Abstract: The present invention provides a stage device applicable to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. A stage device 10 comprises a Y-axis stage 20 and an X-axis stage 40, said Y-axis stage 20 including a fixed component 21 and a movable component 26 movable along the Y-axis, said X-axis stage 40 including a fixed component 41 and a movable component 43 movable along the X-axis, wherein the fixed component 41 of the X-axis stage 40 is disposed in the movable component 26 side of the Y-axis stage 20, the Y-axis is designed as a scanning axis, while the X-axis is designed as a stepping axis, and a non-contact sealing device is arranged between the fixed component 21 and the movable component 26 of the Y-axis stage 20.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic bearing in which a magnetic gap between magnetic pole faces of the stator and the rotor can be reduced, and which is reduced in size and has excellent corrosion resistance. This magnetic bearing comprises: a magnetic bearing rotor 16 provided on the rotary shaft; and a magnetic bearing stator 41 provided around the magnetic bearing rotor, wherein the magnetic bearing stator comprises: a stator core 42 having magnetic pole faces exposed toward the magnetic bearing rotor; excitation coils 43a attached to the stator core; and corrosion-resistant members 43 for shielding the excitation coils 43a from a corrosive atmosphere. The corrosion-resistant member can be formed by molding a ceramic or glass type hardenable material in a state such that the excitation coil 43a is embedded therein. The corrosion-resistant member may comprise a case 43c formed from the corrosion-resistant material.

Abstract: There is provided an excimer laser apparatus in which deterioration of the laser gas in the laser container can be suppressed, and damage to the magnetic bearings caused by the laser gas can be suppressed, and which can be reduced in size and operated efficiently, and has a low power consumption. Each electromagnet (stator) 7-1 of a magnetic bearing 7 for supporting a rotary shaft 4 of a circulation fan 3 includes excitation coils, each of which is arranged as one unit by embedding a coil body in a ceramic or glass type hardened material which is nonmagnetic and has corrosion resistance against a laser gas. The excitation coils are attached to magnetic poles comprising magnetic bodies. Alternatively, an arrangement may be made, such that coil wires 108b of a radial magnetic bearing 108 are isolated from a corrosive atmosphere by means of a separation wall 124 while projecting portions of cores 108b extend through the separation wall 124 and are exposed toward a magnetic bearing rotor 108f.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing apparatus wherein a can made of a non-magnetic material is disposed between a rotor and a stator, and the rotor is supported in a levitational manner by a magnetic force from an electromagnet provided on a stator-side member. A yoke of the electromagnet is disposed to extend through the can, or a magnetic member is buried in a portion of the can which the yoke of the electromagnet faces, so that the yoke faces a target on the rotor directly or through the magnetic member in a non-contact manner. Accordingly, the magnetic gap between the yoke and the target decreases correspondingly, and hence the magnetic reluctance reduces. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the size of the electromagnet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a controlled magnetic bearing apparatus which generates a control signal based on a sensor signal from a displacement sensor for detecting a radial displacement of a rotor to suppress whirling of the rotor due to an external force synchronized with a rotational movement, and can hence support the rotor stably in a levitated state.

Abstract: A differential pumping seal apparatus includes a differential pumping seal for sealing a first space and a second space from each other in a non-contact manner, and a back up seal mechanism for sealing the first space and the second space from each other in a contact manner. The back up seal mechanism is operated to seal the first space and the second space from each other only when the differential pumping seal is stopped or while operation of said differential pumping seal is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention provides a discharge-pumped excimer laser device which includes a laser chamber filled with a laser gas that is deteriorated to a small extent, magnetic bearings and a motor that are resistant to the entry of dust particles, and parts that are held in contact with the laser gas and suffer little damage, and has a long service life.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing enables to rotatably support a levitated body non-contactingly disposed in a hermetically sealed container filled with a gaseous process substance of a corrosive nature, while without contaminating the gaseous environment and suffering from corrosion. The magnetic bearing has an electromagnet for supporting a levitated body, a displacement sensor for detecting a levitated position of the levitated body, and a controller for supplying signals and excitation currents to the displacement sensor and the electromagnet through cables. An electromagnet target of the magnetic bearing that generates variations in magnetic fields due to rotation of the levitated body, is constructed of a single piece of ferromagnetic material, and is provided with an electrical insulation structure oriented parallel to magnetic fluxes generated by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A controlled magnetic bearing apparatus which generates a control signal based on a sensor signal from a displacement sensor for detecting a radial displacement of a rotor to suppress whirling of the rotor due to an external force synchronized with a rotational movement, and can hence support the rotor stably in a levitated state.

Abstract: A circulation fan apparatus including a hermetic vessel 1 containing a corrosive process gas therein, and a circulation fan 2 installed in the hermetic vessel, rotors 2-1, 2-2 of the circulation fan are rotatably supported by bearings, wherein the bearings comprises control-type radial magnetic bearings 4, 5 and at least control-type axial magnetic bearing 6, 7, displacement sensor targets 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, and 7-1 and rotor-side magnetic poles 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, and 7-2 of radial magnetic bearings 4 and 5 and axial magnetic bearings 6 and 7 are fixed to the rotors 2-1 and 2-2 of the circulation fan 2 and are disposed in the hermetic space communicating with the hermetic vessel, and displacement sensors 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, and 7-3 and stator-side magnetic poles 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, and 7-4 opposing the displacement sensor targets and rotor-side magnetic poles are disposed outside of the hermetic vessel with cans 14, 15, 17, and 18 interposed therebetween, whereby even when the circulation fan 2 is rotated at a high speed and u

