Lithographic projection assembly, load lock and method for transferring objects
First Claim
1. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising:
- at least one load lock constructed and arranged to transfer an object between a first environment and a second environment;
an object handler comprising a handler chamber in which said second environment prevails, said object handler and said at least one load lock being constructed and arranged to transfer said object between said handler chamber and said at least one load lock; and
a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber;
wherein said handler chamber and said projection chamber can communicate for transferring of said object between said handler chamber and said projection chamber, andwherein said load lock comprises a load lock chamber provided with
1) at least two mutually distinct object supports, each object support comprising a support plate being configured to individually support said object, and
2) a positioning device constructed and arranged to decrease the distance between one of said support plates and a ceiling plate of the load lock chamber prior to and/or during evacuation of said load lock chamber, and to increase said distance between said support plate and said ceiling plate prior to said object being removed from or delivered to said at least one of said object supports,wherein said positioning device is configured and operable to decrease a gas volume adjacent a surface of said object positioned on at least one of said object supports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Lithographic projection assembly, including at least one load lock for transferring objects, in particular substrates, between a first environment and a second environment, the second environment preferably having a lower pressure than the first environment; an object handler including a handler chamber in which the second environment prevails; and a lithographic projection apparatus including a projection chamber. The handler chamber and projection chamber can communicate for transferring the objects. The load lock includes a load lock chamber; evacuation device for evacuating the load lock chamber; and door device for closing the load lock chamber during evacuation and for opening the load lock chamber to enter an object in or remove an object from the load lock chamber. The load lock chamber may be provided with at least two mutually distinct object support positions.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising:
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at least one load lock constructed and arranged to transfer an object between a first environment and a second environment; an object handler comprising a handler chamber in which said second environment prevails, said object handler and said at least one load lock being constructed and arranged to transfer said object between said handler chamber and said at least one load lock; and a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber; wherein said handler chamber and said projection chamber can communicate for transferring of said object between said handler chamber and said projection chamber, and wherein said load lock comprises a load lock chamber provided with
1) at least two mutually distinct object supports, each object support comprising a support plate being configured to individually support said object, and
2) a positioning device constructed and arranged to decrease the distance between one of said support plates and a ceiling plate of the load lock chamber prior to and/or during evacuation of said load lock chamber, and to increase said distance between said support plate and said ceiling plate prior to said object being removed from or delivered to said at least one of said object supports,wherein said positioning device is configured and operable to decrease a gas volume adjacent a surface of said object positioned on at least one of said object supports. - 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)
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25. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising
at least one load lock constructed and arranged to transfer an object between a first environment and a second environment; -
an object handler comprising a handler chamber in which said second environment prevails, said object handler and said load lock being constructed and arranged to transfer said object between said handler chamber and said load lock; and a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber; wherein said handler chamber and said projection chamber can communicate for transferring of objects between said handler chamber and said projection chamber, and wherein said load lock comprises a load lock chamber which is provided with
1) at least two mutually distinct object supports, each object support comprising a support plate being configured to individually support said object, and
2) a positioning device constructed and arranged to decrease the distance between one of said support plates and a ceiling plate of the load lock chamber prior to and/or during evacuation of said load lock chamber, and to increase said distance between said support plate and said ceiling plate prior to said object being removed from or delivered to said at least one of said object supports andwherein said object handler is integrated in said load lock, so that said handler chamber and said load lock chamber are a single unit and wherein said nositionina device is configured and operable to decrease a gas volume adjacent a surface of said object positioned on at least one of said object supports.
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Specification