Alignment systems for imprint lithography
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
- a body;
a patterned template, wherein the patterned template is substantially transparent to an activating light;
a motion stage coupled to the body, wherein the motion stage is configured to support a substrate, and wherein the motion stage is configured to move the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the patterned template;
an imprint head coupled to the body, wherein the imprint head is configured to hold the patterned template proximate to the substrate during use, wherein the imprint head comprises a fine orientation system, wherein the fine orientation system is configured to allow motion of the patterned template with respect to the substrate to achieve a substantially parallel orientation of the patterned template with respect to the substrate;
a liquid dispenser coupled to the body, wherein the liquid dispenser is configured to dispense an activating light curable liquid onto at least a portion of the substrate during use;
a force detector coupled to the imprint head, wherein the force detector is configured to determine a resistive force applied to the patterned template by the liquid when the patterned template contacts the liquid;
an activating light source optically coupled to the patterned template, wherein the activating light source is configured to direct the activating light through the patterned template during use;
a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head;
a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use;
a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; and
a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the patterned template.
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Abstract
Described are systems for patterning a substrate by imprint lithography. Imprint lithography systems include an imprint head configured to hold a template in a spaced relation to a substrate. The imprint lithography system is configured to dispense an activating light curable liquid onto a substrate or template. The system includes a light source that applies activating light to cure the activating light curable liquid. Multiple optical imaging devices are used to align the template with the substrate.
370 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a patterned template, wherein the patterned template is substantially transparent to an activating light; a motion stage coupled to the body, wherein the motion stage is configured to support a substrate, and wherein the motion stage is configured to move the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the patterned template; an imprint head coupled to the body, wherein the imprint head is configured to hold the patterned template proximate to the substrate during use, wherein the imprint head comprises a fine orientation system, wherein the fine orientation system is configured to allow motion of the patterned template with respect to the substrate to achieve a substantially parallel orientation of the patterned template with respect to the substrate; a liquid dispenser coupled to the body, wherein the liquid dispenser is configured to dispense an activating light curable liquid onto at least a portion of the substrate during use; a force detector coupled to the imprint head, wherein the force detector is configured to determine a resistive force applied to the patterned template by the liquid when the patterned template contacts the liquid; an activating light source optically coupled to the patterned template, wherein the activating light source is configured to direct the activating light through the patterned template during use; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the patterned template. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 43)
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33. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template a motion stage, coupled to the body, a having the substrate positioned thereupon, the motion stage translating the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the template an imprint head, coupled to the body, holding the template; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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34. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template; an imprint head, holding the template; a motion stage, coupled to the body, supporting the imprint head, the motion stage being configured to move the imprint head along a plane substantially parallel to the substrate; a substrate support, coupled to the body, holding the substrate; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head, wherein the first optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the first optical imaging device and template move together during use; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage; a system alignment target optically coupled to the second optical imaging device; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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35. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template; an imprint head holding the template; a motion stage, coupled to the body, supporting the imprint head, the motion stage being configured to move the imprint head along a plane substantially parallel to the substrate; a substrate support, coupled to the body, holding the substrate, the substrate support comprising a fine orientation system, wherein the fine orientation system is configured to allow motion of the substrate with respect to the template to achieve a substantially parallel orientation of the substrate with respect to the template; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head, wherein the first optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the first optical imaging device and the template move together during use; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage; a system alignment target optically coupled to the second optical imaging device; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template.
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36. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template, a motion stage, coupled to the body, a supporting the substrate, the motion stage being configured to move the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the template; an imprint head, coupled to the body, holding the template proximate to the substrate; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; a third optical imaging device optically coupled to the template, wherein the third optical imaging device is configured to obtain image data of the substrate through at least two different portions of the template; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template; a motion stage, coupled to the body, supporting the substrate, the motion stage being configured to move the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the template, and wherein the motion stage comprises a fine orientation system, wherein the fine orientation system is configured to allow motion of the substrate with respect to the template to achieve a substantially parallel orientation of the substrate with respect to the template; an imprint head, coupled to the body, holding the template; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; a third optical imaging device optically coupled to the template, wherein the third optical imaging device is configured to obtain image data of the substrate through at least two different portions of the template; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template.
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41. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template; an imprint head holding the template; a motion stage, coupled to the body, supporting the imprint head, the motion stage being configured to move the imprint head along a plane substantially parallel to the substrate, wherein the imprint head comprises a fine orientation system, wherein the fine orientation system is configured to allow motion of the template with respect to the substrate to achieve a substantially parallel orientation of the template with respect to the substrate; a substrate support, coupled to the body, holding the substrate; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head, wherein the first optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the first optical imaging device and the template move together during use; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; third optical imaging device optically coupled to the template, wherein the third optical imaging device is configured to obtain image data of the substrate through at least two different portions of the template; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template.
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42. A system for forming a pattern on a substrate comprising:
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a body; a template comprising a patterning area, wherein the patterning area comprises a plurality of recesses extending from a first surface of the template toward an opposing second surface of the template, and wherein a first alignment mark is defined by the recesses in the patterning area of the template, and wherein a second alignment mark is isolated from the patterning area by a border that substantially surrounds the second alignment mark, and wherein a depth of the border is greater than a depth of the recesses; a motion stage, coupled to the body, a supporting the substrate, the motion stage being configured to move the substrate along a plane substantially parallel to the template; an imprint head, coupled to the body, holding the template; a first optical imaging device coupled to the imprint head; a second optical imaging device coupled to the motion stage, wherein the second optical imaging device is coupled to the motion stage such that the second optical imaging device and the substrate move together during use; a system alignment target optically coupled to the first optical imaging device; and a displacement detector coupled to the body, wherein the displacement detector is configured to determine a relative displacement of the substrate with respect to the template.
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Specification