Abstract: A positioning device comprising an object table and a positioning module configured to position the object table. The positioning module comprises a first positioning module member configured to hold the object table, a second positioning module member configured to support the first positioning module member, and a support frame configured to support the second positioning module member. The positioning module also includes one or more actuators, a position measurement system configured to measure a position of the object table, and a control unit configured to control a position of the object table based on the measured position of the object table. The control unit is further configured to control a vertical position of the second position module member so as to maintain a top surface of the second positioning module member substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the first positioning module member.

Abstract: A method of operating a lithographic apparatus that comprises: a projection system configured to provide exposure radiation for patterning a substrate underneath the projection system; a first stage configured to support a first substrate; a second stage configured to support a second substrate; and a third stage accommodating a component that includes at least one of a sensor and a cleaning device; wherein the method comprises starting a pre-exposure scrum sweep operation after starting a substrate exchange operation; wherein during the pre-exposure scrum sweep operation, the third stage moves away from underneath the projection system while the second stage moves to underneath the projection system; wherein during the substrate exchange operation, the first substrate is unloaded from the first stage.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an optical sensor, a movable body, a support, a deflector system, a first drive system and a second drive system. The movable body is moveable relative to the sensor. The support is for holding the sensor. The first drive system is arranged to move the movable body relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the first drive system relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the deflector system relative to the sensor. A disturbance is induced by a movement of the movable body. The deflector system is arranged to create a deflecting area for reflecting the disturbance away from the support.

Abstract: A position measurement system includes an interferometer to determine a position of an object. The interferometer is arranged to generate a first, second and third signals representative of the position by irradiating respective first, second and third areas of a reflective surface of the object. Along a line, the first and second areas are at a first distance relative to each other, the second and third areas are at a second distance relative to each other, and the first and third areas are at a third distance relative to each other. The interferometer is arranged to provide a rotation signal representative of a rotation of the object along an axis based on the first, second and third signals. The axis is parallel to the reflective surface and perpendicular to the line.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a first outlet to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a first flow characteristic to at least part of a sensor beam path, and a second outlet associated with the first outlet and to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a second flow characteristic, different to the first flow characteristic, adjacent the thermally conditioned fluid from the first outlet,

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an optical sensor, a movable body, a support, a deflector system, a first drive system and a second drive system. The movable body is moveable relative to the sensor. The support is for holding the sensor. The first drive system is arranged to move the movable body relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the first drive system relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the deflector system relative to the sensor. A disturbance is induced by a movement of the movable body. The deflector system is arranged to create a deflecting area for reflecting the disturbance away from the support.

Abstract: A measurement system configured to measure a position dependent signal of an object table, the measurement system including at least one sensor mountable on the object table and a sensor target object mountable on a substantially stationary frame, and a mounting device configured to mount the sensor target object on the substantially stationary frame, wherein the measurement system further includes a compensator configured to compensate movements and/or deformations of the sensor target object with respect to the substantially stationary frame. The compensator may include a passive or an active damper and/or a feedback position controller. In an alternative embodiment, the compensator includes a gripping device which fixes the position of the sensor target object during a high accuracy movement of the movable object.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a first outlet to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a first flow characteristic to at least part of a sensor beam path, and a second outlet associated with the first outlet and to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a second flow characteristic, different to the first flow characteristic, adjacent the thermally conditioned fluid from the first outlet.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising: a positioning stage (WT); an isolation frame (300); a projection system (PS), comprising a first frame (210); a second frame (220); a supporting frame (10) for supporting the positioning stage; a first vibration isolation system (250) and a second vibration isolation system (270), wherein the supporting frame and the first frame are coupled via the first vibration isolation system; a stage position measurement system (400) to determine directly the position of a stage reference of an element of the positioning stage in one or more degrees of freedom with respect to an isolation frame reference of an element of the isolation frame; and wherein the first frame and the isolation frame are coupled via the second vibration isolation system.

