Abstract:
A reluctance actuator assembly comprising a reluctance actuator, a flux sensor to measure a magnetic flux in a gap of the reluctance actuator, and a flux amplifier to drive an actuator coil of the reluctance actuator based on a flux set point and the flux measured by the flux sensor. A method comprising providing to the flux amplifier a flux setpoint, the flux setpoint comprising a time constant component and a sinusoidally varying component at an excitation frequency, measuring a force generated by the reluctance actuator in response to the flux setpoint, and calibrating the reluctance actuator assembly from the measured force.
Abstract:
An exposure apparatus including a projection system configured to project a plurality of radiation beams onto a target; a movable frame that is at least rotatable around an axis; and an actuator system configured to displace the movable frame to an axis away from an axis corresponding to the geometric center of the movable frame and to cause the frame to rotate around an axis through the center of mass of the frame.
Abstract:
An actuator to displace, for example a mirror, provides movement with at least two degrees of freedom by varying the currents in two electromagnets (370). A moving part includes a permanent magnet (362) with a magnetic face constrained to move over a working area lying substantially in a first plane perpendicular to a direction of magnetization of the magnet. The electromagnets have pole faces lying substantially in a second plane closely parallel to the first plane, each pole face substantially filling a quadrant of the area traversed by the face of the moving magnet. A ferromagnetic shield (820) is provided around the moving part and has at least one interruption (822) to reduce the influence of adjacent actuators or stray fields while also minimizing attraction between the permanent magnet (362) and the shield (820).
Abstract:
An actuator to displace, for example a mirror, provides movement with at least two degrees of freedom by varying the currents in two electromagnets. A moving part includes a permanent magnet with a magnetic face constrained to move over a working area lying substantially in a first plane perpendicular to a direction of magnetization of the magnet. The electromagnets have pole faces lying substantially in a second plane closely parallel to the first plane, each pole face substantially filling a quadrant of the area traversed by the face of the moving magnet. An optical position sensor may direct a beam of radiation at the moving magnet through a central space between the electromagnets. The sizes of facets in a pupil mirror device may be made smaller in a peripheral region, but larger in a central region, thereby relaxing focusing requirements.
Abstract:
An EUV optical apparatus includes a number of adjustable mirrors (22x) on mirror bodies (120). Each mirror body is supported on an actuator (100x) comprising a moving part (132, 134, 136) and a fixed casing part (128, 130). The actuator provides a resilient support (140, 142) for the mirror body so that it is tiltable with two degrees relative to the casing. An electromagnetic motor (166, 170-178) applies first part, under the influence of an applied motive force, the resilient mounting being arranged to provide a biasing force that resists said motive force. A magnetic coupling (102, 104a, 104b) is arranged between the moving and fixed parts so as to provide a counter-biasing force. The counter-biasing force partly opposes said biasing force and thereby reduces the motive force required to effect a given displacement. The actuator can thus be made with reduced size, weight and heat dissipation.
Abstract:
An e-beam apparatus is disclosed, the tool comprising an electron optics system configured to project an e-beam onto an object, an object table to hold the object, and a positioning device configured to move the object table relative to the electron optics system. The positioning device comprises a short stroke stage configured to move the object table relative to the electron optics system and a long stroke stage configured to move the short stroke stage relative to the electron optics system. The e-beam apparatus further comprises a magnetic shield to shield the electron optics system from a magnetic disturbance generated by the positioning device. The magnetic shield may be arranged between the positioning device and the electron optics system.
Abstract:
An EUV optical apparatus includes a number of adjustable mirrors (22x) on mirror bodies (120). Each mirror body is supported on an actuator (100x) comprising a moving part (132, 134, 136) and a fixed casing part (128, 130). The actuator provides a resilient support (140, 142) for the mirror body so that it is tiltable with two degrees relative to the casing. An electromagnetic motor (166, 170-178) applies first part, under the influence of an applied motive force, the resilient mounting being arranged to provide a biasing force that resists said motive force. A magnetic coupling (102, 104a, 104b) is arranged between the moving and fixed parts so as to provide a counter-biasing force. The counter-biasing force partly opposes said biasing force and thereby reduces the motive force required to effect a given displacement. The actuator can thus be made with reduced size, weight and heat dissipation.
Abstract:
A support for a movable element includes a stator element, a gravity compensator field inducing element mounted on the stator element, the gravity compensator field inducing element configured to apply a translational force to the movable element by controlling a magnetic field in a gap between the stator element and the movable element, and a plurality of torque compensator field inducing elements mounted on the stator element, the torque compensator field inducing elements configured to apply a torque to the movable element by controlling a magnetic field in the gap between the stator element and the movable element, the torque being about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of the translational force applied by the gravity compensator field inducing element.