Abstract: An exposure system for manufacturing flat panel displays (FPDs) includes a reticle stage adapted to support a reticle. A substrate stage is adapted to support a substrate. A reflective optical system is adapted adapted to image the reticle onto the substrate. The reflective optical system includes a primary mirror including a first mirror and a second mirror, and a secondary mirror. The reflective optical system has sufficient degrees of freedom for both alignment and correction of third order aberrations when projecting an image of the reticle onto the substrate by reflections off the first mirror, the secondary mirror, and the second mirror.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and method in which an illumination system supplies a projection beam, a patterning system imparts to the beam a pattern in its cross section, and a projection system projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate. The projection system comprises an array of lenses spaced from the substrate such that each lens in the array focuses part of the patterned beam onto the substrate. A displacement system causes displacement between the lens array and the substrate. A particle detector detects particles on the substrate which are approaching the lens array. A free working distance control system increases the spacing between the lens array and the substrate in response to detection of a particle. The lens array is moved away from the substrate as the detected particle passes the lens array. Thus damage to the lens array can be avoided.

Abstract: An arrangement for adjusting the position on a substrate of a patterned beam generated by a light engine relative to the substrate. The arrangement moves an array of focusing elements, each of which focuses a portion of the patterned beam onto a point on the substrate, relative to an array of individually controllable elements to impart the pattern to the patterned beam.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for facilitating use of a plurality of individually controllable elements to modulate the intensity of radiation received at each focusing element of an array of focusing elements to control the intensity of the radiation in the areas on the substrate onto which the focusing elements direct the radiation.

Abstract: A system and method are used to form features on a substrate. The system and method include using a first array including individually controllable elements that selectively pattern a beam of radiation, a second array including sets of lenses and apertures stops that form an image from a respective one of the individually controllable elements in a first plane, a third array including lenses that form an image from a respective one of the second array in a second plane, and a substrate table that holds a substrate in the second plane, such that the substrate receives the image from the respective one of the second array. A same spacing is formed between elements in the first, second, and third arrays.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is provided with an optical system built into the wafer table for producing an image of a wafer mark that is provided on the back side of the wafer. The image is located at the plane of the front side of the wafer and can be viewed by an alignment system from the front side of the wafer. Simultaneous alignment between marks on the back and front of the wafer and a mask can be performed using a pre-existing alignment system.

Abstract: An arrangement for adjusting the position on a substrate of a patterned beam generated by a light engine relative to the substrate. The arrangement moves an array of focusing elements, each of which focuses a portion of the patterned beam onto a point on the substrate, relative to an array of individually controllable elements to impart the pattern to the patterned beam.

Abstract: A projection system for a lithographic apparatus having a plurality of mirror imaging systems. In an embodiment, the mirror imaging systems are arranged in two rows with each row being perpendicular to a scanning direction of the projection system. Each mirror imaging systems has an associated imaging field. The mirror imaging systems are arranged in a manner that precludes gaps between adjacent imaging fields in the scanning direction. Each mirror imaging system includes a concave mirror and a convex mirror arranged concentrically with the concave mirror. The concave mirrors have a first mirror portion and a second mirror portion that are independently movable. In one embodiment, each of the mirror imaging systems has an associated phase, and the mirror imaging systems in one row are positioned 180 degrees out of phase with the mirror imaging systems in the other row.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprises an illumination system for supplying a beam of radiation, a patterning arrangement incorporating an array of individually controllable elements for imparting a pattern to the beam cross-section, a substrate table for supporting a substrate, and a projection system incorporating a microlens array for projecting the beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An error compensator is provided for supplying error correction values for compensating for the effect of positional errors in the microlens array, and a grey scale modulator is provided for supplying drive signals to controllable elements of the patterning arrangement in dependence on the error correction values in order to compensate for the effect of positional errors in the microlens array by varying the intensity of some parts of the pattern relative to other parts of the pattern.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is provided with an optical system built into the wafer table for producing an image of a wafer mark that is provided on the back side of the wafer. The image is located at the plane of the front side of the wafer and can be viewed by an alignment system from the front side of the wafer. Simultaneous alignment between marks on the back and front of the wafer and a mask can be performed using a pre-existing alignment system.

