Abstract: An inspection system, a lithographic apparatus, and a method are provided. The inspection system includes an illumination system, an optical system, a shutter system, an objective system and a detector. The illumination system is configured to generate an illumination beam. The optical system is configured to split the illumination beam into a first sub-beam and a second sub-beam. The shutter system is configured to independently control a transmittance of the first sub-beam and the second subbeam. The objective system is configured to receive the first sub-beam and the second beam from the optical system and direct the first sub-beam and the second sub-beam towards a substrate having a target structure. The detector is configured to receive an image or a diffracted image of the target structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of sensing multiple alignment marks in which the optical axis of a detector is divided into multiple axes each of which can essentially simultaneously detect a separate alignment mark to generate a signal which can then be multiplexed and presented to a single detector or multiple detectors thus permitting more rapid detection of multiple marks.

Abstract: An alignment method includes directing an illumination beam with a varying wavelength or frequency towards an alignment target, collecting diffraction beams from the alignment target and directing towards an interferometer. The alignment method also includes producing, by the interferometer, two diffraction sub-beams from the diffraction beams, wherein the diffraction sub-beams are orthogonally polarized, rotated 180 degrees with respect to each other around an alignment axis, and spatially overlapped. The alignment method further includes measuring interference intensity of the diffraction beams based on a temporal phase shift, wherein the temporal phase shift is a function of the varying wavelength or frequency of the illumination beam and a fixed optical path difference between the diffraction beams. The alignment method also includes determining a position of the alignment target from the measured interference intensity.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus, including: a tapered optical fiber, the tapered optical fiber having an input to receive radiation and having an output to provide spectrally broadened output radiation toward a measurement target, the tapered optical fiber configured to spectrally broaden the radiation received at the input; and a detector system configured to receive a redirected portion of the output radiation from the measurement target.

Abstract: A metrology tool that includes a substrate table to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project a beam on a target portion of the substrate; an actuator configured to adjust a position of the projection system relative to the substrate on the substrate table; a sensor configured to determine a position of the substrate table; and a one or more processors configured to: determine, based on the position of the substrate table, a position error of the substrate table with respect to a reference; and control, via the actuator, a position of the projection system to compensate for the position error of the substrate table so that the beam projects on the target portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for increasing the throughput of a particle inspection system. During a first portion of an exposure time period of the particle inspection system, an example method can include irradiating a first region of a substrate surface, blocking all reflected radiation outside the first region, and generating a first sub-image of the first region based on radiation reflected from the first region. During a second portion of the exposure time period, the example method can further include irradiating a second region of the substrate surface, blocking all reflected radiation outside the second region, and generating a second sub-image of the second region based on radiation reflected from the second region. Subsequently, the example method can include generating a composite image based on the first sub-image and the second sub-image.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus includes an illumination system configured to direct one or more illumination beams towards an alignment target and receive the diffracted beams from the alignment target. The alignment apparatus also includes a self-referencing Interferometer configured to generate two diffraction sub-beams, wherein the two diffraction sub-beams are orthogonally polarized, rotated 180 degrees with respect to each other around an alignment axis, and spatially overlapped. The alignment apparatus further includes a beam analyzer configured to generate interference between the overlapped components of the diffraction sub-beams and produce two orthogonally polarized optical branches, and a detection system configured to determine a position of the alignment target based on light intensity measurement of the optical branches, wherein the measured light intensity is temporally modulated by a phase modulator.

Abstract: A system (400) includes an illumination system (402), a detector (404), and a comparator (406). The illumination system includes a radiation source (408) and a spatial light modulator (410). The radiation source generates a beam of radiation (442). The spatial light modulator directs the beam toward a surface (436) of an object (428) and adjusts a spatial intensity distribution of the beam at the surface. The detector receives radiation (444) scattered at the surface and by a structure (434) near the surface. The detector generates a detection signal based on the received radiation. The comparator receives the detection signal, generates a first image based on the detection signal, and distinguishes between a spurious signal and a signal corresponding to a presence of a foreign particle on the surface based on the first image and the adjusted spatial intensity distribution.

Abstract: A system includes an illumination system, an optical element, a switching element and a detector. The illumination system includes a broadband light source that generates a beam of radiation. The dispersive optical element receives the beam of radiation and generates a plurality of light beams having a narrower bandwidth than the broadband light source. The optical switch receives the plurality of light beams and transmits each one of the plurality of light beams to a respective one of a plurality of alignment sensor of a sensor array. The detector receives radiation returning from the sensor array and to generate a measurement signal based on the received radiation.

Abstract: A system (500) includes an illumination system (502), a lens element (506), and a detector (504). The illumination system generates a beam of radiation (510) having a first spatial intensity distribution (800) at a pupil plane (528) and a second spatial intensity distribution (900) at a plane of a target (514). The first spatial intensity distribution comprises an annular intensity profile (802) or an intensity profile corresponding to three or more beams. The lens element focuses the beam onto the target. The second spatial intensity distribution is a conjugate of the first intensity distribution and has an intensity profile corresponding to a central beam (902) and one or more side lobes (904) that are substantially isolated from the central beam. The central beam has a beam diameter of approximately 20 microns or less at the target. The detector receives radiation scattered by the target and generates a measurement signal based on the received radiation.