Abstract: A stage system includes a movable stage, and an encoder for measuring a position of the stage, wherein the encoder includes an emitter for emitting an encoder beam, a grating for interacting with the encoder beam, and a detector for detecting the encoder beam having interacted with the grating, the encoder beam in use propagating along an optical path; a purging cap at least partly enclosing the optical path; and a purging medium supply device for supplying a purging medium into the purging cap.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a first outlet to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a first flow characteristic to at least part of a sensor beam path, and a second outlet associated with the first outlet and to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a second flow characteristic, different to the first flow characteristic, adjacent the thermally conditioned fluid from the first outlet.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an optical sensor, a movable body, a support, a deflector system, a first drive system and a second drive system. The movable body is moveable relative to the sensor. The support is for holding the sensor. The first drive system is arranged to move the movable body relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the first drive system relative to the sensor. The second drive system is arranged to move the deflector system relative to the sensor. A disturbance is induced by a movement of the movable body. The deflector system is arranged to create a deflecting area for reflecting the disturbance away from the support.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus including a substrate table position measurement system and a projection system position measurement system to measure a position of the substrate table and the projection system, respectively. The substrate table position measurement system includes a substrate table reference element mounted on the substrate table and a first sensor head. The substrate table reference element extends in a measurement plane substantially parallel to the holding plane of a substrate on substrate table. The holding plane is arranged at one side of the measurement plane and the first sensor head is arranged at an opposite side of the measurement plane. The projection system position measurement system includes one or more projection system reference elements and a sensor assembly. The sensor head and the sensor assembly or the associated projection system measurement elements are mounted on a sensor frame.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an encoder scale having an array of marks in a first direction, includes moving the encoder scale in the first direction relative to a first encoder-type sensor, a second encoder-type sensor and a third encoder-type sensor, wherein the first encoder-type sensor and the second encoder-type sensor are fixedly spaced in the first direction at a first distance relative to each other, wherein the second encoder-type sensor and the third encoder-type sensor are fixedly spaced in the first direction at a second distance relative to each other.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus including a moveable object (WT) and a displacement measuring system arranged to determine a position quantity of the moveable object. The displacement measuring system includes an encoder (BC) and a grid structure. One of the encoder and the grid structure is connected to the moveable object. The grid structure includes a high precision grid portion (HG) and a low precision grid portion (LG). The encoder is arranged to cooperate with the high precision grid portion to determine the position quantity relative to the grid structure with a high precision. The encoder is arranged to cooperate with the low precision grid portion to determine the position quantity relative to the grid structure with a low precision.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a first outlet to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a first flow characteristic to at least part of a sensor beam path, and a second outlet associated with the first outlet and to provide a thermally conditioned fluid with a second flow characteristic, different to the first flow characteristic, adjacent the thermally conditioned fluid from the first outlet.

Abstract: A positioning system for positioning an object in a lithographic apparatus, including: a first and second object tables moveable in an operating area; a first position measurement system to provide an incremental position measurement of the second object table relative to a reference when in the operating area, wherein the first position measurement system is configured to provide an absolute position measurement of the first object table relative to the reference; a second position measurement system to provide an absolute position measurement of the first object table relative to the second object table, and wherein the first position measurement system is further configured to provide an absolute position measurement of the second object table relative to the reference based on the absolute position measurement of the first object table relative to the reference and on the absolute position measurement of the first object table relative to the second object table.

Abstract: A displacement measurement system comprising at least one retro reflector and a diffraction grating. Said displacement measurement system is constructed and arranged to measure a displacement by providing a first beam of radiation to the measurement system, wherein the diffraction grating is arranged to diffract the first beam of radiation a first time to form diffracted beams. The at least one retro reflector is arranged to subsequently redirect the diffracted beams to diffract a second time on the diffraction grating. The at least one retro reflector is arranged to redirect the diffraction beams to diffract at least a third time on the diffraction grating before the diffracted beams are being recombined to form a second beam. And the displacement system is provided with a sensor configured to receive the second beam and determine the displacement from an intensity of the second beam.

Abstract: A measurement system configured to measure a position dependent signal of an object table, the measurement system including at least one sensor mountable on the object table and a sensor target object mountable on a substantially stationary frame, and a mounting device configured to mount the sensor target object on the substantially stationary frame, wherein the measurement system further includes a compensator configured to compensate movements and/or deformations of the sensor target object with respect to the substantially stationary frame. The compensator may include a passive or an active damper and/or a feedback position controller. In an alternative embodiment, the compensator includes a gripping device which fixes the position of the sensor target object during a high accuracy movement of the movable object.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system, a substrate table, a plurality of sensors, an actuator and a controller. The projection system is configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate. The substrate table is configured to support the substrate and to move relative to the projection system. The plurality of sensors is configured to measure a deformation of the substrate table. The actuator is configured to deform the substrate table. The controller is configured to control the actuator to deform the substrate table based on measurements made by the sensors. The plurality of sensors is located on a first side of the substrate table opposite to a second side of the substrate table facing the projection system. The plurality of sensors is substantially stationary relative to the projection system.