Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
First Claim
1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
- an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam;
a pattern support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device being configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate support constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and
an actuator assembly configured to move one of said supports with respect to a base structure, the actuator assembly comprising;
an actuator assembly frame;
a flexible coupling assembly configured to flexibly couple said actuator assembly frame to said one support, and at least one actuator coupling said actuator assembly frame to said base structure, the at least one actuator being configured to move said one support in three degrees of freedom in a plane and at least one other degree of freedom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A substrate or a patterning device used in a lithographic apparatus and a lithographic device manufacturing method are presented. The substrate and patterning device are aligned with respect to a patterning beam and are movably supported by a support. Resonances in said support, however, may render the manufactured device unusable and/ or may render the control system complex. Therefore an actuator assembly frame with flexible coupling devices coupled to the support is provided with a number of actuators configured to move the support in a number of degrees of freedom. Thus, the resonances are damped by the flexible coupling devices resulting in a larger bandwidth for the control system and thus enabling a better position accuracy of the support.
20 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
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an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam;
a pattern support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device being configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate support constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and
an actuator assembly configured to move one of said supports with respect to a base structure, the actuator assembly comprising;
an actuator assembly frame;
a flexible coupling assembly configured to flexibly couple said actuator assembly frame to said one support, and at least one actuator coupling said actuator assembly frame to said base structure, the at least one actuator being configured to move said one support in three degrees of freedom in a plane and at least one other degree of freedom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22)
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16. An apparatus comprising an actuator assembly constructed to support and move an object, the actuator assembly comprising:
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an actuator assembly frame;
a flexible coupling assembly configured to flexibly couple said actuator assembly frame to said object, and at least one actuator coupling said actuator assembly frame to a base structure, the at least one actuator being configured to move said object in three degrees of freedom in a plane and at least one other degree of freedom. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device manufacturing method comprising:
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patterning a beam of radiation with a pattern in its cross-section;
projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate; and
supporting a slide member over a running surface of a base, the supporting comprising;
flexibly coupling an actuator assembly to the slide member; and
exerting a supporting force from said actuator assembly onto said running surface;
wherein said actuator assembly is configured to filter supporting forces that act to space apart said slide member from said running surface.
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Specification