Detailed Holder For Original Patents (Class 355/75)
  • Patent number: 8325321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithography system for projecting an image or an image pattern on to a target such as a wafer. Energy that is accumulated in the target by the projection of the image or image pattern is removed from said target, such that expansion by local and/or overall heating is limited to a relevant pre-defined value, and wherein such heat removal is realised by the use of a phase transition in a heat absorbing material that is brought into thermal contact with said target. As a further elaboration, such material may be applied in combination with a further material having a superior coefficient of heat transport, and may be incorporated in an emulsion comprising a material having a superior coefficient of heat transfer. Said material may e.g. be adhered to a bottom face of the target, and may also be included in a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Kruit, Michel Pieter Dansberg, Marco Jan-Jaco Wieland
  • Patent number: 8325326
    Abstract: A power usage supply unit—that supplies power usage to a stage which moves on a movement surface has a first axis section, first support sections, a second axis section, and a second support section. The first axis section is movably supported by the first support section in a direction of the first axis and around the first axis, and the second axis section is movably supported by the second support section in a direction of the second axis and around the second axis. And, by employing a mechanism in which the power usage supply unit has at least four degrees of freedom, the power usage supply unit does not interfere with the movement of a stage even when the stage moves in the first and second axis directions and in the rotational direction of each axis, therefore, decrease in position controllability of the stage caused by dragging a tube can be completely avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8319947
    Abstract: An operating valve of the present invention is a differential pressure operating valve 100 for performing a vacuum suction of a substrate, the operating valve comprises a body 4 having an opening which is provided at an exhaust side for exhausting an air from an inside to an outside and is opposed to a suction side for sucking the air from the outside to the inside, a valve 8, and a spring 9 whose one end is connected with one of the suction side and the exhaust side of the body 4 and the other end is connected with the valve 8. The spring 9 is configured to stretch or compress in accordance with a differential pressure between the suction side and the exhaust side, and the valve 8 is provided with at least one hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Eki, Shiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 8319940
    Abstract: A measurement system includes a sensor arranged to co-operate with a first pattern arranged on a structure of the measurement system to determine a first position quantity of the sensor relative to the structure, and arranged to co-operate with a second pattern arranged on the structure to determine a second position quantity of the sensor relative to the structure, wherein the first and second patterns are arranged on different surfaces of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch
  • Patent number: 8319948
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an original stage mounted with an exposure original having a pattern used for exposure, and an evaluation original having a pattern used to evaluate an optical performance of a projection optical system, a first drive mechanism configured to drive the original stage in a first direction that is a scan direction, and a second drive mechanism configured to drive the evaluation original on the original stage in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a width of the evaluation original in the second direction is smaller than that of the exposure original in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shu Watanabe, Masato Hagiri
  • Patent number: 8300208
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lithographic apparatus including an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a patterning device 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, an active air mount to support the projection system, the active air mount including at least one actuator, and a feed-forward device, the feed-forward device being configured to provide on the basis of a set-point signal of a movable object, a feed-forward signal to the at least one actuator, wherein the feed-forward signal is designed to decrease a disturbance effect on the projection system due to movement of the movable object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Roelof Loopstra, Maurice Willem Jozef Etiënne Wijckmans, Robertus Leonardus Tousain, Adrianus Hendrik Koevoets
  • Patent number: 8284379
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for holding an object, particularly a planar object. An exemplary device has a chuck and pressure-changing device. The chuck has an object-mounting surface and a deformable membrane coupled to the object-mounting surface such that conformational changes in the membrane produce corresponding changes in the object-mounting surface. The chuck has a first cavity separated by the membrane from the chuck cavity. The pressure-changing device is coupled to the first cavity to change pressure in the first cavity, relative to outside it, sufficiently to produce a conformational change of the membrane and a corresponding change in the object-mounting surface sufficient to reduce the force with which the object is being held to the object-mounting surface. The pressure change can be a pressure increase or decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Alton H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8285030
