Detailed Holder For Original Patents (Class 355/75)
  • Patent number: 8982327
    Abstract: A method to enable positioning of an object by a positioning device that includes an electromagnetic motor to control the position of the object in a lithographic apparatus, the method including receiving desired motor signals at the electromagnetic motor to produce a plurality of primary forces and a pitch torque associated with the primary forces within a motor control cycle, wherein for the motor control cycle, the pitch torque is based on either the primary forces to be generated by the electromagnetic motor or the desired forces and torques for positioning the object; and in response to the desired motor signals, causing the electromagnetic motor to generate the primary forces, wherein prior to the primary forces are determined for a next motor control cycle, the desired forces and torques for positioning the object are modified using the pitch torque associated with a previous motor control cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Henrikus Herman Marie Cox, Thomas Augustus Mattaar
  • Patent number: 8982321
    Abstract: In the present invention, while conveying a subject to be exposed, when exposure on a first exposure area of the subject to be exposed is completed, the exposure being performed by using a first mask pattern group of a photomask in which a plurality of types of mask pattern groups corresponding to each exposure pattern is arranged and formed in a conveying direction of the exposure to be exposed at a predetermined interval, the photomask is moved in synchronization with a conveying speed of the exposure to be exposed and the mask pattern group is switched from the first mask pattern group to a second mask pattern group. When the switching of the mask pattern group of the photomask 11 is completed, the movement of the photomask is stopped, exposure on a second exposure area of the subject to be exposed 8 is performed by the mask pattern group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: V Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 8976336
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described that comprises a support structure to hold an object. The object may be a patterning device or a substrate to be exposed. The support structure comprises a chuck, on which the object is supported, and an array of shear-compliant elongated elements normal to the chuck and the stage, such that first ends of the elongated elements contact a surface of the chuck and second ends of the elongated elements contact a stage. Through using the array of elongated elements, a transfer of stress between the stage and the chuck is substantially uniform, resulting in minimization of slippage of the object relative to the surface of the chuck during a deformation of the chuck due to the stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Samir A. Nayfeh, Mark Edd Williams, Justin Matthew Verdirame
  • Patent number: 8964166
    Abstract: A stage device is provided with a mobile body retaining a mask illuminated with exposure light and moving along a predetermined plane, and a flow control section moving substantially together with the movement of the mobile body so as to control the flow of gas in proximity to the mask thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Publication number: 20150049323
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus injects gas between a reticle (MA) and reticle blades (REB-X, REB-Y) to protect the reticle from contamination. The gas may be injected either into the space defined between the reticle and the closest pair of reticle blades, or into the space defined between the two pairs of reticle blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kursat Bal, Bernardus Antonius Johannes Luttikhuis, David Christopher Ockwell, Arnold Jan Van Putten, Han-Kwang Nienhuys, Maikel Bernardus Theodorus Leenders
  • Patent number: 8947641
    Abstract: In a lithographic apparatus, a slip of a patterning device relative to a support, the support constructed to support the patterning device, may be provided by measuring a position of the support relative to a first structure of the lithographic apparatus; measuring a position of the patterning device relative to a second structure of the lithographic apparatus; determining a correlation between the position of the patterning device and the position of the support from the measured position of the support, the measured position of the patterning device, and the mutual positions of the first and second structures; and deriving from the correlation a slip of the patterning device relative to the support. The structure may include a projection system to project a radiation beam patterned by the patterning device. The projection system may be connected to a frame, such as a metrology frame of the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Onvlee, Erik Roelof Loopstra
  • Patent number: 8947640
    Abstract: A positioning device for positioning an object within a lithographic apparatus, including a support structure for supporting the object, at least two short-stroke units, each connected to the support structure, and a long-stroke unit. In the arrangement, each of the short-stroke units includes a short-stroke actuator system configured to provide independently at least one actuation force between the short-stroke unit and the long-stroke unit, and the long-stroke unit includes a long-stroke actuator system configured to provide at least one actuation force between the long-stroke unit and a reference structure of the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Raymond Wilhelmus Louis Lafarre, Henrikus Herman Marie Cox, Antonius Franciscus Johannes De Groot, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 8947638
    Abstract: Actuation systems and lithographic apparatus which address the issue of uncontrolled return of common mode currents are provided. In an embodiment such systems aim to prevent the occurrence of corona and discharge between high voltage electric cables in low pressure environments. An exemplary actuation system includes comprises an actuator module, a power source and power transmission cables. The actuator module includes an electrical motor and a first plurality of shielded cables configured to connect to the electrical motor at one end. The actuator module is located in a low pressure environment and each shield of the first plurality of cables is grounded. The transmission cables electrically connect the first plurality of cables with power supply, and include an extra cable configured to connect each shield of the first plurality of cables with the first extra cable, via a choke so as to provide a return path for common-mode currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Wilhelmus Damen, Martinus Jacobus Coenen, Hermannus Antonius Langeler
  • Publication number: 20150009483
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a mask includes aligning a mask sheet including an effective area and a non-effective area, on a mask frame; applying a pressure to the non-effective area of the mask sheet in a direction opposite to a sagging direction of the non-effective area, to prevent sagging of the non-effective area; and moving a clamping unit to the mask sheet along a direction substantially parallel to the mask sheet, to clamp the clamping unit onto the non-effective area of the mask sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho Eoun KIM
  • Patent number: 8927090
    Abstract: A method for bonding a first body (2) to a second, panel-shaped body (3) at bonding surfaces (2a, 3a) lying opposite each other, the second body (3) projecting in at least one direction (X) beyond an edge (2?) of the first body (2). The method includes: producing a plurality of spacers (4a to 4e, 4a? to 4e?) on at least one of the bonding surfaces (2a), applying adhesive (5) into intermediate spaces (6a to 6d) between the spacers beyond an outer spacer (4e, 4e?) as far as an adhesive periphery (5a), which is formed at an edge (2?) of the first body (2), and bonding the bodies (2, 3) by bringing the bonding surfaces (2a, 3a) into contact at the spacers (4a? to 4e?). A prescribed distance (d) between the adhesive periphery (5a) and the outermost spacer (4e) is set to provide a desired state of deformation of the panel-shaped body (3) after a shrinkage of the applied adhesive (5) (e.g. minimized bending of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Hin Yiu Anthony Chung, Dirk Schaffer
  • Patent number: 8921812
    Abstract: A position measurement device measures the position of a position measurement mark formed on the lower surface of a reticle, thereby measuring the position of the reticle. A position measurement device measures the position of the position measurement mark formed on the lower surface of a lower lid, thereby measuring the position of the lower lid. The relative displacement of the reticle and lower lid is known when the position of the reticle and the position of the lower lid are known. Therefore, when the lower lid having the reticle loaded thereon is carried with a carrying device and set in an exposure device, the stop position of the lower lid is determined by taking this displacement into account. As a result, the reticle can be correctly set in the exposure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Motoko Suzuki, Yukiharu Okubo
  • Patent number: 8922756
    Abstract: A position measurement system includes a first part and a second part for determining a position of a first member relative to a second member by providing a position signal representing a position of the first part relative to the second part, and a computational unit comprising an input terminal for receiving the position signal. The computational unit is configured to, in use, apply a conversion to the position signal to obtain a signal representing a position of the first member relative to the second member; and apply an adjustment to the conversion to at least partly compensate for a drift of the first part or the second part or both. The adjustment is based on a predetermined drift characteristic of the first part or the second part or both respectively. The predetermined drift characteristic includes one or more base shapes of the first part and/or the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Willem Herman Gertruda Anna Koenen, Emiel Jozef Melanie Eussen, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch, Robbert Edgar Van Leeuwen, Adrianus Hendrik Koevoets
  • Patent number: 8913230
    Abstract: In an imprint lithography system, a recessed support on a template chuck may alter a shape of a template positioned thereon providing minimization and/or elimination of premature downward deflection of outer edges of the template in a nano imprint lithography process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Canon Nanotechnologies, Inc., Molecular Imprints, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahadevan GanapathiSubramanian, Mario Johannes Meissl, Avinash Panga, Byung-Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 8905369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration isolation module (101) for a lithographic apparatus or an inspection apparatus. The module comprises a support frame (102), an intermediate body (103) and a support body (104) for accommodating the lithographic apparatus. The intermediate body is connected to the support frame by means of at least one spring element such that the intermediate body is a hanging body. The support body is connected to the intermediate body by means of at least one pendulum rod (108) such that the support body is a hanging body. The invention further relates to a substrate processing system comprising such vibration isolation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventors: Jerry Johannes Martinus Peijster, Rogier Martin Lambert Ellenbroek, Guido De Boer
