Lithographic apparatus and lithographic projection method
First Claim
1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
- a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam and having a transparent layer coupled thereto,a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and
a profiling system configured to determine a quantity representative of a deformation profile assumed by the transparent layer during a scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus,wherein the profiling system comprises a sensor system configured to sense the quantity during the scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus, the sensor system comprising;
at least one laser output configured to radiate at least one laser beam at a grazing angle of incidence onto the transparent layer, anda detector to detect the at least one laser beam after reflection of the at least one laser beam at the transparent layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lithographic apparatus including a support to support a patterning device, a substrate table to hold a substrate, and a projection system to project a radiation beam patterned by the patterning device onto a target portion of the substrate. A transparent layer is provided to protect the pattering device. The apparatus further includes a transparent layer deformation-determining device to determine a deformation profile of the transparent layer, the deformation profile of the transparent layer expressing a deformation of the transparent layer during a scanning movement of the lithographic apparatus, and a compensator device which is configured to control the projection system, the substrate table and/or the support in response to the deformation profile of the transparent layer to compensate for the deformation of the transparent layer during the scanning movement of the apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
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a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam and having a transparent layer coupled thereto, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and a profiling system configured to determine a quantity representative of a deformation profile assumed by the transparent layer during a scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus, wherein the profiling system comprises a sensor system configured to sense the quantity during the scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus, the sensor system comprising; at least one laser output configured to radiate at least one laser beam at a grazing angle of incidence onto the transparent layer, and a detector to detect the at least one laser beam after reflection of the at least one laser beam at the transparent layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15)
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12. A method of operating a lithographic apparatus, wherein the method comprises:
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moving a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a transparent layer being coupled to the patterning device; moving a substrate; projecting the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; determining a quantity, representative of a deformation profile of the transparent layer, during a scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus, wherein the deformation profile is determined by radiating at least one laser beam at a grazing angle of incidence onto the transparent layer, and by detecting the at least one laser beam after reflection of the at least one laser beam from the transparent layer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions configured to cause performance of:
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radiation of at least one laser beam at a grazing angle of incidence onto a transparent layer coupled to a patterning device in a lithographic apparatus, the patterning device being capable of imparting a radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam for projection onto a target portion of a movable substrate; detection of the at least one laser beam after reflection of the at least one laser beam from the transparent layer; and determination of a quantity, representative of a deformation profile of a transparent layer, during a scanning movement within the lithographic apparatus, based on the detected at least one laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification