Balanced positioning system for use in lithographic apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
- a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables, and wherein the at least one of the object tables is supported by a support structure that is substantially independent from the first and second balance masses.
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Abstract
A balanced positioning system for use in lithographic apparatus having a pair of balance masses which are supported so as to be moveable in at least one degree of freedom, such as Y translation. Oppositely directed drive forces in this degree of freedom act directly between the driven body and the balance masses to rotate the driven body about an axis perpendicular to the one direction. Reaction forces arising from positioning movements result in linear movements of the balance masses and all reaction forces are kept within the balanced positioning system.
55 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables, and wherein the at least one of the object tables is supported by a support structure that is substantially independent from the first and second balance masses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 56)
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23. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a protection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables, and wherein the at least one of the object support by a third balance mass that is substantially independent from the first and second balance masses.
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33. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least on of the object tables, and wherein the at least one of the object tables is supported by a support structure that is independent from the first and second balance masses. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables, and wherein the at least one of the object tables is at least partly supported by a support structure that is different from the first and second balance masses. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a mask;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables;
a support structure for supporting the at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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57. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table for holding a mask;
a second object table for holding a substrate;
an imaging projection system which images irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
a balanced object table positioning system which positions at least one of said object tables;
first and second balance masses;
a support structure for supporting the at least one of the object tables a bearing, supporting each of said first and second balance masses such that they are substantially free to translate in at least a first direction;
actuators which act between said at least one of the object tables and said first and second balance masses to rotate said at least one of the object tables about an axis perpendicular to said first direction, and a drift control which limits drift of said balance masses constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force to the balance masses such that the combined center of mass of the balance masses, the object table positioning system and the at least one of the object tables is biased towards a desired position.
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58. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table for holding a mask;
a second object table for holding a substrate;
an imaging projection system which images irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses;
a support structure for supporting at least one of the object tables;
a balanced object table positioning system which positions said at least one of said object tables and at least partially supported by at least one of the balance masses;
a bearing for supporting each of said first and second balance masses such that they are substantially free to translate in at least a first direction; and
actuators being arranged to exert forces on said first and second balance masses in opposite directions to effect rotation of said at least one of said object tables.
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59. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table for holding a mask;
a second object table for holding a substrate;
an imaging projection system which images irradiated portions of the mask onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses;
a support structure for supporting at least one of the object tables;
a balanced object table positioning system which positions the at least one of said object tables and at least partially supported by at least one of the balance masses;
a bearing, supporting each of said first and second balance masses such that they are substantially free to translate in at least a first direction; and
actuators being arranged to exert forces on said first and second balance masses in opposite directions to effect rotation of said at least one of the object tables, said actuators being constructed and arranged such that forces applied by the actuators onto the at least one of the object tables result in equal reaction forces being applied by the actuators on the balance masses.
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60. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
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a patterning means;
an object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
an imaging projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the patterning means onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of the object table;
a support structure for supporting the object table; and
first and second motors configured to move the object table, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the object table and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing of the object table.
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61. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
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a radiation system which supplies a projection beam of radiation;
a first object table constructed and arranged to hold a patterning means;
a second object table constructed and arranged to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to image irradiated portions of the patterning means onto target portions of the substrate;
first and second balance masses disposed along opposite sides of at least one of the object tables;
a support structure for supporting the at least one of the object tables; and
first and second motors configured to move the at least one of the object tables, each motor having two cooperating electromagnetic members, a first of the members being operatively associated with the at least one of the object tables and a second of the members being operatively associated with at least one of the first and second balance masses, wherein said first and second balance masses are substantially free to move in at least a first direction to provide balancing to the at least one of the object tables.
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Specification