  • Patent number: 8891054
    Abstract: A stage device includes a base and a stage movable portion that is movable along a surface of the base. An interferometer measures a position of the stage movable portion using measurement light. At least one of a piping element and a wiring element are connected to the stage movable portion. An auxiliary member, including a plurality of members connected with each other along an axial direction of the piping element, guides a bend of the at least one of the piping element and the wiring element. A plurality of heat insulating sheets are supported by the plurality of members of the auxiliary member. The plurality of heat insulating sheets are provided between a space through which the measurement light of the interferometer passes, and the at least one of the piping element and the wiring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sato, Yasuhito Sasaki, Keiji Emoto
  • Patent number: 8891064
    Abstract: When a wafer stage WST accelerates and decelerates on a base, a torque that acts on a wafer drive system including the base and the like is cancelled out by a torque that acts on the wafer drive system by driving a counter of a coutermass device along a linear guide in the Z-axis direction at a predetermined acceleration. Thereby, the torque that acts upon the wafer drive system is cancelled and the exposure apparatus can expose the wafer with good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8891065
    Abstract: A system for forming a pattern on a part comprises a chamber base, a pressure vessel and a retaining device. The retaining device is positionable between the chamber base and the pressure vessel to secure a deformable mask therebetween. The system further comprises a first pressure source, a second pressure source and a third pressure source. The first pressure source provides a negative pressure within the chamber to draw the mask towards a part installed within the chamber base. The second pressure source provides a positive pressure within the pressure vessel to direct the mask towards the part so that the mask corresponds to at least one complex non-planar surface of the part. The third pressure source provides a negative pressure within pressure vessel. An exposure source exposes the part through the mask while the mask is deformed corresponding to the at least one complex non-planar surface of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Eric L. Hogue, Stephen J. Krak, Timothy J. Stanfield
  • Patent number: 8891056
    Abstract: A wafer stage system moves a wafer stage that retains a wafer via a wafer holder along a wafer base. For example, the wafer holder is formed from a material whose density is not uniform, such that the portion that includes the reflecting surface that reflects a measuring beam for position measurement is a high-density portion, and the other portions are low-density portions. Or, the wafer stage is formed from a material whose density is not uniform, such that the portion that includes the surface that constitutes a gas bearing is a high-density portion, and the other portions are low-density portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8885149
    Abstract: In a lithographic apparatus, slippage of a patterning device is substantially eliminated during movement of a patterning device stage by providing a magnetostrictive actuator to apply an accelerating force to the patterning device to compensate for forces that would otherwise tend to cause slippage when the patterning device stage moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Darya Amin-Shahidi
  • Patent number: 8879044
    Abstract: A lithographic device includes a cooling device for removing heat from a motor. The cooling device has a cooling element provided in thermal contact with at least part of the motor. The cooling device further has a cooling duct assembly with a supply duct to supply a cooling fluid to the cooling element, and a discharge duct to discharge the cooling fluid from the cooling element. A pump causes the cooling fluid to flow through at least part of the cooling duct assembly. A flow control device controls a flow rate of the cooling fluid through at least part of the cooling duct assembly, to maintain a predetermined average temperature of the cooling fluid in the cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Frank Auer
  • Patent number: 8867022
    Abstract: A controller uses two Z heads, which are positioned above a reflection surface installed on the ±X ends of the upper surface of a wafer table, to measure the height and tilt of the wafer table. The Z head to be used is switched according to XY positions of the wafer table. On the switching of the heads, the controller applies a coordinate linkage method to set an initial value of the Z head which is to be newly used. Accordingly, although the Z head to be used is sequentially switched according the XY position of the wafer table, measurement results of the height and the tilt of the wafer table are stored before and after the switching, and it becomes possible to drive the wafer table with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Shibazaki, Yuho Kanaya
  • Patent number: 8860925
    Abstract: A controller inclines a movable body with respect to an XY plane at an angle ? in a periodic direction of a grating, based on a measurement value of an interferometer which measures an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane, and based on a measurement value of an encoder system and information of angle ? before and after the inclination, and computes an Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface with respect to a reference surface (e.g., an image plane of a projection optical system) which serves as a reference for position control of the movable body in the XY plane. Then, the controller drives the movable body, based on positional information of the movable body in the XY plane measured by the encoder system and a measurement error of the encoder system corresponding to an angle of inclination of the movable body to the XY plane due to the Abbe offset quantity of the grating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8854607