    Abstract: A technique for determining a set of calibration parameters for use in a model of a photo-lithographic process is described. In this calibration technique, images of a test pattern that was produced using the photo-lithographic process are used to determine corresponding sets of calibration parameters. These images are associated with at least three different focal planes in an optical system, such as a photo-lithographic system that implements the photo-lithographic process. Moreover, an interpolation function is determined using the sets of calibration parameters. This interpolation function can be used to determine calibration parameters at an arbitrary focal plane in the photo-lithographic system for use in simulations of the photo-lithographic process, where the set of calibration parameters are used in a set of transmission cross coefficients in the model of the photo-lithographic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Yaogang Lian, Robert E. Gleason
  • Patent number: 8279406
    Abstract: A loading/unloading method to perform quickly exchanging an article to be loaded on a placing table. The method comprises: positioning the placing table, where article to be unloaded is placed, to a second position that is different from a first position; unloading the article that exists on the placing table; moving the placing table from the second position to the first position while the vertically moving member is positioned at a position lower than a lower surface of a loading member holding a next article and higher than the placing surface of the placing table; allowing a loading member holding the next article to wait over the first position before the placing table is positioned at the first position; and loading the next article onto the place table positioned at the first position after the placing table is moved to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tara Sugihara
  • Patent number: 8279401
    Abstract: A position control system configured to control the position of a movable object, includes: a position measurement system configured to determine a position of a sensor or sensor target on the movable object, a comparator configured to provide an error signal by comparing a set-point position and a position feed-back signal based on the measured position, a controller to provide a control signal based on the error signal, a feed-forward device to provide a feed-forward signal on the basis of a first signal related to the desired position, and one or more actuators configured to act on the movable object based on the control signal and the feed-forward signal, wherein the position control system further includes a compliance compensation device providing a compliance compensation signal, wherein the compliance compensation signal is subtracted from a measured position of the position measurement system to obtain the feed-back position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Johannes Vervoordeldonk, Mark Constant Johannes Baggen
  • Patent number: 8268514
    Abstract: 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. A vacuum ultra violet (VUV) light source is provided for irradiating a mask held by the pellicle mounter while the chamber is filled with the XCDA or inert gas. The mask is irradiated with the 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiin-Hong Lin, Chih-Chen Chen, Ming-Tao Ho
  • Patent number: 8253929
    Abstract: A stage apparatus including: a movement member movable with a plate member placed on a placement surface; and a fixing apparatus that fixes said plate member to said placement surface in parallel with said movement member passing through a prescribed first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8253928
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate to radiant energy includes: a stage including a chuck, and configured to hold the substrate on the chuck with vacuum and to be moved; a recovery device configured to recover the substrate from the stage; a first detector configured to detect an error of holding of the substrate on the chuck; a measuring device configured to measure an amount of positional deviation of the substrate relative to the chuck; and a controller configured to cause the measuring device to measure the amount of positional deviation in a case where the first detector detects the error, and to control an operation of the stage such that the amount of positional deviation falls within a tolerance based on the measured amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Usui, Shinichi Hirano
  • Publication number: 20120212715
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus, includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a first support constructed to support a first patterning device and a second support to support a second patterning device, the first and second 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. The first support and second support are movable in a scanning direction and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction. By movement of the first support and second support in the second direction the first support and second support can selectively be aligned with the projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Ruud Antonius Catharina Maria Beerens, Antonius Franciscus Johannes De Groot
  • Patent number: 8248583
