Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Margeson
Christopher S. Margeson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8941814Abstract: An exemplary device includes first and second portions that are movably connected together by first and second sets, respectively, of multiple blades interleaved with each other at an overlap region. When the overlap region is compressed, displacement of the first and second portions relative to each other is prevented so as to provide relatively high stiffness in first and second orthogonal directions (e.g., z- and y-directions) and relatively low stiffness in a third orthogonal direction (e.g., x-direction). The device can be used in coordination with an actuator, wherein operation of the actuator and compression of the overlap region are automated.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Fardad Hashemi, Christopher S. Margeson, Lorri L. Watson
-
Conforming seats for clamps used in mounting an optical element, and optical systems comprising same
Patent number: 8416386Abstract: Clamps are disclosed for holding an optical element relative to a support. An exemplary clamp includes first and second arms and a member connecting the arms such that a portion of a mounting feature of the optical element is between the first and second arms. The first arm applies a clamping force toward a respective portion of the mounting feature, and the second arm includes a seat. The seat has at least upper and intermediate portions. The upper portion engages the respective location on the mounting feature. The intermediate portion is situated between the upper portion and the second arm and has a lateral thickness less than the lateral thickness of the upper portion. The intermediate portion exhibits elastic and plastic deformability sufficient for any moment applied by the clamp to the mounting feature to be limited to less than a designated peak moment, while maintaining substantially full engagement of the upper portion with the respective location.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Christopher S. Margeson, Douglas C. Watson -
Publication number: 20120320362Abstract: An exemplary device includes first and second portions that are movably connected together by first and second sets, respectively, of multiple blades interleaved with each other at an overlap region. When the overlap region is compressed, displacement of the first and second portions relative to each other is prevented so as to provide relatively high stiffness in first and second orthogonal directions (e.g., z- and y-directions) and relatively low stiffness in a third orthogonal direction (e.g., x-direction). The device can be used in coordination with an actuator, wherein operation of the actuator and compression of the overlap region are automated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: Douglas C. Watson, Fardad Hashemi, Christopher S. Margeson, Lorri L. Watson
-
Publication number: 20110242511Abstract: A substrate stage is provided with an immersion liquid collection member that surrounds at least an alignment feature of the substrate stage used to align the substrate on the stage by engaging alignment structure of the substrate. The collection member is located at least partly below the periphery of the substrate held by the substrate holding member of the substrate stage. The collection member has an uppermost liquid-receiving surface that preferably is spaced below a lowermost surface of the substrate when the substrate is held by the substrate holding member. The collection member collects liquid that flows along the alignment feature so as to prevent that immersion liquid from flowing along the under-surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: Nikon CorporationInventor: Christopher S. Margeson
-
Patent number: 7692768Abstract: Methods and apparatus for shielding a reticle within an illumination system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a blind arrangement for shielding an object such as a reticle includes a coil assembly which has at least one coil, an air supply that supplies air, and a first blind portion. The first blind portion includes at least one magnet and is not in physical contact with the coil. The first blind portion is supported at a distance from the coil by the air, and the coil assembly cooperates with the magnet to cause the first blind portion to move. The first blind portion shields the object when the first blind portion is in a first position.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Michael B. Binnard, Douglas C. Watson, Christopher S. Margeson
-
Publication number: 20090033907Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for holding a reticle or analogous object, particularly a planar object. An exemplary reticle-holding device includes a reticle chuck having a reticle-holding surface on which a reticle is placed to hold the reticle. The device includes at least one ultrasonic transducer (as an exemplary vibration-inducing device) sonically coupled to the reticle to excite, whenever the ultrasonic transducer is being energized, a vibrational mode in the reticle or reticle chuck, or both. The vibration mode is sufficient to reduce an adhesion force holding the reticle to the reticle-holding surface. Sonic coupling can be by direct contact with the transducer or across a gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: Douglas C. Watson, Christopher S. Margeson, Alton H. Phillips, Hiromitsu Yoshimoto, Noriya Kato