    Abstract: A controller is provided that controls an actuator system having a plurality of actuators arranged to act on an object. The controller uses a gain balancing matrix to convert a first control signal, representing a set of forces desired to be provided to the center of gravity of the object into a second control signal, representing an equivalent set of forces to be provided by the plurality of actuators. The system is further configured such that a first gain balancing matrix is used at a first frequency band and a second gain balancing matrix is used at a second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Ramidin Izair Kamidi, Hans Butler, Martijn Houkes, Marinus Maria Johannes Van De Wal, Jeroen Johan Maarten Van De Wijdeven
  • Patent number: 8854598
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and, an actuator arranged to exert a force on an object, wherein the apparatus includes a thermal expansion error compensator configured to avoid an error caused by thermal expansion of the object by any heat dissipated by the actuator or another heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jan-Jaap Kuit, Doede Frans Kuiper
  • Patent number: 8848169
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam and a support constructed to support a patterning device. The patterning device may be capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. The lithographic apparatus further includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The lithographic apparatus may be provided with a composite material wherein a layer of carbon fiber and a layer of titanium is provided within the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Scholten, Jacob Kleijn, Stephan Christiaan Quintus Libourel, Mark Petrus Ubbink
  • Publication number: 20140285791
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure apparatus which transfers a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, including a stage configured to place the reticle, a holding mechanism configured to hold the reticle placed on the stage, a driving unit configured to drive the stage, a determination unit configured to determine a feature including at least one of a type or shape of the reticle placed on the stage, and a decision unit configured to decide, based on the feature determined by the determination unit, at least one of a holding state of the reticle held by the holding mechanism, or control regarding driving of the stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 8830442
    Abstract: A servo control system to control a position of an object supported by a movable support includes a first measurement system to measure a position of the movable support, a comparative device to provide an error signal based on the comparison between a measured movable support position and a desired movable support position, a controller unit to provide a control signal based on the error signal, and an actuator configured to actuate the movable support based on the control signal. The servo control system further includes a slip compensation device to compensate a slip between the object and the movable support, the slip compensation device including a second measurement system to measure an object position with respect to the movable support, and an addition device to add a slip compensation signal to the measured movable support position or the error signal based on the measured object position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: AMSL Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Youssef Karel Maria De Vos, Dirk-Jan Bijvoet, Ronald Casper Kunst, Ramidin Izair Kamidi, Khalid Manssouri
  • Patent number: 8817236
    Abstract: A plurality of heads configuring an encoder system is arranged on a wafer table, and positional information of a wafer table in the XY plane is measured, based on an output of a head opposed to a scale plate (diffraction grating). And, a relative position (including relative attitude and rotation) of each head with the wafer table is measured herein by a measurement system arranged inside the head. Accordingly, by correcting the positional information based on the information of the relative position which has been measured, a highly precise measurement of the positional information of the wafer table becomes possible even in the case when the position (attitude, rotation) of the head changes with the movement of the wafer table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuho Kanaya
  • Patent number: 8805556
    Abstract: A damping apparatus that supports and dampens a stage apparatus that positions and drives a stage to a target position is provided herein. The damping apparatus including a support plate part, a support force generating means, and a first controlling means. The support plate part supports the stage apparatus. The support force generating means exerts a damping action by applying a support force to the support plate part in the vertical directions. The first controlling means uses the acceleration of the stage, which is derived from a target track, to the target position, to control the support force generated by the support force generating means so as to compensate for forces that both occur as a result of the acceleration of the stage and cause the support plate part to tilt. The present invention controls vibration and the tilt of a base plate with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Saiki, Ping-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 8801201