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a stage system calibration method includes moving the stage relative to an encoder grid in response to a setpoint signal and measuring a position of the stage by a sensor head cooperating with the encoder grid. The position of the stage is controlled by a stage controller. A signal representative of a difference between the setpoint signal and the position of the stage as measured by the sensor head is registered. The stage system is calibrated from the registered signal representative of the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Marinus Aart Van Den Brink, Hans Butler, Emiel Jozef Melanie Eussen, Engelbertus Antonius Fransiscus Van Der Pasch, Marc Wilhelmus Maria Van Der Wijst, Georgo Angelis, Renatus Gerardus Klaver, Martijn Robert Hamers, Boudewijn Theodorus Verhaar, Peter Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 8229062
    Abstract: A system and method to compensate for the proximity effects in the imaging of patterns in a photolithography process. A light exposure of a photoresist layer is effectuated in predetermined patterns through an exposure mask having light-transmissive openings in correspondence to the predetermined patterns. The exposure mask has areas densely populated with the light-transmissive openings and areas sparsely populated with the light-transmissive openings. Light is attenuated through the densely populated light-transmissive openings by a different amount than through the sparsely populated light-transmissive openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG, United Microelectronics, Co
    Inventors: Hang Yip Liu, Sebastian Schmidt, Benjamin Szu-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 8228487
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is configured to transfer a pattern from a patterning structure, held by a patterning structure holder, onto a substrate that is held by a substrate holder. The apparatus includes a first object holder configured to hold an object, and an object temperature conditioner configured to condition a temperature of the object prior to and/or during transfer of the object to the first object holder. The object temperature conditioner includes a second object holder having a fluid duct system and an electrical temperature conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Albert Pieter Rijpma, Tjarko Adriaan Rudolf Van Empel
  • Publication number: 20120182538
    Abstract: An article such as an EUV lithography reticle is inspected to detect contaminant particles. The method comprises applying a fluorescent dye material to the article, illuminating the article with radiation at wavelengths suitable for exciting the fluorescent dye, monitoring the article for emission of second radiation by the fluorescent dye at a wavelength different from the first radiation, and generating a signal representing contamination in the event of detecting the second radiation. In one example, measures such as low-affinity coatings may be applied to the reticle to reduce affinity for the dye molecules, while the dye molecules will bind by physical or chemical adsorption to the contaminant particles. Dyes may be selected to have fluorescence behavior enhanced by hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, and contaminant surfaces treated by buffer coatings accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Roelof Koole, Vadim Yevgenyevich Banine, Luigi Scaccabarozzi, Oktay Yildirim
  • Patent number: 8208122
    Abstract: A method of measuring a lithographic projection apparatus is described. The method includes imaging a verification mark of a patterning device onto a radiation-sensitive layer held by a substrate table of a lithographic apparatus, wherein the verification mark includes at least a first, a second and a third verification structure that have a mutually different sensitivity profile for a dose setting, a focus setting and a contrast setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Staals, Gerardus Carolus Johannus Hofmans, Hans Van Der Laan, Sven Gunnar Krister Magnusson
  • Patent number: 8208128
    Abstract: A mirror block on which moving gratings are arranged is fixed to the lower surface of a stage. Fixed gratings are placed on the upper surface of a stage platform that is opposed to the lower surface of the stage. A Y encoder that measures Y positional information of the stage is configured including the moving gratings and the fixed gratings. Similarly, an X encoder that measures X positional information of the stage is configured including the moving gratings and the fixed grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Makinouchi
  • Publication number: 20120154776
    Abstract: An electrical connector suitable, for example, for connecting high voltage carrying cables in a low pressure environment comprises a housing having a conducting surface and a plurality of cable insertion parts, each cable insertion part comprising an electrical conductor configured to connect to an electrical cable and an insulating sleeve surrounding the electrical conductor, wherein the housing surrounds the plurality of cable insertion parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Wilhelmus Damen, Jeroen Van Duivenbode, Henricus Hubertus Adrianus Van Hout
  • Publication number: 20120140199
    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: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Hotzel
  • Patent number: 8192901