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing chamber; a mechanism for long and unloading a substrate into and out of the chamber; a substrate heating source provided in the chamber; and a raw material supply source for supplying a raw material toward the substrate for processing. During processing of the substrate, the raw material for processing is supplied from a surface facing a surface of the substrate to be processed. When the substrate and a holder on which the substrate is placed are moved to a predetermined position for processing in the substrate processing chamber, a space in the substrate processing chamber is divided by the substrate into an upper space serving as a reaction space for processing and a lower space where the substrate heating source, etc. are placed. The apparatus also includes a magnetic force source for holding the holder at the predetermined position in a levitational manner by a magnetic force during processing of the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate processing method and apparatus capable of uniformly supplying a processing liquid to a substrate surface in substrate processing such as development processing without exerting an influence on the physical properties of the processing liquid and without damaging the substrate. A rotating blade is disposed above the horizontally placed substrate so as to face the substrate. The processing liquid is supplied to the surface of the substrate, and the rotating blade is rotated while being kept out of contact with the processing liquid to induce a gas current. The gas current forms a mass of processing liquid having an internal circulating current on the substrate surface below the rotating blade.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide magnetic bearing controller which is able to levitate the controlled object stably by using controlled magnetic forces. In the magnetic bearing controller which supplies a controlled current to an electromagnet for levitating a rotating body at a predetermined position, the controller is provided with an eliminator unit for eliminating frequency components of frequency area which is used by the status detector unit. The eliminator unit is inserted between signal amplifier unit and power amplifier unit for generating controlled current.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing apparatus wherein a can made of a non-magnetic material is disposed between a rotor and a stator, and the rotor is supported in a levitational manner by a magnetic force from an electromagnet provided on a stator-side member. A yoke of the electromagnet is disposed to extend through the can, or a magnetic member is buried in a portion of the can which the yoke of the electromagnet faces, so that the yoke faces a target on the rotor directly or through the magnetic member in a non-contact manner. Accordingly, the magnetic gap between the yoke and the target decreases correspondingly, and hence the magnetic reluctance reduces. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the size of the electromagnet.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing apparatus having a high speed-of-response and of a low cost is provided. The apparatus comprises a power amplifier for supplying a control current to a coil of an electromagnet of a control-type magnetic bearing and a non-linear component positioned in the rear of a stage where a control input signal S1 of the power amplifier and a current feedback signal S2 is added.

Abstract: A rotor is placed in a space communicating with a processing chamber. Stator-side constituent members of magnetic bearings and a stator-side constituent member of a motor are placed in a space defined outside the space communicating with the processing chamber by a partition provided between the rotor and the stator-side constituent members. Further, a material electromagnetically equivalent to yokes of electromagnets as stator-side constituent members of the magnetic bearings is fitted in portions of the partition where the yokes are located. The partition constitutes a stator housing as a whole. The magnetic bearings include an axial magnetic bearing and a radial magnetic bearing. The axial magnetic bearing is divided into three or more magnetic bearings, which are positioned so that imaginary lines connecting points where the divided axial magnetic bearings are disposed form an approximately regular triangle or polygon.

Abstract: An excimer laser device which is capable of keeping the rotational speed of a fan constant and uniformizing a laser gas flow between main discharge electrodes even when the pressure of a laser gas filled in a casing varies. The excimer laser device includes a casing filled with a laser gas; a pair of main discharge electrodes disposed in the casing for producing an electric discharge to discharge-pump the laser gas at a high repetition rate; a fan for producing a high-speed laser gas flow between the main discharge electrodes; bearings, the fan having a rotatable shaft rotatably supported by the bearings; a motor for actuating the fan; a rotational speed detecting device for detecting a rotational speed of the fan; and control device for controlling at least one of a voltage and a frequency to be supplied to the motor based on the rotational speed of the fan detected by the rotational speed detecting device, thereby to control the rotational speed of the fan at a constant level.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic bearing controller which is able to levitate the controlled object stably by using controlled magnetic forces. In the magnetic bearing controller which supplies a controlled current to an electromagnet for levitating a rotating body at a predetermined position, the controller is provided with an eliminator unit for eliminating frequency components of frequency area which is used by the status detector unit. The eliminator unit is inserted between signal amplifier unit and power amplifier unit for generating controlled current.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic bearing apparatus having no necessity of providing a magnetic flux sensor in the vicinity of a supporting electromagnet and no necessity of increasing the number of signal lines in a cable and capable of achieving an advantage similar to a conventional magnet flux feedback type power amplifier in a controller. The magnetic bearing apparatus for supporting a supported member by a magnetic force without contact comprises a current sensor (11) for detecting a control current output from a power amplifier (7) and a displacement sensor (10) for detecting a displacement of the supported member (1). A control current detection signal Si of the current sensor (11) and a displacement detection signal Sg of the displacement sensor (10) are supplied to an estimator (20) that estimates a magnetic flux or magnetic flux density generated between a surface of the electromagnet (4) and an electromagnetic target (3) on the supported member (1).

Abstract: There is provided an electric discharge gas laser comprising a housing containing a laser gas; a rotating fan provided in the housing to circulate the gas in the housing; a bearing device for magnetically supporting a rotating shaft of the rotating, the bearing device being provided with a sensor device comprising a sensor for sensing the position of the rotating shaft to generate signals indicating the position of the rotating shaft, and a signal processor for receiving and processing the signals delivered from the sensor to output processed signals; and a control separated from the bearing device and functionally associated with the bearing device to receive the processed signals from the sensor device for controlling the bearing device on the basis of the processed signals.