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating the imaging of books are presented. A first transparent plate and a second transparent plate may be positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle to the first transparent plate. A dual-sided mirror may be configured to be positioned substantially parallel with the first transparent plate and to be positioned substantially parallel with the second transparent plate. The first side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a first image of a first page of a book, the first image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the first transparent plate. The second side of the dual-sided mirror may be configured to reflect a second image of a second page of the book, the second image being received by the dual-sided mirror through the second transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Reese, Shawn Reid
  • Patent number: 8786832
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described that comprises a support structure to hold an object. The object may be a patterning device or a substrate to be exposed. The support structure comprises a chuck, on which the object is supported, and an array of shear-compliant elongated elements normal to the chuck and the stage, such that first ends of the elongated elements contact a surface of the chuck and second ends of the elongated elements contact a stage. Through using the array of elongated elements, a transfer of stress between the stage and the chuck is substantially uniform, resulting in minimization of slippage of the object relative to the surface of the chuck during a deformation of the chuck due to the stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Samir A. Nayfeh, Mark Edd Williams, Justin Matthew Verdirame
  • Patent number: 8786827
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the state of the lens transmittance of an optical projection system are described. A lens or imaging objective transmission is determined as a function of exit pupil transverse direction cosine (nx,ny) at multiple field points thereby providing a more complete analysis and correction of a photolithographic exposure system. The entrance pupil of a projection imaging system is uniformly illuminated and the angular dependence of transmission through the imaging system as a function of exit pupil direction cosines is determined. The illumination source includes a light conditioner with an in-situ illumination structure (ISIS), which is an optical structure that can provide uniform illumination of the system's entrance pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Litel Instruments
    Inventors: Adlai H. Smith, Robert O. Hunter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8778569
    Abstract: There is provided a pellicle having a pellicle frame on which an adhesive layer for attaching the pellicle onto a photo mask is made from a room temperature curable two-part adhesive, so that a formation of the adhesive layer is carried out without heating. The room temperature curable two-part adhesive dispensed on the pellicle frame is not heated for curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 8773730
    Abstract: A scan assisting fixing device and a scanner using the same are provided. The fixing device is for fixing an object to be scanned, which includes a scanning portion and a holding portion. The fixing device includes an accommodation region, a scan window and a protrusion portion. When the holding portion is loaded in the accommodation region, the scanning portion correspondingly disposed in the scan window is retained and fixed by the protrusion portion, and the position of the holding portion in the fixing device is constant, so that the scanning portion is always within the range of the field depth of the scanner regardless of the specification of the positive film holder, and the clarity of the scanned image is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Qisda (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yun-Bin Gu, Yong-Xiang Yi, Zhi-Hai Zhang, Jian-Chun Yu, Hong-Peng Li, Ming-Jie Zhao
  • Patent number: 8772737
    Abstract: A coupling module may include an upper portion that defines an aperture, mask contact elements, chuck contact elements and an intermediate element that is connected between the mask contact elements and the upper portion. A shape and a size of the aperture may correspond to a shape and size of a pattern transfer area of an extreme ultra violet (EUVL) mask. The coupling module may be shaped and sized so that once the mask contact elements contact the upper portion of the EUVL mask, the chuck contact elements contact a chuck that supports the mask. The coupling module may further provide at least one conductive path between the upper portion of the EUVL mask and the chuck when the EUVL mask is positioned on the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Igor Krivts (Krayvitz), Israel Avneri, Yoram Uziel, Nir Ben-David Dodzin, Ido Holcman, Itzak Yair, Yosi Basson
  • Patent number: 8760625
    Abstract: An aberration detector for a lithographic apparatus is used. An imaging device captures an image of at least one pinhole feature of a target projected onto the imaging device by the projection system of the lithographic apparatus at two different locations separated in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the projection system. A controller obtains a representation of the aberration of the projection system from the captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Jacobus Maria Rooijakkers
  • Patent number: 8760622
    Abstract: A movable body apparatus is equipped with a Y measuring system equipped with an encoder and an interferometer that measure the position of a stage in one axis (Y-axis) direction. The interferometer irradiates a reflection surface arranged on the stage with a measurement light close to a measurement light of the encoder, and receives its reflected light. In this case, the encoder and the interferometer commonly use an optical member fixed to the stage. Accordingly, the Y interferometer and the Y encoder have substantially the equal measurement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Makinouchi
