Monolithic, Non-Contact Six Degree-of-Freedom Stage Apparatus
First Claim
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1. A stage apparatus comprising:
- a stage assembly, the stage assembly including a first magnet arrangement; and
a countermass, the countermass being arranged to include a first stator arrangement, wherein the first stator arrangement is arranged to cooperate with the first magnet arrangement to allow the stage assembly to move relative to a first horizontal axis and a vertical axis, and wherein the countermass is arranged to absorb reaction forces associated with the stage assembly.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling a stage assembly in up to six degrees of freedom using actuators which each allow for forces to be generated in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a stage apparatus includes a stage assembly and a first stator arrangement. The stage assembly includes a first magnet arrangement of an actuator assembly, and the first stator arrangement is part of the actuator assembly. The first magnet arrangement cooperates with the first stator arrangement to allow the stage assembly to move relative to a first horizontal axis as well as a vertical axis.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A stage apparatus comprising:
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a stage assembly, the stage assembly including a first magnet arrangement; and a countermass, the countermass being arranged to include a first stator arrangement, wherein the first stator arrangement is arranged to cooperate with the first magnet arrangement to allow the stage assembly to move relative to a first horizontal axis and a vertical axis, and wherein the countermass is arranged to absorb reaction forces associated with the stage assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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22. A method for controlling a stage, the stage being a part of a stage apparatus that also includes a first actuator arrangement, and a second actuator arrangement, the first actuator arrangement including a first magnet arrangement coupled to the stage and a first stator arrangement, the first actuator arrangement being arranged to cause the stage to move in a first horizontal direction and a vertical direction, the second actuator arrangement including a second magnet arrangement coupled to the stage and a second stator arrangement, the second actuator arrangement being arranged to control motion of the stage to move in a second horizontal direction, the method comprising:
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applying at least one current to the first stator arrangement, wherein applying the at least one current to the first stator arrangement produces force on the stage in at least one of the first horizontal direction and the vertical direction; and actuating the second actuator arrangement, wherein actuating the second actuator arrangement produces force on the stage in the second horizontal direction. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A stage apparatus comprising:
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a stage assembly, the stage assembly including a first magnet arrangement and a second magnet arrangement; and a first stator arrangement and a second stator arrangement, wherein the first stator arrangement is arranged to cooperate with the first magnet arrangement to allow the stage assembly to control force relative to a first horizontal axis and the second stator arrangement is arranged to cooperate with the second magnet arrangement to allow the stage assembly to control force relative to a vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification