Abstract: A lithographic apparatus has a patterning support constructed to support a patterning device and a substrate support constructed to support a substrate. At least one of the patterning support and the substrate support is moved by an electromagnetic actuator. The actuator has a first part and a second part that are movable relative to each other. The first part has a coil structure, and the second part including a plurality of permanent magnets interacting with the coil structure. The second part is provided with a cooling structure arranged adjacent the permanent magnets. Cooling ducts are arranged between adjacent permanent magnets, or on a side of the permanent magnets facing the coil structure.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system to condition a radiation beam. A patterning support holds a patterning device that imparts the radiation beam with a pattern to form a patterned radiation beam. A substrate support holds a substrate. A projection system projects the patterned radiation beam onto the substrate. A positioning system positions the patterning support and the substrate support. The positioning system has a motor with a stator and a mover coupled to a support, and an associated motor control system with a controller providing an output for controlling currents applied to the motor. The motor control system determines a controller output required to compensate for a weight of mover and associated support, determines a deviation of this output from an output required to compensate the gravity force acting on the mover and associated support, and corrects the currents applied to the motor based on the deviation.

Abstract: A motor includes a magnet assembly to generate a magnetic field. The field includes along the first direction parts which are alternately orientated in the first and the second direction. The parts extend in a third direction which is perpendicular to the first and the second direction. The motor further includes a first coil winding to carry a first current. The first coil winding to extend in the first direction between parts of the magnetic field orientated in the second direction, to generate the force in the first direction. The motor also includes a second coil winding to carry a second current. The second coil winding to extend in the first direction between parts of the magnetic field substantially orientated in the first direction, to generate the force in the second direction.

Abstract: A positioning device for positioning an object table includes a frame for supporting the object table in a first direction and a motor constructed and arranged to exert a first force on the object table in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and a second force on the object table in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. A first part of the motor is constructed and arranged to co-operate with a second part for generating the first and second force. The first part is arranged on the object table, such that both the first force and the second force are directed substantially through the center of gravity of the object table.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes a conduit shuttle used to at least partly support conduits which provide utilities to moveable objects. The conduit shuttle has an actuator which is positionable with six degrees of freedom. The actuator comprises a 2-phase or 3-phase motor with one degree of freedom and a Lorentz actuator with five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a positioning system including a first and second electromagnetic actuator. Each actuator includes two mutually co-operating electromagnetical elements which are movable with respect to one another due to force acting on the elements of the respective actuator. At least one of the actuators includes a shield configured to shield the actuator from a field generated by the other actuator. In this manner, a disturbance force due to the field is prevented to act on the shielded actuator. The invention also includes a positioning system including such actuators.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus is disclosed that has a first cooling structure, in thermal contact with a heat source having a temperature greater than a cool structure, comprising a channel through which a cooling fluid is passed, an isolator between the heat source and the cool structure, the isolator in thermal contact with the first cooling structure and comprising a material of low thermal conductivity, and a second cooling structure between the isolator and the cool structure, the second cooling structure comprising a channel through which cooling fluid is passed.

Abstract: A planar motor is controlled by supplying a three-phase alternating current to a coil assembly. Each phase is supplied to one of three coils. The coils are positioned in a magnetic field generated by a magnet plate having alternating magnet poles at its surface for generating an alternating magnetic field. In operation, the phase of each current flowing through each coil determines the direction of a force generated due to the current in the magnetic field. For correct operation, the phase angle of each current is to be adapted to the local direction of the magnetic field by determining a commutation-offset angle. The commutation-offset angle is determined by generating a force in an unknown direction and varying the commutation-angle, and determining when the generated force is directed perpendicular to the magnet plate, while ensuring that the generated force does not exceed a horizontal friction force.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a coil moveably positionable in a magnetic field generated by a magnet assembly, each of the coil and the magnet having substantially only one side facing the other. A magnetized field-shaping element is provided for shaping the magnetic field such that the magnetic field is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the electrical current for generating a force in a first degree of freedom. Thus, the coil may easily be mounted, since it does not need to be enclosed by magnet poles.