  • Patent number: 8755030
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An optical element of the projection system is adjustable. The lithographic apparatus includes a controller to control the adjustable optical element. The controller is arranged to drive the optical element so as to at least partly compensate for a magnification resulting from a bending of the patterning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Christiaan Louis Valentin, Antonius Franciscus Johannes De Groot, Robert-Han Munnig Schmidt, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen, Bartholomeus Catharina Thomas Van Bree
  • Patent number: 8749753
    Abstract: The upper end of a static gas bearing member of a wafer side seal unit is connected to an edge section on the outgoing side of an exposure beam of a chamber in an air tight state via bellows, and the lower end surface is in a state forming a predetermined clearance with a wafer and a wafer holder. By this arrangement, the inside of the chamber is isolated from the outside. Accordingly, it becomes possible to maintain a vacuum environment in the periphery of the optical path of the exposure beam without arranging a vacuum chamber to house a wafer, a wafer holder, and a wafer stage, which allows the size of the entire exposure apparatus to be reduced, and also makes it easy to have access to the vicinity of the wafer stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Tanaka, Yukio Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 8743344
    Abstract: A cable connection between a first object and a second object includes a cable bundle of one or more cables having a certain length. One end of the cable bundle is fixed to the first object and another end of the bundle is fixed to the second object. A cable bundle holder configured to hold the cable bundle at a certain location along the length of the cable bundle, and a control system configured to control the position of the cable bundle holder with respect to the second object are presented. A control system for cable connection, and a method of reducing the transfer of vibrations from a first object to a second object via a cable connection are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Martinus Van Duijnhoven, Johan Hendrik Geerke, Joost De Pee, Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus De Hoon
  • Patent number: 8736815
    Abstract: A position sensor is configured to measure a position data of a target. The position sensor includes a radiation source configured to irradiate a radiation beam, a first grating configured to diffract the radiation beam in a first diffraction direction into at least a first order diffraction beam, and a second grating, arranged in an optical path of the first order diffraction beam, the second grating being configured to diffract the first order diffraction beam diffracted at the first grating in a second diffraction direction substantially perpendicular to the first diffraction direction. The second grating is connected to the target. A first detector is configured to detect at least a part of the beam diffracted by the first grating, and at least one second detector is configured to detect at least part of the beam diffracted by the first grating and the second grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Ruud Antonius Catharina Maria Beerens, Antonius Franciscus Johannes De Groot, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen
  • Publication number: 20140141536
    Abstract: A segmented mask includes a set of cell structures, wherein each cell structure includes a set of features having an unresolvable segmentation pitch along a first direction, wherein the unresolvable segmentation pitch along the first direction is smaller than the illumination of the lithography printing tool, wherein the plurality of cell structures have a pitch along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the unresolvable segmentation pitch is suitable for generating a printed pattern for shifting the best focus position of the lithography tool by a selected amount to achieve a selected level of focus sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir Levinski, Yoel Feler, Daniel Kandel
  • Patent number: 8724088
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for mounting a pellicle to a photomask. A chamber has at least one port for filling the chamber with extreme clean dry air (XCDA) or an inert gas. A pellicle mounter is provided within the chamber. The mask is irradiated with a vacuum ultra violet (VUV) light in an atmosphere of the XCDA or inert gas, and the pellicle is mounted to the mask while the mask is in the atmosphere of the XCDA or inert gas and exposed to the VUV light. An assembly includes the mask attached to a pellicle frame by a pressure sensitive adhesive; and a pellicle joined to the pellicle frame, forming a sealed enclosure, the sealed enclosure being filled with extreme clean dry air (XCDA) or inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiin-Hong Lin, Chih-Chen Chen, Ming-Tao Ho
  • Patent number: 8699002
    Abstract: A laser irradiation device and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting diode display device using the same. The laser radiation device prevents the scattering of the laser light into portions of the donor substrate that correspond to non-transmissive regions of a mask pattern. To reduce the scattering, the mask pattern is designed so that 1) non-transmissive regions of a surface of the mask pattern that faces the laser source have a reflective layer, 2) the surface of the mask pattern that faces the laser source is oriented to have a certain angle with respect to the laser beam axis, and 3) a surface of the mask pattern that faces the donor substrate has an anti-reflective layer. Each of these design aspects of the mask pattern prevents laser light from being scattered and prevents irradiating portions of the donor substrate that corresponds to a non-transmissive region of the mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Mook Lee, Tae-Min Kang, Do-Young Kim, Beom-Joon Kim