    Abstract: To provide a glass substrate-holding tool which is capable of avoiding scratching to the deposition surface of a glass substrate and dusting thereby caused as well as scratching and deposition of foreign substances at a center portion of the rear surface of the substrate and which is capable of suppressing dusting from the holding tool itself at the time of forming a multi-layered reflection film and an absorptive layer. A glass substrate-holding tool having, formed on a surface of a flat base, a catching portion for catching and holding by van der Waals forces, wherein the catching portion is in contact with only the periphery of the glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventor: Junichi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8184266
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system, a support, a substrate table, a projection system, and an actuator. The illumination system is configured to condition a radiation beam. The support is constructed to support a patterning device. The patterning device is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. The substrate table is constructed to hold a substrate. The projection system is configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The actuator is constructed and arranged to exert a force on a part of the lithographic apparatus via an elongated structure. The elongated structure is provided with a vibration damper constructed and arranged to damp vibrations in the elongated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Pieter Starreveld, Bastiaan Lambertus Wilhelmus Marinus Van De Ven
  • Patent number: 8173985
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light system includes a drive laser system that produces an amplified light beam; a target material delivery system configured to produce a target material at a target location; an extreme ultraviolet light vacuum chamber defining an interior vacuum space that houses an extreme ultraviolet light collector and the target location; and a beam delivery system that is configured to receive the amplified light beam emitted from the drive laser system and to direct the amplified light beam toward the target location. The beam delivery system includes a beam expansion system that expands a size of the amplified light beam and a focusing element that is configured and arranged to focus the amplified light beam at the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cymer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Bergstedt, William N. Partlo, Igor V. Fomenkov, Nam-Hyong Kim
  • Patent number: 8168959
    Abstract: A position measurement device 29 measures the position of a position measurement mark 26 formed on the lower surface of a reticle 1, thereby measuring the position of the reticle 1. A position measurement device 30 measures the position of the position measurement mark 27 formed on the lower surface of a lower lid 2b, thereby measuring the position of the lower lid 2b. The relative displacement of the reticle 1 and lower lid 2b is known when the position of the reticle 1 and the position of the lower lid 2b are known. Therefore, when the lower lid 2b having the reticle 1 loaded thereon is carried with a carrying device and set in an exposure device, the stop position of the lower lid 2b is determined by taking this displacement into account. As a result, the reticle 1 can be correctly set in the exposure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Motoko Suzuki, Yukiharu Okubo
  • Patent number: 8159654
    Abstract: A pressure body comprises: three or more pressure pins 40 that come into contact with a photomask 70 at downward positions in a pressure direction D; a main body 10 provided with an opening 16, the opening 16 supporting the pressure pins 40 so as to prevent the pins from dropping off downward, the opening 16 being able to change positions within a plane perpendicular to the pressure direction D, the pressure pins 40 being supported at said positions; a cover body 20 fixed to the main body 10 at an upward position in the pressure direction D; and a buffer member 30 located between the pressure pins 40 and the cover body 20 in the pressure direction D. The pressure body further comprises a cap pin 60, the cap pin 60 supported in the opening 16 so as to be prevented from dropping off downward, the cap pin 60 located in alignment with the pressure pins 40 so as to close off the opening 16, thereby preventing the buffer member 30 from being exposed downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Matsushita Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20120086931
    Abstract: A stage device that includes a base. A stage movable portion 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, guides a bend of at least one of the piping element and the wiring element. A heat insulating sheet is supported by the auxiliary member. The heat insulating material is 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sato, Yasuhito Sasaki, Keiji Emoto
  • Patent number: 8154709
    Abstract: A method of placing a substrate onto a surface of a substrate holder, in which the surface is provided with a plurality of burls. Substrate placement data for allowing placement of the substrate at a certain position with respect to a position of the plurality of burls on the surface of the substrate holder is calculated. The substrate is placed at the certain position in accordance with the substrate placement data. The certain position may be based on the position at which placement would result in a minimized overlay error or may be based on the position at which placement would result in minimized substrate deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jozef Augustinus Maria Alberti, Gerardus Petrus Matthijs Van Nunen, Frans Erik Groensmit, Rene Theodorus Petrus Compen, Marco Adrianus Peter Van Den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8149387
