Lithographic projection assembly, substrate handling apparatus and substrate handling method
First Claim
1. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising:
- a radiation system configured to provide a beam of radiation;
a support structure configured to support a patterning device that imparts a desired pattern onto said beam of radiation;
a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;
a first load lock and a second load lock for transferring said substrate between a first environment and a second environment, said second environment configured to have a lower pressure than said first environment;
a third load lock for transferring objects from a third environment to the second environment, said third load lock being accessible from a side facing the third environment;
a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber in which said substrate is processed by projecting said patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and
a substrate handler comprising a handler chamber within said second environment, said handler chamber and said projection chamber communicate via a load position for inputting said substrate from said handler chamber into said projection chamber and an unload position for removing said substrate from said projection chamber into said handler chamber, said handler chamber comprising;
a pre-processing system configured to perform pre-processing tasks on said substrate prior to being processed in said projection chamber, anda transport system configured to transfer said substrate from said load locks to said pre-processing system, transfer said substrate from said pre-processing system to said load position, and transfer said substrate from said unload position to said load locks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a lithographic projection assembly, having at least two load locks for transferring substrates between a first environment and a lower pressure second environment, a substrate handler with a handler chamber within the second environment and a lithographic projection apparatus including a projection chamber. The handler chamber and the projection chamber communicate via a load position for entering a substrate from the handler chanter into the projection chamber and an unload position for removing the substrate from the projection chamber into the handler chamber. The handler chamber also includes pre-processing means for pre-processing of the substrates and transport means for transferring substrates between the load locks and pre-processing means.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising:
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a radiation system configured to provide a beam of radiation; a support structure configured to support a patterning device that imparts a desired pattern onto said beam of radiation; a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a first load lock and a second load lock for transferring said substrate between a first environment and a second environment, said second environment configured to have a lower pressure than said first environment; a third load lock for transferring objects from a third environment to the second environment, said third load lock being accessible from a side facing the third environment; a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber in which said substrate is processed by projecting said patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and a substrate handler comprising a handler chamber within said second environment, said handler chamber and said projection chamber communicate via a load position for inputting said substrate from said handler chamber into said projection chamber and an unload position for removing said substrate from said projection chamber into said handler chamber, said handler chamber comprising; a pre-processing system configured to perform pre-processing tasks on said substrate prior to being processed in said projection chamber, and a transport system configured to transfer said substrate from said load locks to said pre-processing system, transfer said substrate from said pre-processing system to said load position, and transfer said substrate from said unload position to said load locks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lithographic substrate handler assembly, comprising:
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a first load lock and a second load lock for transferring said substrate between a first environment and a second environment, said second environment configured to have a lower pressure than said first environment; a third load lock for transferring objects from a third environment to the second environment, said third load lock being accessible from a side facing the third environment; and a substrate handler comprising a handler chamber within said second environment, said handler chamber and a next station communicate via a load position for inputting said substrate from said handler chamber into said next station and an unload position for removing said substrate from said next station into said handler chamber, said handler chamber comprising; a pre-processing system configured to perform pre-processing tasks to treat said substrate prior to being processed; and a transport system configured to transfer said substrate from said load locks to said pre-processing system, transfer said substrate from said pre-processing system to said load position, and transfer said substrate from said unload position to said load looks. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising:
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a first and a second load lock for transferring substrates between a first environment and a second environment, said second environment having a lower pressure than said first environment, wherein at least one of said first and second load locks is provided with a first and a second substrate support position; a third load lock for transferring objects from a third environment to the second environment, said third load lock being accessible from a side facing the third environment; a substrate handler comprising a handler chamber within said second environment; a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber to process said substrates; wherein said handler chamber and said projection chamber communicate through a load position for inputting said substrates from said handler chamber into said projection chamber and an unload position for removing said substrates from said projection chamber into said handler chamber; and wherein said handler chamber is provided with pre-processing system for treating said substrates prior to being processed in said projection chamber and a transport system configured to transfer said substrates from said load locks to said pre-processing system, from said pre-processing system to said load position, and to transfer said substrates from said unload position to said load locks.
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Specification