  • Patent number: 8692978
    Abstract: A method of determining a defect in a grid plate of an encoder-type position measurement system, the method including providing an encoder-type position measurement system to measure a position of a movable object with respect to another object, the encoder-type position measurement system including a grid plate and an encoder head, measuring a quantity of light reflected on each of the two or more detectors, using a combined light intensity of the reflected light on the two or more detectors to determine a reflectivity signal representative for the reflectivity of the grid plate at the measurement location, and determining a presence of a defect at the measurement location on the basis of the reflectivity signal of the grid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Toon Hardeman
  • Patent number: 8687171
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes a first and second magnetic members that are displaceable relative to each other and are arranged to provide a magnetic circuit; and a coil configured to, in use, receive a current to generate a magnetic flux through the magnetic circuit, thereby generating a force between the first and second magnetic members in a first direction, the magnetic flux, in use, being transferred between the first and second magnetic members through a first surface of the first magnetic member and a second surface of the second magnetic member, the first and second surface being separated by an airgap, wherein the first surface and the second surface are arranged relative to each other such that an outer dimension of the first surface extends beyond an outer dimension of the second surface in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sven Antoin Johan Hol, Jan Van Eijk, Johannes Petrus Martinus Bernardus Vermeulen, Gerard Johannes Pieter Nijsse, Simon Bernardus Cornelis Maria Martens, Yang-Shan Huang, Michael Wilhelmus Theodorus Koot, Jeroen De Boeij, Maarten Hartger Kimman, Wei Zhou
  • Patent number: 8681310
    Abstract: A pellicle frame is mechanically attached to a reticle, without use of an adhesive. An embodiment includes mechanically attaching a pellicle frame to a front surface of a reticle, removing the pellicle frame from the reticle, cleaning the reticle, and mechanically reattaching the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include using a clamp to mechanically attach the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include forming the pellicle frame with a flange having an opening in the center, and forming the clamp with two portions, one portion with a protrusion that fittingly engages the opening in the flange and with a second opening, and the second portion with a segment that extends behind the reticle and with a second protrusion that fittingly engages the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Hotzel
  • Patent number: 8675171
    Abstract: A drive unit drives a wafer table in a Y-axis direction based on a measurement value of an encoder that measures position information of the wafer table in the Y-axis direction and based on known correction information in accordance with position information of the wafer table in a non-measurement direction (e.g. Z, ?z and ?x directions) that is measured by an interferometer at the time of the measurement by the encoder. That is, the wafer table (a movable body) is driven in the Y-axis direction based on the measurement value of the encoder that has been corrected by correction information for correcting a measurement error of the encoder that is caused by a relative displacement of a head and a scale in the non-measurement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8675265
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including: a placement portion on which an original is to be placed; an openable and closable pressure portion which presses, the original, which is placed on the placement portion, against the placement portion; a reading unit which moves in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction to read image information of the original, which is pressed against the placement portion by the openable and closable pressure portion, and a step portion, which is provided in a pressure surface of the openable and closable pressure portion which presses the original against the placement stand, and in a state in which the openable and closable pressure portion is closed, forms a space portion extending in the sub-scanning direction so as to communicate to at least one end in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoko Magata
  • Patent number: 8665416
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a measurement system which measures an aberration of a projection optical system. The measurement system includes a first pattern positioned on an original stage, a second pattern positioned on a substrate stage, a third pattern positioned on the original stage to align the first and second patterns, a fourth pattern positioned on the substrate stage to align the first and second patterns, a detection system which detects a relative position between the third pattern and the fourth pattern, and a controller which controls at least one of the stages to align the first pattern positioned at a position spaced apart from the third pattern by a predetermined distance, and the second pattern positioned at a position spaced apart from the fourth pattern by a predetermined distance, based on the relative position between the third pattern and the fourth pattern detected by the detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Takenaka