Abstract: A lithographic method and apparatus used to pattern an object. An illumination system supplies a beam of radiation. An array of individually controllable elements patterns the beam. The patterned beam is projected by a projection system on to a substrate supported on a substrate table. Individual elements of the array are periodically addressed to load an image frame on to the array appropriate to the pattern to be imparted to the beam at any given instant in time taking into account the image to be projected onto the substrate. In any given frame loading operation, only those individual controllable elements that must change state are addressed to reduce the amount of data required to be transferred during the frame loading operation.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system to supply a beam of radiation, a patterning system serving to impart the beam of radiation with a pattern in its cross-section, a substrate table to support a substrate, and a projection system to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The substrate table includes a support member having an upper support surface for supporting at least part of the target portion of the substrate on a fluid cushion. The apparatus further includes a fluid supply system arranged to supply fluid to the upper support surface so as to provide the cushion, and an actuator system arranged to act on the support member. The actuator system is controllable to provide adjustment of a topography of the upper support surface relative to a reference plane. Compensation can thus be made for substrate thickness irregularities, to achieve correct focusing of the beam onto the target surface.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and method for exposing a substrate. An illumination system supplies a series of beams of radiation that are patterned by an array of individually controllable elements. The patterned beams are projected through arrays of lenses onto target portions of a substrate. Each lens in the arrays directs a respective part of the patterned beam towards the substrate. A displacement system causes relative displacement between the substrate and the beam, such that the beams are scanned across the substrate in a predetermined scanning direction. The projection systems are positioned so that each beam is scanned along a respective one of a series of tracks on the substrate. The tracks overlap so that each track comprises a first portion that is scanned by one beam and at least one second portion that overlaps an adjacent track, and is scanned by two beams.

Abstract: A system and method use a pattern generator to pattern illumination that is projected using an adjustable projection system to form one or more devices on a substrate. The adjustable projection system includes at least one active mirror, which is adjusted to compensate for errors found on a surface of the pattern generator, the substrate, and or an optical element in the lithography system. In one example, the adjustable projection system includes two concave and one convex mirrors, while in another system the adjustable projection system also includes one or two fold mirrors. At least one of the mirrors in these two examples is an active mirror, which is used for the compensating. In this arrangement, local focus and/or magnification errors can be substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprises a substrate table that supports a substrate having alignment marks on a surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises a frame moveable relative to the substrate to provide for a scanning or stepping mode of operation. An array of projection systems is disposed across the frame for projecting respective patterned beams onto a target portion of the substrate. A plurality of alignment mark detectors are attached to the frame and are moveable with respect to the frame using respective linear drive mechanisms. A position sensor is associated with each alignment mark detector for determining the position of the detector relative to the frame. A control system is responsible for both initial positioning of the detectors above alignment mark patterns on the substrate, and for dynamic alignment of the frame and substrate during a lithographic process.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system that supplies a beam of radiation, an array of individually controllable elements that pattern the beam, a substrate table for supporting a substrate, and a projection system that projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The projection system comprises an array of lenses arranged to receive the patterned beam, divide the patterned beam into a plurality of substantially polygonal portions, and focus each substantially polygonal portion to form a respective radiation spot on the target portion of the substrate. In one example, the illumination system comprises an illuminator arranged to receive a beam of radiation from a radiation source, the illuminator comprising an array of lenses arranged to divide the beam of radiation from the source into a plurality of substantially polygonal portions and to focus each substantially polygonal portion onto a respective one of the array of individually controllable elements.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and method in which an illumination system supplies a projection beam of radiation, a patterning system imparts to the beam a pattern in its cross section, and a projection system projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate supported on a substrate table. The projection system comprises an array of lenses located at a spacing from the substrate such that each lens in the array focuses a respective part of the patterned beam onto the substrate. A displacement system causes relative displacement between the lens array and the substrate. A particle detector is positioned to detect particles on the substrate which are approaching the lens array as a result of relative displacement between the lens array and the substrate.

Abstract: An optical position assessment apparatus and method has an illumination system that supplies an alignment beam of radiation, and positional data is derived from reflections of the alignment beam. A substrate is supported on a substrate table and a projection system is used to project the alignment beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A positioning system causes relative movement between the substrate and the projection system. An array of lenses is arranged such that each lens in the array focuses a respective portion of the alignment beam onto a respective part of the target portion. An array of detectors is arranged such that each detector in the array detects light reflected from the substrate through a respective lens in the array and provides an output representative of the intensity of light reflected to it from the substrate through the respective lens.

Abstract: A system and method are used to form features on a substrate. The system and method include using a first array including individually controllable elements that selectively pattern a beam of radiation, a second array including sets of lenses and apertures stops that form an image from a respective one of the individually controllable elements in a first plane, a third array including lenses that form an image from a respective one of the second array in a second plane, and a substrate table that holds a substrate in the second plane, such that the substrate receives the image from the respective one of the second array. A same spacing is formed between elements in the first, second, and third arrays.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus and method project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate supported by a substrate table. The pattern is imparted to the beam using a patterning system. The patterned beam is projected onto a target portion of the substrate by a projection system. The projection system defines a pupil between the patterning system and the substrate table. A series of lens components are located between the pupil and the substrate table. The lens components comprise a beam expander, for expanding the beam from the pupil, and an array of lenses extending transversely relative to the beam such that each lens of the array focuses a respective portion of the projection beam onto a respective part of the target portion of the substrate. The position of at least one of the lens components is adjusted to adjust the magnification of the projection system.