器(例如准分子或分子氟激光器)中的电极的消耗和/或腐蚀可以使用本文所述的多种温度调节方法中的任何一种来减少。 为了降低消耗和/或侵蚀的速度,可以使用冷却介质的流动来在激光操作期间从电极去除热量。 可以通过调节流过电极的冷却介质的速率和/或温度,或与这些电极良好的热接触的体内来控制侵蚀速率。 冷却的电极还可以用于从激光气体中除去热量,并且可以具有翅片表面以促进这种除热。 由于温度梯度的存在,调节电极和激光气体的温度也可以使激光气体中的谐振效应最小化。