Abstract: A stage apparatus for a particle-beam apparatus is disclosed. A particle beam apparatus may comprise a conductive object and an object table, the object table being configured to support an object. The object table comprises a table body and a conductive coating, the conductive coating being provided on at least a portion of a surface of the table body. The conductive object is disposed proximate to the conductive coating and the table body is provided with a feature proximate to an edge portion of the conductive coating. Said feature is arranged so as to reduce an electric field strength in the vicinity of the edge portion of the conductive coating when a voltage is applied to both the conductive object and the conductive coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stage apparatus comprising: an object table configured to hold a substrate, the object table comprising an electrode configured to be charged by a power source and an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the electrode to the power source, and an electric field shield configured to shield at least a part of the electrical connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an object table for holding an object, comprising: an electrostatic clamp arranged to clamp the object on the object table; a neutralizer arranged to neutralize a residual charge of the electrostatic clamp; a control unit arranged to control the neutralizer, wherein the residual charge is an electrostatic charge present on the electrostatic clamp when no voltage is applied to the electrostatic clamp.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stage apparatus comprising: an object table configured to hold a substrate, the object table comprising an electrode configured to be charged by a power source and an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the electrode to the power source, and an electric field shield configured to shield at least a part of the electrical connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an object table for holding an object, comprising: an electrostatic clamp arranged to clamp the object on the object table; a neutralizer arranged to neutralize a residual charge of the electrostatic clamp; a control unit arranged to control the neutralizer, wherein the residual charge is an electrostatic charge present on the electrostatic clamp when no voltage is applied to the electrostatic clamp.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wafer grounding and wafer grounding location adjustment are disclosed. A first method may include receiving a first value of an electric characteristic associated with the wafer being grounded by an electric signal; determining a first control parameter using at least the first value; and controlling a characteristic of the electric signal using the first control parameter and the first value. A second method for adjusting a grounding location for a wafer may include terminating an electric connection between the wafer and at least one grounding pin in contact the wafer; adjusting a relative position between the wafer and the grounding pin; and restoring the electric connection between the grounding pin and the wafer. A third method may include causing a grounding pin to penetrate through a coating on the wafer by impact; and establishing an electrical connection between the grounding pin and the wafer.

Abstract: A charged particle inspection system may include a shielding plate having an aperture or more than one aperture, for example, to permit additional inspection by an additional instrument requiring a line of sight to the area of interest. A field shaping element, such as a window element or a raised rim, is placed at the aperture to prevent or reduce a component of an electric field.

Abstract: A stage apparatus for a particle-beam apparatus is disclosed. A particle beam apparatus may comprise a conductive object and an object table, the object table being configured to support an object. The object table comprises a table body and a conductive coating, the conductive coating being provided on at least a portion of a surface of the table body. The conductive object is disposed proximate to the conductive coating and the table body is provided with a feature proximate to an edge portion of the conductive coating. Said feature is arranged so as to reduce an electric field strength in the vicinity of the edge portion of the conductive coating when a voltage is applied to both the conductive object and the conductive coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stage apparatus comprising: an object table configured to hold a substrate, the object table comprising an electrode configured to be charged by a power source and an electrical connection configured to electrically connect the electrode to the power source, and an electric field shield configured to shield at least a part of the electrical connection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an object table for holding an object, comprising: an electrostatic clamp arranged to clamp the object on the object table; a neutralizer arranged to neutralize a residual charge of the electrostatic clamp; a control unit arranged to control the neutralizer, wherein the residual charge is an electrostatic charge present on the electrostatic clamp when no voltage is applied to the electrostatic clamp.

Abstract: A stage apparatus including: an object table configured to hold an object; a positioning device configured to position the object table and the object held by the object table; and a remote temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the object table and/or the object, wherein the remote temperature sensor comprises a passive temperature sensing element.

Abstract: Systems and methods of observing a sample in a multi-beam apparatus are disclosed. A multi-beam apparatus may comprise an array of deflectors configured to steer individual beamlets of multiple beamlets, each deflector of the array of deflectors having a corresponding driver configured to receive a signal for steering a corresponding individual beamlet. The apparatus may further include a controller having circuitry to acquire profile data of a sample and to control each deflector by providing the signal to the corresponding driver based on the acquired profile data, and a steering circuitry comprising the corresponding driver configured to generate a driving signal, a corresponding compensator configured to receive the driving signal and a set of driving signals from other adjacent drivers associated with adjacent deflectors and to generate a compensation signal to compensate a corresponding deflector based on the driving signal and the set of driving signals.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods of observing a sample in a multi-beam apparatus are disclosed. A multi-beam apparatus may comprise an array of deflectors configured to steer individual beamlets of multiple beamlets, each deflector of the array of deflectors having a corresponding driver configured to receive a signal for steering a corresponding individual beamlet. The apparatus may further include a controller having circuitry to acquire profile data of a sample and to control each deflector by providing the signal to the corresponding driver based on the acquired profile data, and a steering circuitry comprising the corresponding driver configured to generate a driving signal, a corresponding compensator configured to receive the driving signal and a set of driving signals from other adjacent drivers associated with adjacent deflectors and to generate a compensation signal to compensate a corresponding deflector based on the driving signal and the set of driving signals.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is provided with a liquid confinement structure which defines at least in part a space configured to contain liquid between the projection system and the substrate. In order to reduce the crossing of the edge of the substrate which is being imaged (which can lead to inclusion of bubbles in the immersion liquid), the cross-sectional area of the space in a plane parallel to the substrate is made as small as possible. The smallest theoretical size is the size of the target portion which is imaged by the projection system. In an embodiment, the shape of a final element of the projection system is also changed to have a similar size and/or shape in a cross-section parallel to the substrate to that of the target portion.

Abstract: In a lithographic apparatus, a localized area of the substrate surface under a projection system is immersed in liquid. The height of a liquid supply system above the surface of the substrate can be varied using actuators. A control system uses feedforward or feedback control with input of the surface height of the substrate to maintain the liquid supply system at a predetermined height above the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is provided with a liquid confinement structure which defines at least in part a space configured to contain liquid between the projection system and the substrate. In order to reduce the crossing of the edge of the substrate which is being imaged (which can lead to inclusion of bubbles in the immersion liquid), the cross-sectional area of the space in a plane parallel to the substrate is made as small as possible. The smallest theoretical size is the size of the target portion which is imaged by the projection system. In an embodiment, the shape of a final element of the projection system is also changed to have a similar size and/or shape in a cross-section parallel to the substrate to that of the target portion.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.

Abstract: A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow.