SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING AND MAPPING A SIDEFORCE FOR A MOVER

• US 20080285005A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Gery, Jean-Marc, Binnard, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US12/108,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 355/72
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/58 Baseboards, masking frames, or other holders for the sensitive material G03B27/53 takes precedence ; for electrophotographic copiers G03G15/65

Abstract

A mover (344) that moves a stage (238) along a first axis includes a magnetic component (354), a conductor component (356), and a sensor (366). The magnetic component (354) includes one or more magnets (354D) that are surrounded by a magnetic field. The conductor component (356) is positioned near the magnetic component (354). Further, the conductor component (356) interacts with the magnetic component (354) to generate a force when current is directed to the conductor component (356). The sensor (366) can be used for determining a first axis component of a magnetic flux of the magnetic component (354) during operation of the mover (344). Further, the sensor (366) can be used to determine a side force (365) that along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis that is being generated by the mover (344). With this design, the mover (344) or other components can be controlled to compensate for the side force (370).

Claims

1. A mover for moving a stage along a first axis, the mover comprising:

a magnetic component including a magnet that is surrounded by a magnetic field;

a conductor component that is positioned near the magnetic component, the conductor component interacting with the magnetic component to generate a force when current is directed to the conductor component; and

a sensor for determining a first axis component of a magnetic flux of the magnetic component.

2. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor is secured to and moves with conductor component.

3. The mover of claim 2 wherein the conductor component includes a plurality of conductors and wherein the sensor is positioned between two of the conductors.

4. The, mover of claim 1 wherein the magnetic component defines a magnetic gap and wherein the sensor is positioned in the magnetic gap.

5. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a magneto-resistive element.

6. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a coil that is oriented transverse to the first axis.

7. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor is used to determine a side force along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.

8. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor is used to map out a side force along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis during relative movement between the conductor component and the magnet component.

9. The mover of claim 1 wherein the magnetic component defines a magnetic gap, wherein the conductor component and the sensor are positioned in the magnetic gap, and wherein the sensor is secured to and moves with the conductor component.

10. The mover of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a first sensor and a spaced apart second sensor.

11. The mover of claim 1 wherein the mover is a linear motor.

12. The mover of claim 1 wherein the mover is a planar motor.

13. A stage assembly that moves a device, the stage assembly including a stage that retains the device and the mover of claim 1 that moves the stage along the first axis.

14. An exposure apparatus including an illumination system and the stage assembly of claim 13 that moves the stage relative to the illumination system.

15. A process for manufacturing a device that includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming an image to the substrate with the exposure apparatus of claim 14.

16. A mover for moving a stage along a first axis, the mover comprising:

a magnetic component including a magnet that is surrounded by a magnetic field, the magnetic component defining a magnetic gap;

a conductor component that is positioned in the magnetic gap, the conductor component interacting with the magnetic component to generate a force when current is directed to the conductor component; and

a sensor for determining a side force along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis that is generated by the mover, the sensor being positioned in the magnetic gap.

17. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor is secured to and moves with the conductor component.

18. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor includes a magneto-resistive element.

19. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor includes a coil that is oriented transverse to the first axis.

20. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor is used to map out the side force of the mover during relative movement between the conductor component and the magnet component.

21. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor is used to determine a first axis component of a magnetic flux of the magnetic component.

22. The mover of claim 16 wherein the sensor includes a first sensor and a spaced apart second sensor.

23. A stage assembly that moves a device, the stage assembly including a stage that retains the device and the mover of claim 16 that moves the stage along the first axis.

24. An exposure apparatus including an illumination system and the stage assembly of claim 23 that moves the stage relative to the illumination system.

25. A process for manufacturing a device that includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming an image to the substrate with the exposure apparatus of claim 24.

26. A method for moving a device along a first axis, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling the device to a stage;

coupling a mover the stage, the mover including a magnetic component having a plurality of magnets that are surrounded by a magnetic field, and a conductor component that is positioned neat the magnetic component, the conductor component interacting with the magnetic component to generate a force when current is directed to the conductor component; and

determining a first axis component of a magnetic flux of the magnetic component with a sensor.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of securing the sensor to the conductor component.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the sensor includes a magneto-resistive element.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the sensor includes a coil that is oriented transverse to the first axis.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of determining includes the step of determining a side force along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis with the sensor.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of determining includes the step of mapping out a side force generated along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis during relative movement between the conductor component and the magnet component.

32. A method for making an exposure apparatus comprising the steps of providing an illumination source, providing a device, and moving the device by the method of claim 26.

33. A method of making a wafer including the steps of providing a substrate and forming an image on the substrate with the exposure apparatus made by the method of claim 32.