Patents by Inventor Nick KANT

Nick KANT 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: 11573496
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system comprising at least one optical component and configured to project a pattern onto a substrate. The lithographic apparatus further comprises a control system arranged to reduce the effects of heating and/or cooling of an optical component in a lithographic process. The control system is configured at least: to select at least one of a plurality of mode shapes to represent a relationship between at least one input in the lithographic process and an aberration resulting from the input and to generate and apply a correction to the lithographic apparatus based on the mode shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Martijn Cornelis Schaafsma
  • Publication number: 20220050383
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system comprising at least one optical component and configured to project a pattern onto a substrate. The lithographic apparatus further comprises a control system arranged to reduce the effects of heating and/or cooling of an optical component in a lithographic process. The control system is configured at least: to select at least one of a plurality of mode shapes to represent a relationship between at least one input in the lithographic process and an aberration resulting from the input and to generate and apply a correction to the lithographic apparatus based on the mode shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick KANT, Martjin Cornelis SCHAAFSMA
  • Patent number: 10948832
    Abstract: A method of reducing an aberration arising during operation of a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising measuring the aberration to obtain an aberration signal, the aberration signal comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first component of the aberration signal comprises a first frequency band and the second component of the aberration signal comprises a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band comprises frequencies that are higher than frequencies comprised in the second frequency band, calculating a correction, wherein a first part of the correction is calculated based on the first component of the aberration signal, and applying the correction to the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Robertus Martinus Alphonsus Van Herpen, Mark Louwrens Beks, Lense Hendrik-Jan Maria Swaenen, Nico Vanroose, James Robert Downes
  • Publication number: 20200117092
    Abstract: A method of reducing an aberration arising during operation of a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising measuring the aberration to obtain an aberration signal, the aberration signal comprising a first component and a second component, wherein the first component of the aberration signal comprises a first frequency band and the second component of the aberration signal comprises a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band comprises frequencies that are higher than frequencies comprised in the second frequency band, calculating a correction, wherein a first part of the correction is calculated based on the first component of the aberration signal, and applying the correction to the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick KANT, Robertus VAN HERPEN, Mark Louwrens BEKS, Lense Hendrik-Jan Maria SWAENEN, Nico VANROOSE, James Robert DOWNES
  • Patent number: 10564555
    Abstract: A method of reducing effects of reticle heating and/or cooling in a lithographic process, the method including calibrating a linear time invariant reticle heating model using a system identification method; predicting distortions of the reticle using the reticle heating model and inputs in the lithographic process; and calculating and applying a correction in the lithographic process on the basis of the predicted distortions of the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Mark Jan Hendrik Luttikhof
  • Publication number: 20190324376
    Abstract: A method of reducing effects of reticle heating and/or cooling in a lithographic process, the method including calibrating a linear time invariant reticle heating model using a system identification method; predicting distortions of the reticle using the reticle heating model and inputs in the lithographic process; and calculating and applying a correction in the lithographic process on the basis of the predicted distortions of the reticle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Nick KANT, Mark Jan Hendrik LUTTIKHOF
  • Patent number: 10451977
    Abstract: A method of reducing an aberration of a lithographic apparatus, the method including measuring the aberration, taking the measured aberration into account, estimating a state of the lithographic apparatus, calculating a correction using the estimated state, and applying the correction to the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Nico Vanroose, Johannes Jacobus Matheus Baselmans
  • Patent number: 10429749
    Abstract: A method of reducing effects of reticle heating and/or cooling in a lithographic process, the method including calibrating a linear time invariant reticle heating model using a system identification method; predicting distortions of the reticle using the reticle heating model and inputs in the lithographic process; and calculating and applying a correction in the lithographic process on the basis of the predicted distortions of the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Mark Jan Hendrik Luttikhof
  • Patent number: 10386734
    Abstract: A method of reducing effects of reticle heating and/or cooling in a lithographic process, the method including calibrating a linear time invariant reticle heating model using a system identification method; predicting distortions of the reticle using the reticle heating model and inputs in the lithographic process; and calculating and applying a correction in the lithographic process on the basis of the predicted distortions of the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nick Kant, Mark Jan Hendrik Luttikhof
  • Publication number: 20180259859
    Abstract: A method of reducing effects of reticle heating and/or cooling in a lithographic process, the method including calibrating a linear time invariant reticle heating model using a system identification method; predicting distortions of the reticle using the reticle heating model and inputs in the lithographic process; and calculating and applying a correction in the lithographic process on the basis of the predicted distortions of the reticle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V
    Inventors: Nick KANT, Mark Jan Hendrik LUTTIKHOF
  • Publication number: 20170357159
    Abstract: A method of reducing an aberration of a lithographic apparatus, the method including measuring the aberration, taking the measured aberration into account, estimating a state of the lithographic apparatus, calculating a correction using the estimated state, and applying the correction to the lithographic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Nick KANT, Nico VANROOSE, Johannes Jacobus Matheus BASELMANS