Optical element damping systems
First Claim
1. An optical element assembly, comprising:
- an optical element mount that secures an optical element; and
one or more eddy current dampers coupled to the optical element mount that reduce movement of an optical element held within the optical element mount, wherein a motion of the optical element generates eddy currents within the one or more eddy current dampers that limits the motion of the optical element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to optical element damping systems. In particular, an eddy current damper is disclosed. The eddy current damper includes a rod, a series of conducting plates coupled to the rod, and layers of magnets. The alternating layers have alternating magnetic fields. When an optical element moves, the optical element will exert a force on the rod. The rod causes the conducting plates to move relative to the alternating layers of magnets to generate eddy currents within each of the conducting plates, such that the eddy currents damp the motion of an optical element. In an alternative embodiment, an eddy current damper motion amplifier is used to provide additional mechanical advantage that significantly increases the damping provided by the eddy current damper. Eddy current dampers are provided within conventional scanning lithography devices and optical maskless lithography devices to improve performance by stabilizing optical element motion.
12 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical element assembly, comprising:
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an optical element mount that secures an optical element; and one or more eddy current dampers coupled to the optical element mount that reduce movement of an optical element held within the optical element mount, wherein a motion of the optical element generates eddy currents within the one or more eddy current dampers that limits the motion of the optical element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An eddy current damper, comprising:
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a rod that pushes against an optical element when an optical element moves in a direction generating a force parallel to the axis of the rod; a series of conducting plates coupled to the rod; and layers of magnets with magnetic fields that alternate from layer to layer, wherein the conducting plates move relative to the layers of magnets when an optical element exerts a force on the rod to generate eddy currents within the conducting plates, wherein the eddy currents dampen the motion of an optical element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An eddy current damper, comprising:
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a rod that is coupled to an optical element; a damper motion amplifier that attaches to an optical mount, wherein when the optical element moves in the axial direction of the rod, the rod exerts a force on the damper motion amplifier; a series of conducting plates coupled to the damper motion amplifier, wherein the damper motion amplifier stimulates movement of the series of conducting plates upon the rod exerting a force on the damper motion amplifier; and layers of magnets with magnetic fields that alternate from layer to layer, wherein the conducting plates move relative to the layers of magnets when an optical element exerts a force on the rod to generate eddy currents within the conducting plates, wherein the eddy currents dampen the motion of an optical element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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- 26. A lithography system comprising one or more eddy current dampers.
Specification