    Abstract: A method is provided for placing a substrate onto a surface of a substrate holder, the surface having a plurality of burls. First substrate placement data is calculated. This data enables placement of the substrate at a certain position with respect to a position of the plurality of burls on the surface of the substrate holder. Then, the substrate is placed at the certain position in accordance with the substrate placement data. The certain position may be based on the position at which placement would result in a minimized overlay error or may be based on the position at which placement would result in minimized substrate deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jozef Augustinus Maria Alberti, Gerardus Petrus Matthijs Van Nunen, Frans Erik Groensmit, Rene Theodorus Petrus Compen, Abraham Alexander Soethoudt
  • Patent number: 8144309
    Abstract: A chuck apparatus for holding a substrate is the disclosed. The chuck apparatus includes a first surface portion on which the substrate is to be held and a second surface portion adjacent to the first surface portion and extending at least partially around an edge of the first surface portion and which, in use, is arranged to deflect gas over the first surface portion and thus the substrate that is to be held on the first surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sander Frederik Wuister, Johan Frederik Dijksman, Yvonne Wendela Kruijt-Stegeman, Ivar Schram, Jeroen Herman Lammers, Richard Joseph Marinus Schroeders
  • Patent number: 8142963
    Abstract: A before-chucking main surface shape is measured in an actual measurement region of a main surface of a substrate which has been precision-polished and, based on the before-chucking main surface shape of the substrate and a shape of a mask stage (1), an after-chucking main surface shape of the substrate when a photomask (2) manufactured from the substrate is set in an exposure apparatus is obtained through simulation. A selection is made of the substrate in which the after-chucking main surface shape has a flatness of a first threshold value or less in a virtual calculation region thereof. For the selected substrate, a calculation is made of a first approximate curve approximate to a cross-sectional shape along a first direction in a correction region of the after-chucking main surface shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8133640
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for mounting a pellicle includes a pellicle compression plate formed to apply a plurality of particular pressures to a plurality of points or areas of a region of the reticle where a pellicle frame of the pellicle contacts a reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-hee Lee, Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20120050711
    Abstract: An improved technique for fixedly holding a reticle in a reticle chuck of the reticle simplifies the process of cleaning the back surface of the reticle by exposing the entire back surface. The technique includes approaching the reticle chuck with the reticle held at an initial orientation, aligning the reticle chuck with the initial orientation of the reticle and positioning the front surface of the reticle slightly below the top of a receiving area in the reticle chuck. The technique also includes placing a downward force on a set of spring-loaded pins, each spring-loaded pin configured to move within a corresponding hole in the chuck, the downward force providing a clearance for the reticle to enter a receiving cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Hillman
  • Patent number: 8125616
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes, in an embodiment, 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 a flexible transportation line extending between a first and second part of the apparatus, the second part moveable with respect to the first part, wherein the line is pre-formed in a three-dimensional curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Martinus Petrus Adrianus Vermeulen, Henrikus Herman Marie Cox, Godfried Katharina Hubertus Franciscus Geelen, Jérôme François Sylvain Virgile Van Loo
  • Patent number: 8125613
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system, which projects a pattern of a mask onto a prescribed exposure area on a substrate at a prescribed projection magnification. The optical axis center of the projection optical system is set to a position different from that of the center of the projection area onto which the pattern is projected. The exposure apparatus further includes a magnification modification device, which modifies the projection magnification of the projection optical system; a calculation device, which calculates a shift length of the center of the projection area associated with modification of the projection magnification; and a correction device, which corrects the position information of the exposure area based on the shift length of the center of the projection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kousuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8115901
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus is configured to expose a pattern formed on an original onto a substrate using extreme ultraviolet light. The exposure apparatus includes a stage configured to move at the time of exposure, an electrostatic chuck which is provided on the stage and is configured to hold the original, an electrode which is provided outside the electrostatic chuck on the stage via an insulator, and an electric field forming member which is provided so that an absolute value of an electric potential difference with respect to the electrode is greater than an absolute value of an electric potential difference with respect to the original at a position facing the electrode. The particle adherence to the original can be effectively avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8111377
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a position measuring system configured to measure a position of a moveable object with respect to a reference frame of the lithographic apparatus, in at least one direction of an orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system of the moveable object. The position measuring system includes an optical x-z-encoder configured to measure a displacement of a radiation source, a first grating, and a detector with respect to a second grating of the encoder. The first grating includes an alignment marker. A controller is configured to define a zero level of the moveable object with respect to the reference frame in at least one of the x- and z-direction by performing the scanning along the first grating, the alignment marker during the scanning step causing changes in the phase of the response of both the first positive and negative orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Suzanne Johanna Antonetta Geertruda Cosijns, Andre Schreuder
  • Patent number: 8111381
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes a stage movable on a base, an actuator which drives the stage and a driver which supplies current to the actuator. The apparatus further includes a current supply path having a plurality of parallel paths connecting the driver and the actuator. The current supply path includes a plurality of forward electrical wires and a plurality of backward electrical wires. The apparatus also includes a detector which detects a break of the current supply path based on a current of at least one of the plurality of parallel paths. The detector detects a break of the current supply path based on a total current of at least one of the plurality of forward electrical wires and at least one of the plurality of backward electrical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120026474
    Abstract: An apparatus and method reduce temperature variation across a reticle so as to reduce the expansion variation of the reticle. One method for realizing reduced temperature variation is to fill an inner space with backfill gas under pressure, using distribution trenches and walls (e.g., flow restriction dams), rather than providing uniform backfill gas pressure across the entire reticle. In another method, the perimeter of inner space can be chosen to reduce the expansion variation across the reticle based on the functional relationship between expansion and temperature for the reticle material. In an optional or alternative approach, reduced temperature variation across the reticle can be obtained by selectively filling cavities in the interior of the fluid cooled chuck with backfill gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: ASML HOLDING N.V.
    Inventor: Samir A. NAYFEH
  • Patent number: 8102513
    Abstract: A method for positioning an object by an electromagnetic motor which, in use, produces a plurality of primary forces and a pitch torque associated with the primary forces. The method includes a cycle which includes: determining the desired forces and torques for positioning the object, determining the primary forces to be generated by the motor, determine the pitch torque from either the primary forces or from the desired forces and torques, determine the desired signals for the motor to generate the primary forces. In a next cycle, prior to the determination of the primary forces, the desired forces and torques for positioning the object are modified using the pitch torque determined in the previous cycle of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Henrikus Herman Marie Cox, Thomas Augustus Mattaar
  • Patent number: 8102505
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device 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. At least one vibration isolation support device can be provided for supporting an object of the apparatus. The object can be rotatably supported at the vibration isolation support device by way of a rotational support having a center of rotation. The rotational support can have its center of rotation located substantially at the center of gravity of the vibration isolation support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus De Hoon
  • Patent number: 8102500
    Abstract: A stage device includes a base, and a stage movable portion being movable along a surface of the base. An interferometer measures a position of the stage movable portion, and at least one of a piping element and a wiring element is connected to the stage movable portion. An auxiliary member holds the piping element or the wiring element. The auxiliary member surrounds at least a portion of the piping element or the wiring element and is flexible, to be bent in accordance with the bending of the piping element or the wiring element, and a heat insulating material, held by the auxiliary member, reduces heat to be transferred from the piping element or the wiring element to a space through which measurement light of the interferometer passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sato, Yasuhito Sasaki, Keiji Emoto
  • Patent number: 8085385
    Abstract: A first positional information of a wafer stage is measured using an interferometer system such as, for example, a Z interferometer. At the same time, a second positional information of the wafer stage is measured using a surface position measurement system such as, for example, two Z heads. Moving average is applied to a difference between the first positional information and the second positional information for a predetermined measurement time to set a coordinate offset, and the coordinate offset is used to inspect the reliability of output signals of the surface position measurement system. When the output signals are confirmed to be normal, servo control of the wafer stage is performed using a sum of the first positional information and the coordinate offset. According to the servo control by this hybrid method, drive control of the wafer stage which has the stability of the interferometer and the precision of the Z heads becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuho Kanaya
  • Patent number: 8068260
    Abstract: In an image reading device, a reading unit scans first rectangle regions located within a maximum reading area equivalent to a maximum size of a document that can be scanned and acquires image data from the first rectangle regions. A transporting unit moves the reading unit to the first rectangle regions in a direction of movement opposite to a direction of movement in normal document reading. A document size judging unit detects whether a document exists in each first rectangle region based on the image data acquired by the reading unit and a predetermined threshold, so that a size of the document is judged. The reading unit is arranged to scan second rectangle regions located outside the maximum reading area, the second rectangles being different from the first rectangle regions, and acquire image data from the second rectangle regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Baba
  • Patent number: 8064045
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transferring a substrate from a first substrate holder to a second substrate holder in a lithographic projection apparatus by using a transfer unit on the basis of transfer data available thereto. The second substrate holder has a surface provided with a first plurality of burls. In the method, a memory encoded with burl position data and substrate position data is provided. Subsequently, a substrate is provided on the first substrate holder. The position error and orientation of the substrate is then measured. On the basis of the burl position data, substrate position data and orientation as measured orientation adjustment data are calculated. The orientation of the substrate is subsequently adjusted in accordance with the orientation adjustment data. The substrate is then transferred from the first substrate holder to the second substrate holder by the transfer unit and placed on the second substrate holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jozef Augustinus Maria Alberti, Gerardus Petrus Matthijs Van Nunen, Frans Erik Groensmit, Rene Theodorus Petrus Compen
  • Patent number: 8041284
    Abstract: An automatic document feeder device 100 has a device body 110 disposed on a platen 210 of a document reading device 200 and pivotably openable relative to the device 200 by being hingedly connected thereto. The device 100 includes detectors 130, 140 for detecting a document-stack state of at least one of a feeder and an output tray 111, 112 provided on the body 110, a driver 160 for driving the body 110 to be pivotably opened in an upward direction from the platen 210, an instructor 179 for giving an instruction for the driving, and a controller 172 for, based on a detection result of the detectors 130, 140 in priority to the instruction, to permit or forbid the driving, or to control an amount of the driving. When the device body is automatically opened, documents in the feeder or the output tray are unlikely to fall off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Toshikazu Higashi, Takeshi Ishida, Masahiro Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 8033814
    Abstract: An imprint lithography template may be used to form an imprinted layer in a light curable liquid disposed on a substrate. During use, the template may be disposed within a template holder. The template holder may include a body with an opening configured to receive the template, a support plate, and an actuator system coupled to the body. The actuator system may be configured to alter a physical dimension of the template during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Todd C. Bailey, Byung-Jin Choi, Matthew E. Colburn, Sidlgata V. Sreenivasan, Carlton Grant Willson, John G. Ekerdt
  • Patent number: 8035805
    Abstract: A guide includes a brittle material layer and a magnetically attracting magnetic body, e.g., a metal layer. A recess and a projection are formed on the metal layer. The brittle material layer is made of, e.g., a sprayed ceramic material and covers the recess formed on the magnetically attracting metal layer. A movable body moves as it levitates above the surface of the brittle material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Yasunobe
  • Patent number: RE42823
    Abstract: A slide securing device, using in a flatbed scanner, includes a frame and a securing cell. The securing cell comprises an aperture, a first securing clip, a second securing clip, a first securing groove, a second securing groove, a picking portion, a first support member and a second support member. The slide securing device utilizes proper clips for holding slides. Thus, the scanner can directly scan the secured slides by predetermined parameters and reset mode, in order to save scanning time. Further, the securing grooves maintains slides at a fixed height to improve the scanning quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Transpacific Optics LLC
    Inventors: Jenn-Tsair Tsai, Chieng-Ming Tsaur