-
CONFORMING SEATS FOR CLAMPS USED IN MOUNTING AN OPTICAL ELEMENT, AND OPTICAL SYSTEMS COMPRISING SAME
Publication number: 20080225255Abstract: Clamps are disclosed for holding an optical element relative to a support. An exemplary clamp includes first and second arms and a member connecting the arms such that a portion of a mounting feature of the optical element is between the first and second arms. The first arm applies a clamping force toward a respective portion of the mounting feature, and the second arm includes a seat. The seat has at least upper and intermediate portions. The upper portion engages the respective location on the mounting feature. The intermediate portion is situated between the upper portion and the second arm and has a lateral thickness less than the lateral thickness of the upper portion. The intermediate portion exhibits elastic and plastic deformability sufficient for any moment applied by the clamp to the mounting feature to be limited to less than a designated peak moment, while maintaining substantially full engagement of the upper portion with the respective location.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Christopher S. Margeson, Douglas C. Watson -
Publication number: 20080002173Abstract: Methods and apparatus for shielding a reticle within an illumination system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a blind arrangement for shielding an object such as a reticle includes a coil assembly which has at least one coil, an air supply that supplies air, and a first blind portion. The first blind portion includes at least one magnet and is not in physical contact with the coil. The first blind portion is supported at a distance from the coil by the air, and the coil assembly cooperates with the magnet to cause the first blind portion to move. The first blind portion shields the object when the first blind portion is in a first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Michael B. Binnard, Douglas C. Watson, Christopher S. Margeson
-
Publication number: 20070273856Abstract: A substrate stage is provided with an immersion liquid collection member that surrounds at least an alignment feature of the substrate stage used to align the substrate on the stage by engaging alignment structure of the substrate. The collection member is located at least partly below the periphery of the substrate held by the substrate holding member of the substrate stage. The collection member has an uppermost liquid-receiving surface that preferably is spaced below a lowermost surface of the substrate when the substrate is held by the substrate holding member. The collection member collects liquid that flows along the alignment feature so as to prevent that immersion liquid from flowing along the under-surface of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Christopher S. Margeson
-
Patent number: 7296777Abstract: Forces are minimized in an object supported relative to a surface by providing a first, preferably static force sufficient to retain the object is position when at rest, preferably through a clamping arrangement having a first actuator, measuring or predicting an acceleration and applying a second, preferably dynamic force corresponding to the acceleration. The first and second forces are preferably arranged to be additive or reinforcing but the arrangement can be made fail-safe at the expense of increased power consumption by arranging the first force in accordance with the maximum anticipated acceleration and counteracting the first force with the second force for lesser or zero accelerations. The second force is preferably provided by a clamp of arbitrary configuration which can be moved into and out of engagement with the object. By minimizing forces applied to the object in such a manner, damage such as creep and propagation of crystal lattice dislocations over time can largely be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Christopher S. Margeson
-
Patent number: 6803994Abstract: A wavefront aberration correction system for an adaptive optic such as a deformable mirror uses many correction units, each having a force-applying member attached to the back surface of the adaptive optic at a specified position and an actuator connected to it through a force-communicating device. The actuators are disposed outside the perimeter of the adaptive optic. The force-communicating device may include a lever or a bell-crank supported rotatably around a pivot such as a flexural pivot and redirects the force of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Christopher S. Margeson
-
Publication number: 20040008433Abstract: A wavefront aberration correction system for an adaptive optic such as a deformable mirror uses many correction units, each having a force-applying member attached to the back surface of the adaptive optic at a specified position and an actuator connected to it through a force-communicating device. The actuators are disposed outside the perimeter of the adaptive optic. The force-communicating device may include a lever or a bell-crank supported rotatably around a pivot such as a flexural pivot and redirects the force of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: Nikon CorporationInventor: Christopher S. Margeson