Patents by Inventor Silvia De Dea

Silvia De Dea 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: 10232413
    Abstract: A fluid is directed toward a surface of an optical element based on a first flow pattern, the surface of the optical element including debris and the fluid directed based on the first flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a first stagnation region at the surface of the optical element; and the fluid is directed toward the optical element based on a second flow pattern, the fluid directed based on the second flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a second stagnation region on the surface of the optical element, the second stagnation region and the first stagnation region being different locations at the surface of the optical element. Directing the fluid toward the surface of the optical element based on the second flow pattern removes at least some of the debris from the first stagnation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Chunguang Xia, Gregory James Wilson, Brandon Wilson Verhoff
  • Patent number: 10185234
    Abstract: Optical element protection systems for protecting optical elements and particularly reflective optical elements from degradation of their optical properties in harsh environments such as the environment inside a vacuum chamber of an EUV light source. The systems include the uses of combinations of materials in various layers where the materials are chosen and the layers are configured and arranged to extend the lifetime of the optical element without compromising its optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Alexander I. Ershov, Norbert R. Bowering, Bruno M. La Fontaine, Silvia De Dea
  • Publication number: 20170361359
    Abstract: A fluid is directed toward a surface of an optical element based on a first flow pattern, the surface of the optical element including debris and the fluid directed based on the first flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a first stagnation region at the surface of the optical element; and the fluid is directed toward the optical element based on a second flow pattern, the fluid directed based on the second flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a second stagnation region on the surface of the optical element, the second stagnation region and the first stagnation region being different locations at the surface of the optical element. Directing the fluid toward the surface of the optical element based on the second flow pattern removes at least some of the debris from the first stagnation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Chunguang Xia, Gregory James Wilson, Brandon Wilson Verhoff
  • Patent number: 9844804
    Abstract: A carrier holds an extreme ultraviolet light source collector mirror. The carrier includes a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and defining a through opening that has an edge having a plurality of scallops; a back panel having an inner surface that faces the front panel and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and a plurality of posts that are configured to connect the back panel to the front panel and to sandwich a flat rim around the circular boundary of the collector mirror between the inner surface of one of the panels and flanges of the posts. The scallops are positioned around a circumference of the edge and being separated by arcs, where the arcs define a circle that has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the circular boundary of the reflective surface of the collector mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Michael Varga, Alexander I. Ershov, Robert L. Morse
  • Patent number: 9776218
    Abstract: A fluid is directed toward a surface of an optical element based on a first flow pattern, the surface of the optical element including debris and the fluid directed based on the first flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a first stagnation region at the surface of the optical element; and the fluid is directed toward the optical element based on a second flow pattern, the fluid directed based on the second flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a second stagnation region on the surface of the optical element, the second stagnation region and the first stagnation region being different locations at the surface of the optical element. Directing the fluid toward the surface of the optical element based on the second flow pattern removes at least some of the debris from the first stagnation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Chunguang Xia, Gregory James Wilson, Brandon Wilson Verhoff
  • Patent number: 9632418
    Abstract: A target material supply apparatus for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a tube that includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall defined between the first and second ends. At least a portion of an outer surface of the tube includes an electrically insulating material, the first end receives a pressurized target material, and the second end defines an orifice through which the pressurized target material passes to produce a stream of target material droplets. The target material supply apparatus also includes an electrically conductive coating on the outer surface of the tube. The coating is configured to electrically connect the outer surface of the tube to ground to thereby reduce surface charge on the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Georgiy O. Vaschenko, Peter Baumgart, Norbert Bowering
  • Publication number: 20170036252
    Abstract: A fluid is directed toward a surface of an optical element based on a first flow pattern, the surface of the optical element including debris and the fluid directed based on the first flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a first stagnation region at the surface of the optical element; and the fluid is directed toward the optical element based on a second flow pattern, the fluid directed based on the second flow pattern moving at least some of the debris to a second stagnation region on the surface of the optical element, the second stagnation region and the first stagnation region being different locations at the surface of the optical element. Directing the fluid toward the surface of the optical element based on the second flow pattern removes at least some of the debris from the first stagnation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Chunguang Xia, Gregory James Wilson, Brandon Wilson Verhoff
  • Patent number: 9560730
    Abstract: Free radicals that combine with debris that is created by converting a target mixture to plasma that emits EUV light are received at a first opening defined by a first end of a conduit, the conduit including a material that passes the free radicals and the conduit including a sidewall that extends away from the first opening and defines at least one other opening, the at least one other positioned to release the free radicals toward an element that accumulates the debris on a surface. The free radicals in the conduit are directed toward the at least one other opening. The free radicals are passed through the at least one other opening and to the surface of the element to remove the debris from the surface of the element without removing the element from the EUV light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Brandon Verhoff, Gregory Wilson, Bruno M. La Fontaine
  • Patent number: 9557650
    Abstract: A system for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a radical transport system that includes one or more conduits, each of the one or more conduits comprising a sidewall, the sidewall comprising a linear portion and a second portion, the linear portion of the sidewall comprising a first end that defines a first opening, and the second portion of the sidewall comprising one or more openings from an interior of the conduit to an exterior of the conduit, where the second portion of at least one of the one or more conduits is positioned relative to a collector that is inside of a vacuum chamber of the EUV light source with a gap between the collector and the second portion; and a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Brandon Verhoff, Gregory Wilson, Bruno M. La Fontaine
  • Publication number: 20160274466
    Abstract: A target material supply apparatus for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a tube that includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall defined between the first and second ends. At least a portion of an outer surface of the tube includes an electrically insulating material, the first end receives a pressurized target material, and the second end defines an orifice through which the pressurized target material passes to produce a stream of target material droplets. The target material supply apparatus also includes an electrically conductive coating on the outer surface of the tube. The coating is configured to electrically connect the outer surface of the tube to ground to thereby reduce surface charge on the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Georgiy O. Vaschenko, Peter Baumgart, Norbert Bowering
  • Patent number: 9392678
    Abstract: A target material supply apparatus for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a tube that includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall defined between the first and second ends. At least a portion of an outer surface of the tube includes an electrically insulating material, the first end receives a pressurized target material, and the second end defines an orifice through which the pressurized target material passes to produce a stream of target material droplets. The target material supply apparatus also includes an electrically conductive coating on the outer surface of the tube. The coating is configured to electrically connect the outer surface of the tube to ground to thereby reduce surface charge on the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Georgiy O. Vaschenko, Peter Baumgart, Norbert Bowering
  • Publication number: 20150273542
    Abstract: A carrier holds an extreme ultraviolet light source collector mirror. The carrier includes a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and defining a through opening that has an edge having a plurality of scallops; a back panel having an inner surface that faces the front panel and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and a plurality of posts that are configured to connect the back panel to the front panel and to sandwich a flat rim around the circular boundary of the collector mirror between the inner surface of one of the panels and flanges of the posts. The scallops are positioned around a circumference of the edge and being separated by arcs, where the arcs define a circle that has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the circular boundary of the reflective surface of the collector mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Michael Varga, Alexander I. Ershov, Robert L. Morse
  • Publication number: 20150282287
    Abstract: A system for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a radical transport system that includes one or more conduits, each of the one or more conduits comprising a sidewall, the sidewall comprising a linear portion and a second portion, the linear portion of the sidewall comprising a first end that defines a first opening, and the second portion of the sidewall comprising one or more openings from an interior of the conduit to an exterior of the conduit, where the second portion of at least one of the one or more conduits is positioned relative to a collector that is inside of a vacuum chamber of the EUV light source with a gap between the collector and the second portion; and a control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Brandon Verhoff, Gregory Wilson, Bruno M. La Fontaine
  • Patent number: 9073098
    Abstract: A collector mirror of an extreme ultraviolet light source is cleaned by removing the collector mirror from a chamber of the extreme ultraviolet light source; mounting the collector mirror to a carrier; inserting the carrier with the collector mirror into a cleaning tank; applying a cleaning agent to a reflective surface of the collector mirror by spraying the cleaning agent through a plurality of nozzles directed toward the collector mirror reflective surface until the collector mirror reflective surface is clean; rinsing the applied cleaning agent from the collector mirror reflective surface; and drying the collector mirror reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Michael Varga, Alexander I. Ershov, Robert L. Morse
  • Patent number: 9000404
    Abstract: An extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) light source is described herein comprising an optic; a primary EUV light radiator generating an EUV light emitting plasma and producing a deposit on said optic; and a cleaning system comprising a gas and a secondary light radiator, the secondary light radiator generating a laser produced plasma and producing a cleaning species with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Alexander N. Bykanov, Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Vladimir B. Fleurov, Igor V. Fomenkov, William N. Partlo
  • Publication number: 20150069273
    Abstract: Free radicals that combine with debris that is created by converting a target mixture to plasma that emits EUV light are received at a first opening defined by a first end of a conduit, the conduit including a material that passes the free radicals and the conduit including a sidewall that extends away from the first opening and defines at least one other opening, the at least one other positioned to release the free radicals toward an element that accumulates the debris on a surface. The free radicals in the conduit are directed toward the at least one other opening. The free radicals are passed through the at least one other opening and to the surface of the element to remove the debris from the surface of the element without removing the element from the EUV light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Brandon Verhoff, Gregory Wilson, Bruno M. La Fontaine
  • Patent number: 8816305
    Abstract: An apparatus supplies a target material to a target location. The apparatus includes a reservoir that holds a target mixture that includes the target material and non-target particles; a supply system that receives the target mixture from the reservoir and that supplies the target mixture to the target location, the supply system including a tube and a nozzle that defines an orifice through which the target mixture is passed; and a filter inside the tube through which the target mixture is passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Sergei Kalynych, Peter Baumgart
  • Publication number: 20140110609
    Abstract: An extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) light source is described herein comprising an optic; a primary EUV light radiator generating an EUV light emitting plasma and producing a deposit on said optic; and a cleaning system comprising a gas and a secondary light radiator, the secondary light radiator generating a laser produced plasma and producing a cleaning species with the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CYMER, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander N. Bykanov, Silvia De Dea, Alexander I. Ershov, Vladimir B. Fleurov, Igor V. Fomenkov, William N. Partlo
  • Publication number: 20140102875
    Abstract: A target material supply apparatus for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source includes a tube that includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall defined between the first and second ends. At least a portion of an outer surface of the tube includes an electrically insulating material, the first end receives a pressurized target material, and the second end defines an orifice through which the pressurized target material passes to produce a stream of target material droplets. The target material supply apparatus also includes an electrically conductive coating on the outer surface of the tube. The coating is configured to electrically connect the outer surface of the tube to ground to thereby reduce surface charge on the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Silvia De Dea, Georgiy O. Vaschenko, Peter Baumgart, Norbert Bowering
  • Publication number: 20140098413
    Abstract: Optical element protection systems for protecting optical elements and particularly reflective optical elements from degradation of their optical properties in harsh environments such as the environment inside a vacuum chamber of an EUV light source. The systems include the uses of combinations of materials in various layers where the materials are chosen and the layers are configured and arranged to extend the lifetime of the optical element without compromising its optical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Cymer Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander I. ERSHOV, Norbert R. Bowering, Bruno M. La Fontaine, Silvia De Dea