Integrated circuit manufacturing methods with patterning device position determination
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit with a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
- patterning a beam of radiation with a patterning device;
projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate with a projection system; and
determining, during operation of the lithographic apparatus, the position of the patterning device relative to the projection system with a laser beam reflected from a surface of the patterning device that is parallel planar with a patterned plane of the patterning device,wherein the location on the surface of the patterning device at which the laser beam is reflected is outside of a pattern area of the patterning device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of manufacturing an integrated circuit by a lithographic apparatus are disclosed. The methods include patterning a radiation beam with a patterning device, projecting the patterned beam onto a substrate using a projection system, and determining the position of the patterning device. In one example, the patterning device'"'"'s position relative to the projection system is determined by measuring the position of the patterning device'"'"'s support structure. In another example, the position can be determined by measuring a position of the patterning device relative to its support and by measuring a position of the support. In another example, a Z-position of the patterning device is determined by directing at least one beam of radiation onto a part of the patterning device located outside a pattern area. This can be done by directing a pair of laser beams from sensors on the projection system to reflecting strips on the patterning device.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit with a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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patterning a beam of radiation with a patterning device; projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate with a projection system; and determining, during operation of the lithographic apparatus, the position of the patterning device relative to the projection system with a laser beam reflected from a surface of the patterning device that is parallel planar with a patterned plane of the patterning device, wherein the location on the surface of the patterning device at which the laser beam is reflected is outside of a pattern area of the patterning device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit with a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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patterning a beam of radiation with a patterning device; imaging the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate with a projection system; and determining, during operation of the lithographic apparatus, the position of the patterning device relative to the projection system with a laser beam reflected from a surface of the patterning device that is parallel planar with a patterned plane of the patterning device, wherein the location on the surface of the patterning device at which the laser beam is reflected is outside of a pattern area of the patterning device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit with a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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patterning a first beam of radiation with a patterning device; projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate with a projection system; and determining the Z-position of the patterning device relative to the projection system using a second beam of radiation directed onto a surface of the patterning device that is parallel planar with a patterned plane of the patterning device, the surface being located outside of the pattern area of the patterning device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification