Lithographic apparatus, method for maintaining a lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
First Claim
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1. A lithographic apparatus, configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate comprising:
- a plurality of radiation source units, each comprising a radiation source configured to provide a portion of the patterned beam of radiation and configured such that at least one radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus is separately removable from another radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus;
a control system, configured to monitor a parameter of the performance of the radiation source units; and
a mechanical replacement mechanism having an actuating structure, configured to be operated in response to an instruction from the control system to replace the at least one radiation source unit with a replacement unit;
wherein the control system is configured to control the replacement mechanism to replace at least one radiation source unit if a criterion is met based on the monitored parameter of performance of one of the radiation source units.
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Abstract
A lithographic apparatus having a plurality of individually controllable radiation source units each providing a portion of a patterned beam of radiation, a control system configured to monitor a parameter of performance of each of the individually controllable radiation source units, and a replacement mechanism configured to replace one of the individually controllable radiation source units with a replacement unit responsive to the control system determining that a criterion has been met based on the monitored parameter of performance.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lithographic apparatus, configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate comprising:
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a plurality of radiation source units, each comprising a radiation source configured to provide a portion of the patterned beam of radiation and configured such that at least one radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus is separately removable from another radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus; a control system, configured to monitor a parameter of the performance of the radiation source units; and a mechanical replacement mechanism having an actuating structure, configured to be operated in response to an instruction from the control system to replace the at least one radiation source unit with a replacement unit; wherein the control system is configured to control the replacement mechanism to replace at least one radiation source unit if a criterion is met based on the monitored parameter of performance of one of the radiation source units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A lithographic apparatus, configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate comprising:
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a plurality of radiation source units, each comprising a radiation source configured to provide a portion of the patterned beam of radiation; a control system, configured to monitor a parameter of the performance of the radiation source units; and a replacement mechanism, configured to be operated in response to an instruction from the control system to replace at least one of the radiation source units with a replacement unit; wherein the control system is configured to control the replacement mechanism to replace at least one radiation source unit if a criterion is met based on the monitored parameter of performance of one of the radiation source units, and wherein the replacement mechanism comprises a sensor to determine the position and/or orientation of a beam of radiation output from a radiation source unit; and configured such that, when placing a replacement radiation source unit in a receiving location, the replacement mechanism uses information from the sensor to position the radiation source unit such that the position and/or orientation of the beam of radiation relative to the receiving location corresponds to a predetermined position and/or orientation to within an accuracy range.
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18. A method for maintaining a lithographic apparatus that comprises a plurality of radiation source units, each comprising a radiation source configured to provide a portion of a patterned beam of radiation to be projected onto a substrate and configured such that at least one radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus is separately removable from another radiation source unit of the plurality of radiation source units installed in the lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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monitoring a parameter of the performance of the radiation source units; and replacing the at least one radiation source unit with a replacement unit based on the results of the monitoring using an actuating structure of a replacement mechanism within the lithographic apparatus, wherein the replacement mechanism is operated to replace a radiation source unit if a criterion is met based on the monitored parameter of performance of one of the radiation source units. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification