Abstract:
Device for printing blanks intended to be stamped, said device allowing to obtain on the blanks a predeformed image which, after stamping, will restitute the original image, and comprising a light source (2), a toric prism (4) and a photographic apparatus (8) having a common optical axis (12). The angle of the toric prism is smaller than 42.05 and, preferably, equal to or smaller than 35 , and the face (11) of the prism facing the photographic apparatus (8) is cut so as to act as a linearity correction lens. The face (11) of the lens-forming prism is defined in a parametric coordinate system xt and yt centered on the intersection point of the optical axis (12) and of a reference plane parallel to the face (11) of the prism defined by the following equations: the parameters C1, C2, C3 and C4 being defined from the inner diameter PHI o and the height H of the toric prism (4), the slippage A of the plate to be reproduced at the edge (13) of the prism, the focal distance F of the lens of the photographic apparatus (8) and the refraction index n of the material forming the prism (4) and of the apex angle (45 - alpha ) of said prism.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are provided for automated determination and adjustment of height and tilt of a substrate surface within a lithography system. The method includes: directing a beam of light onto the substrate surface, which reflects off the substrate surface as a reflected beam; optically splitting the reflected beam into a first reflected beam portion and a second reflected beam portion; impinging the first reflected beam portion onto a first detector plane of a first optical detector to generate intensity data, and impinging the second reflected beam portion onto a second detector plane of a second optical detector to generate intensity data, and utilizing the generated data in determining height and tilt of the substrate surface relative to a nominal writing plane of the lithography system. Responsive to the determination, focus or tilt of the system's writing beam, or position of the substrate surface within the system, is adjusted.
Abstract:
A system and method for correcting distortion in projected images caused by the projection of an input image by a projector lens onto a projection screen having a surface that is not orthogonal to the projection axis of the projector. Projection parameters including the focal length of the projector lens and the angles that represent the pan, tilt and roll angle of the projector are obtained. Then the projected area and the best viewable rectangular area that fits within said projected area is determined. The distortion is then characterized by using a distortion transformation which corresponds to the transformation that exists between the vertices of the best viewable rectangular area and the corresponding vertices of the projected area. Finally, the distortion transformation is inverted and applied to input image to obtain a distortion free projected image.
Abstract:
The photographic camera comprises a plurality of electronic measure sensors. The first of those sensors (37, 38) provided for the angle ( omega ) wherein the base (10) of the apparatus is inclined with respect to the horizontal during focusing. A second sensor (42, 43) relates to the displacement ( DELTA s) which must be given to the image plate support (13, 17) along the base, when two objects placed at different distances from the objective (12) must be represented in focus. A third sensor is provided for the distance (d) producing the image of the two objects perpendicularly to the inclination axis of the apparatus base. An electronic circuit (30) is also part of the camera. The signal produced at the output (48) is elaborated from output signals from the measure sensors. Said signal corresponds to the angle ( delta ) according to which the image plane (13) must be pivoted for an accurate focusing on the two objects (14, 16). The camera enables to determine the pivoting angle ( delta ) during the displacement ( DELTA s) perpendicular to the image plane (13), along the base (10), independently of the inclination angle ( omega ) of the base with respect to the horizontal (11).
Abstract:
A method of preparing a flexographic printing plate to compensate for the distortion imposed on the images on the plate when it is fitted to a printing roll incorporating the steps of producing an intermediate positive or negative with an intermediate image which has a predetermined percentage distortion in one direction, and using the intermediate positive or negative to produce the final printing plate incorporating the final image to be printed, where the same percentage distortion is applied to the intermediate image, but in the inverse direction. The percentage distortion is dependent on the number of teeth (and thereby the diameter) of the printing roller on which the plate is to be used. The invention also provides a suitable camera (10) for producing the plates using this two stage method. The camera (10) has a fixed focal length lens (30) selectively movable along its focal axis (39) to apply a predetermined percentage distortion to an image on a copy or transparency mounted on a copyboard (14) and transmitted onto a photographic film mounted on a vacuum board (45) movable in predetermined steps along two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for analyzing a defect of a photolithographic mask for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength range (EUV mask) comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one focus stack relating to the defect using an EUV mask inspection tool, (b) determining a surface configuration of the EUV mask at a position of the defect, (c) providing model structures having the determined surface configuration which have different phase errors and generating the respective focus stacks, and (d) determining a three dimensional error structure of the EUV mask defect by comparing the at least one generated focus stack of the defect and the generated focus stacks of the model structures.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are provided for automated determination and adjustment of height and tilt of a substrate surface within a lithography system. The method includes: directing a beam of light onto the substrate surface, which reflects off the substrate surface as a reflected beam; optically splitting the reflected beam into a first reflected beam portion and a second reflected beam portion; impinging the first reflected beam portion onto a first detector plane of a first optical detector to generate intensity data, and impinging the second reflected beam portion onto a second detector plane of a second optical detector to generate intensity data, and utilizing the generated data in determining height and tilt of the substrate surface relative to a nominal writing plane of the lithography system. Responsive to the determination, focus or tilt of the system's writing beam, or position of the substrate surface within the system, is adjusted.
Abstract:
An embodiment relates generally to an apparatus for reducing defects. The apparatus includes a spindle (115) adapted to hold a wafer (110); and at least two light sources (105 A, 105B) configured to direct light to a top-side and a back-side of the wafer.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for the simultaneous determination of focus and source boresighting error for photolithographic steppers and scanners is described. A reticle containing custom arrays of box-in-box test structures specifically designed for performing source or exit pupil division using an aperture plate is exposed onto a resist coated wafer several times. The resulting exposure patterns are measured with a conventional overlay tool. The overlay data is processed with a slope-shift algorithm for the simultaneous determination of both focus and source telecentricity as a function of field position. Additionally, methods for ameliorating metrology induced effects and methods for producing precision Bossung curves are also described. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules, it shall not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
Abstract:
A system and method for correcting distortion in projected images caused by the projection of an input image by a projector lens onto a projection screen having a surface that is not orthogonal to the projection axis of the projector. Projection parameters including the focal length of the projector lens and the angles that represent the pan, tilt and roll angle of the projector are obtained. Then the projected area and the best viewable rectangular area that fits within said projected area is determined. The distortion is then characterized by using a distortion transformation which corresponds to the transformation that exists between the vertices of the best viewable rectangular area and the corresponding vertices of the projected area. Finally, the distortion transformation is inverted and applied to input image to obtain a distortion free projected image.