Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lithographic method of providing an alignment mark on a layer provided on a substrate, the method including providing the alignment mark on an area of the layer which is oriented within a certain range of angles with respect to a surface of the substrate on which the layer is provided.

Abstract: A system to control the focus of a mask-less lithographic apparatus, the apparatus including a projection system to project an image of a programmable patterning device onto a substrate. A first actuator system is configured to move at least one of the lenses of the projection system in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the projection system. A radiation beam expander is configured to project an image of the programmable patterning device onto the at least one lens. A second actuator system is configured to move the radiation beam expander in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the projection system in order to control the focus of the image projected onto the substrate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the substrate. The modulator may be moveable with respect the exposure area and/or the projection system may have an array of lenses to receive the plurality of beams, the array of lenses moveable with respect to the exposure area.

Abstract: A substrate handling apparatus for handling a substrate is disclosed. The substrate handling apparatus includes a substrate feeding device to feed the substrate towards an exposure area, a substrate receiving device to receive the substrate from the exposure area, and a substrate stabilization device to maintain, at least in the exposure area, the substrate substantially flat at an exposure height and/or tilt, the substrate stabilization device configured for contactless stabilization of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic arrangement allows for controlling radiation characteristics. An illumination system provides a beam of radiation from radiation provided by a radiation source. The radiation source includes an array of individually controllable elements, each individually controllable element being capable of emitting radiation. A support structure supports a patterning device. The patterning device imparts the radiation beam with a pattern. A projection system projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate held by a substrate table. A radiation peak intensity detection apparatus detects a peak in the intensity of an emission spectrum of one or more of the individually controllable elements of the radiation source.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having an optical column capable of creating a pattern on a target portion of the substrate. The optical column may be provided with a self-emissive contrast device configured to emit a beam and a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion. The apparatus may be provided with an actuator to move the optical column or a part thereof with respect to the substrate. An optical sensor device is provided which is movable in respect of the optical columns and has a range of movement which enables the optical sensor device to move through a projection area of each of the optical columns to measure a beam of each of the optical columns.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having an optical column capable of creating a pattern on a target portion of a substrate is disclosed. The optical column may have a self-emissive contrast device configured to emit a beam, and a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion. The apparatus may also have an actuator to move the optical column or a part thereof with respect to the substrate. The apparatus may be constructed to reduce the optical effect of density variation in a medium around the moving part of the optical column on the beam.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having an optical column capable of projecting a beam on a target portion on a substrate held by the substrate support. The optical column may have a self-emissive contrast device to emit the beam. The optical column may include a projection system to project the beam onto the target portion. The target portion has a height in a scanning direction of the substrate and a tangential width mainly perpendicular to the scanning direction, wherein a scanning speed of the substrate in the scanning direction divided by the height substantially corresponds with a rotating speed of the optical column or a part thereof divided by the tangential width of the target portion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the substrate. The modulator may be moveable with respect the exposure area and/or the projection system may have an array of lenses to receive the plurality of beams, the array of lenses moveable with respect to the exposure area.

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 applicator, such as a humidifier is provided to provide molecules, such as water molecules, to a clamp area of the patterning device.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a utility substrate storage configured to hold a utility substrate, and a utility substrate scheduling unit configured to schedule the loading of a utility substrate in a flow of substrates in the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a support constructed to support a patterning device for imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam and a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate. A projection system projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The patterning device includes one or more alignment patterns, the lithographic apparatus including a secondary illumination system effective to illuminate each alignment pattern with radiation separate from said radiation beam, the projection system projecting an image of each alignment pattern onto the substrate table. The substrate table includes a number of sensor arrangements, each sensitive to the projected image of one of said alignment patterns.

Abstract: Scheduling of tasks in a lithographic apparatus, track unit or lithocell is performed by maintaining a register of the state of the machine and a database of tasks performable by the machine, generating possible sequences of tasks based on pre- and post-conditions on the system state (rather than a precedence relation) and selecting a sequence from the generated sequences that meets a given beginning state of the machine and a desired end state. Embodiments of the invention also allow for automated recovery from exceptions.

Abstract: In a lithographic apparatus, a slip of a patterning device relative to a support, the support being constructed to support the patterning device, may be provided by: measuring a position of the support relative to a structure of the lithographic apparatus; measuring a position of the patterning device relative to the structure of the lithographic apparatus; determining a correlation between the position of the patterning device and the position of the support; 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 onto a target portion of the substrate. The projection system may be connected to a frame, such as a metrology frame of the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus configured to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate includes an integrated post-exposure bake device, the post-exposure bake device configured to subject the substrate to a predefined temperature cycle. A post-exposure bake step of the substrate (a temperature cycle) is executed within a predetermined time period after the transfer of the pattern. The lithographic apparatus may be combined with a processing system having one or more processing modules. More efficient use may be made of the combination, allowing flexibility for a device manufacturing method.

Abstract: An alignment method for a substrate or a patterning device is disclosed along with a corresponding apparatus. The method includes using a part of an alignment arrangement of a lithographic apparatus to undertake a part of an alignment procedure on a part of a substrate or on a part of a patterning device, until the substrate or a part of or in the lithographic apparatus, has become thermally stabilized within a limit.

Abstract: A lithographic arrangement allows for controlling radiation characteristics. An illumination system provides a beam of radiation from radiation provided by a radiation source. The radiation source includes an array of individually controllable elements, each individually controllable element being capable of emitting radiation. A support structure supports a patterning device. The patterning device imparts the radiation beam with a pattern. A projection system projects the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate held by a substrate table. A radiation peak intensity detection apparatus detects a peak in the intensity of an emission spectrum of one or more of the individually controllable elements of the radiation source.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus has a patterning support holding a patterning device. At least one position sensor measures a position of the patterning device relative to the patterning support, and generates a measuring signal. A positioning device controls a position of the patterning support on the basis of the measuring signal input to the positioning device. In a corresponding device manufacturing method a patterning support is provided. A patterning device is held on the patterning support. The patterning support is moved along a line of movement. A position of the patterning device relative to the patterning support is measured, and a position of the patterning support is controlled on the basis of the measurement of the position of the patterning device relative to the patterning support. Thus, the controlling of the position of the patterning support compensates for a slip of the patterning device relative to the patterning support.

Abstract: Each pixel of a spatial light modulator comprises a movable mirror, a light sensitive element and control circuitry to drive an actuator set the movable mirror to a state determined by a signal received by the light sensitive element.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lithographic method of providing an alignment mark on a layer provided on a substrate, the method including providing the alignment mark on an area of the layer which is oriented within a certain range of angles with respect to a surface of the substrate on which the layer is provided.