Abstract: A displacement apparatus comprising a first part and a second part, which can be displaced relative to each other in first and second different directions. The apparatus being suitable for use in a lithographic apparatus for positioning the mask holder with respect to the projection beam and for positioning the wafer substrate table with respect to the patterned beam. The first part comprises a first and second coil system in which an alternating current is provided by a power supply. The second part comprises a conductive platen which is disposed in a zone in which a magnetic field is induced when power is supplied to the coil systems. The coil system and platen are arranged with respect to each other so that when currents are passed through the coils, a magnetic field induced in the platen causes displacement between the platen and the coils in the first and second different directions.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising a highly effective Lorentz actuator, is presented. The Lorentz actuator comprises a main magnet system and a subsidiary magnet system arranged in Halbach configuration, an electrically conductive element for producing a force via the interaction of an electric current carried by the electrically conductive element and a resulting field of the first and second magnetic field generated by the main and subsidiary magnet system, respectively. The actuator further comprises a magnetic element extending substantially between outer sides of the first and second magnet system subassemblies. The magnetic element guides a portion of the second, subsidiary field between the first and second magnet system subassemblies.

Abstract: A linear motor having a high driving force, high efficiency and low normal force comprises two opposed magnet tracks and an armature comprising three open coil sets. The linear motor may be used to drive a stage, such as, for example, a mask or wafer stage, in a lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: Lorentz actuators generate heat due to electrical dissipation in the field coils. As the field through the coils changes, eddy currents are induced in cooling elements leading to undesirable damping forces and heating. The present invention provides an improved design that reduces eddy currents by incorporating slits in the cooling element. Slits are preferably perpendicular to the induced electric field and parallel to each other, and reduce the magnitude of the eddy currents by forcing them to take paths of higher electrical resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Lorentz actuator in the context of a lithographic projection apparatus. The present invention improves the thermal performance of a Lorentz actuator over the prior art by employing a plurality of coils, separated by separation layers of high thermal conductivity material in good thermal contact with a cooling element. In this way, heat flows more quickly from hotspot regions near the center of the coils into the cooling element. According to an embodiment of the invention, the cooling element is arranged to be in line with the separation layers so as to optimize the thermal connection between these two members. It is found that splitting a parent coil into two coils provides a practical balance between improved thermal performance and undesirable increases in volume and complexity.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus in which a reaction force is generated between a balance mass and a substrate table. The balance mass is elastically coupled to the base frame with a suspension eigenfrequency of between 0.3 and 10 Hz.

Abstract: A Lorentz actuator provides a force between a first part and a second part of the apparatus, comprising a main magnet system, attached to a first part of the apparatus and providing a first magnetic field; a subsidiary magnet system, attached to the first part and arranged in a Halbach configuration, providing a second magnetic field; and an electrically conductive element attached to a second part of the apparatus and arranged so as to produce a force between the first and second parts of the apparatus by interaction of an electric current carried by the electrically conductive element and the combination of the first and second magnetic fields.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus in which a reaction force is generated between a balance mass and a substrate table. The balance mass is elastically coupled to the base frame with a suspension eigenfrequency of between 0.3 and 10 Hz.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes a conduit that supplies utilities to a movable component in a vacuum chamber such as an object table, associated motor or sensor. The conduit comprises flexible metal bellows preventing out-gassing of the conduit due to the vacuum in the vacuum chamber while allowing movement of the movable component in at least a first degree of freedom.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus includes a conduit shuttle used to at least partly support conduits which provide utilities to moveable objects. The conduit shuttle has an actuator which is positionable with six degrees of freedom. The actuator comprises a 2-phase or 3-phase motor with one degree of freedom and a Lorentz actuator with five degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a support that provides a magnetic force in a first direction between a first part and a second part of the apparatus. The support comprises first, second and third magnet assemblies, the first and third magnet assemblies attached to the first part and each including at least one magnet oriented such that its magnetic polarization is substantially parallel or anti-parallel to the support direction. The first and third magnet assemblies define a space between them in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The second magnet assembly is attached to the second part and includes at least one magnet. The second magnet assembly is at least partly located in the space. The at least one magnet of the second magnet assembly has its magnetic polarization oriented so as to produce a bias force substantially along the support direction by magnetic interaction between the first, second and third magnet assemblies.