Abstract: A metrology system includes a beam splitter and first and second sensors. The beam splitter splits scattered radiation scattered by a target into first and second portions of radiation. The first sensor receives the first portion. The second sensor receives the second portion after the second portion propagates along a path that includes a wedge system comprising a first wedge configured to diverge the second portion.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for transporting a reticle chamber (pod) for processing. In one example, a system for transporting the pod is disclosed. The system may include a moving apparatus, abase coupled to the moving apparatus, and a gripping ring extending from the base. In some aspects, the gripping ring grips a flange extending from the pod. The moving apparatus moves the base in response to the gripping ring gripping the flange.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are provided for determining a free form flatness of a substrate table. An example system can include a substrate table that includes a first substrate table surface and a grounded substrate table electrical connection configured to ground the substrate table. The system can further include a substrate that includes a semiconducting layer, a thermally-grown insulating layer, a first substrate surface disposed on the insulating layer, and a substrate electrical connection configured to transmit a voltage to the semiconducting layer. The system can further include a metrology system configured to apply a voltage to the substrate electrical connection to electrostatically clamp the substrate to the substrate table, measure a flatness of the first substrate surface, and determine a free form flatness of the first substrate table surface based on the measured flatness of the first substrate surface.

Abstract: A lithographic system and a method for exposing a substrate are provided. The method includes providing a plurality of mask sets. Each mask set includes complementary masks corresponding to a respective pattern. The method further comprises exposing the substrate with the plurality of mask sets. A stitch location between the complementary masks of a mask set is different than a stitch location between the complementary masks of each other mask set of the plurality of mask sets.

Abstract: A patterning device alignment system including a multipath sensory array including a first collimating light path and one or more other light paths, a first detector positioned at a first end of the first collimating light path, and a second detector positioned at a first end of the one or more other light paths, the first detector configured to receive a reflected illumination beam from an illuminated patterning device and calculate a tilt parameter of the patterning device, and the second detector configured to receive a second reflected illumination beam from a beam splitter and calculate an X-Y planar location position and a rotation position of the patterning device.

Abstract: A mode control system and method for controlling an output mode of a broadband radiation source including a photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The mode control system includes at least one detection unit configured to measure one or more parameters of radiation emitted from the broadband radiation source to generate measurement data, and a processing unit configured to evaluate mode purity of the radiation emitted from the broadband radiation source, from the measurement data. Based on the evaluation, the mode control system is configured to generate a control signal for optimization of one or more pump coupling conditions of the broadband radiation source. The one or more pump coupling conditions relate to the coupling of a pump laser beam with respect to a fiber core of the photonic crystal fiber.

Abstract: A metrology system comprises a radiation source, an optical element, first and second detectors, an integrated optical device comprising a multimode waveguide, and a processor. The radiation source generates radiation. The optical element directs radiation toward a target to generate scattered radiation from the target. The first detector receives a first portion of the scattered radiation and generates a first detection signal based on the received first portion. The multimode waveguide interferes a second portion of the scattered radiation using modes of the multimode waveguide. The second detector receives the interfered second portion and generates a second detection signal based on the received interfered second portion. The processor receives the first and second detection signals. The processor analyzes the received first portion, the received interfered second portion, and a propagation property of the multimode waveguide. The processor determines the property of the target based on the analysis.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for determining the alignment of a substrate. An example method can include emitting a multi-wavelength radiation beam including a first wavelength and a second wavelength toward a region of a surface of a substrate. The example method can further include measuring a first diffracted radiation beam indicative of first order diffraction at the first wavelength in response to an irradiation of the region by the multi-wavelength radiation beam. The example method can further include measuring a second diffracted radiation beam indicative of first order diffraction at the second wavelength in response to the irradiation of the region by the multi-wavelength radiation beam. Subsequently, the example method can include generating, based on the measured first set of photons and the measured second set of photons, an electronic signal for use in determining an alignment position of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for detecting a particle on a substrate surface. An example method can include receiving, by a grating structure, coherent radiation from a radiation source. The method can further include generating, by the grating structure, a focused coherent radiation beam based on the coherent radiation. The method can further include transmitting, by the grating structure, the focused coherent radiation beam toward a region of a surface of a substrate. The method can further include receiving, by the grating structure, photons scattered from the region in response to illuminating the region with the focused coherent radiation beam. The method can further include measuring, by a photodetector, the photons received by the grating structure. The method can further include generating, by the photodetector and based on the measured photons, an electronic signal for detecting a particle located in the region of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A patterning device pre-alignment sensor system is disclosed. The system comprises at least one illumination source configured to provide an incident beam along a normal direction towards a patterning device. The system further comprises an object lens group channel along the normal direction configured to receive a 0th order refracted beam from the patterning device. The system further comprises a first light reflector configured to redirect the 0th order refracted beam to form a first retroreflected beam. The system further comprises a first image lens group channel configured to transmit the first retroreflected beam to a first light sensor. The first light sensor is configured to detect the first retroreflected beam to determine a location feature of the patterning device.