Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an immersion-type lithography projection device with improved functionality.SOLUTION: An immersion-type lithography projection device comprises: a radiation systems Ex, IL which are provided with a radiation source LA and supply projection beams PB of radiation; a first object table (mask table) MT connected to first positioning means for correctly positioning a mask with respect to a member PL; a second object table (substrate table) WT connected to second positioning means for correctly positioning a substrate with respect to the member PL; and a projection system PL for forming an image of a radiated part of the mask MA on a target part C of a substrate W.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved control system.SOLUTION: A controller is provided for controlling an actuator system having a plurality of actuators arranged to act on an object. The controller uses a gain balancing matrix to convert a first control signal, representing a set of forces desired to be provided to the center of gravity of the object, into a second control signal, representing an equivalent set of forces to be provided by the plurality of actuators. The system is further configured such that a first gain balancing matrix is used at a first frequency band and a second gain balancing matrix is used at a second frequency band.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an immersion-type lithographic projection apparatus with improved functionality.SOLUTION: The immersion-type lithographic projection apparatus comprises: a radiation system Ex which is provided with a radiation source LA and supplies a radiation projection beam PB; an illumination system IL; a first object table (mask table) MT connected to first positioning means for accurately positioning a mask to a member PL; a second object table (substrate table) WT connected to second positioning means for accurately positioning the substrate to the member PL; and a projection system PL for imaging an irradiated part of a mask MA on a target part C of a substrate W. This apparatus also includes at least one sensor that is disposed so as to be illuminated with a radiation projection beam that has passed through an immersion liquid.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of damping an object in motion at two or greater of degrees of freedom. SOLUTION: In the method, positional quantities are measured at each of two or more of the positions of measurements, measurement signals are extracted at every dynamic mode from the measured positional quantities and controller units connected to each corresponding dynamic mode are supplied with the measurement signals in one dynamic mode. In the method, output signals are provided at every dynamic mode on the basis of each measurement signal, to which the controller units correspond, and control signals are provided to each of two or of actuators. In the method, the control signals at every actuator are based on output signals from one or two or more of the controller units. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positioning system in which vibrations caused by a torque transferred from a balance mass to a base plate are minimized. SOLUTION: The positioning system to position a table within a base frame of a lithographic apparatus includes a first actuator for exerting an actuation force on the table, and being connected to a first balance mass constructed and arranged to absorb a reaction force of the first actuator, and the positioning system includes a controller and a second actuator constructed and arranged to exert a compensation force and/or torque to compensate a torque caused by the actuation force exerted by the first actuator on the first balance mass. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide cable connection between a first object and a second object, in which vibration propagated or transmitted from the first object to the second object is reduced. SOLUTION: The cable connection between the first object and the second object includes a cable bundle containing one or more cables, one end of which is fixed to the first object and the other end of which is fixed to the second object; a cable bundle holder configured so as to hold the cable bundle at a position along the length of the cable bundle;a control system configured so as to control a position of the cable bundle holder with respect to the second object. A control system for the cable connection, and a method for reducing vibration transmitted via the cable connection from the first object to the second object. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide lithography equipment capable of reducing alignment errors due to misalignment in a projection system and the other portion. SOLUTION: A projection system is supported by a frame and is provided with a piezo actuator configured in a way that a force applies to the projection system. A frame position or a time derivative for the frame position is measured by a piezoelectric sensor and the piezo actuator is controlled based on the measured frame position or the measured time derivative for the frame position. In addition, data from the piezoelectric sensor is used in a control loop for a frame air-mount which supports the other lithography equipment portion like a mask table, substrate table or projection system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus being improved in alignment. SOLUTION: In an alignment method, a beam with a first pattern is irradiated to a first target portion of a substrate to form the first pattern on the substrate. Then, a beam with a second pattern is irradiated to a second target portion of the substrate to form the second pattern on the substrate. The second target portion is at least partially overlapped with the first target portion. During irradiating the second pattern, a diffraction beam is detected due to diffraction of the beam with the second pattern on the first pattern. The diffraction beam is compared to a desired diffraction beam, so that alignment of the substrate is performed, based on a result of comparison between the detected diffraction beam and the desired diffraction beam. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography device for controlling in high precision the position of a substrate table by referring to the position of a projection lens. SOLUTION: The lithography device includes a first constituting component WT, an actuator 13 which moves the first constituting component WT to a second constituting component 1, a measurement system 14 which measures at least one of higher order time derivative of a position, a speed, an acceleration, and the position, and a control system 2 for controlling the actuator 13 according to an output from the measurement system 14. The control system 2 includes various filter branchings 10, and determines the characteristic parameter of a variable from which the first analysis formula of the output of the measurement system 14 differs, and further, includes a predication unit 11 which offers the version of the output to which time was shifted in order to compensate partially at least a delay between the measured value of the characteristic of the second constituting components and effects which this measured value gives to the performance of the actuator 13, by using the characteristic parameter and the first analysis formula. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve quality of pixels in a lithographic device and a method for manufacturing the device. SOLUTION: The lithographic device has a first movable element (like an immersion liquid supply system), and operates while contacting the surface of a second movable element (like a substrate table). The lithographic device is also provided with a second element controller (like a substrate table controller) C2 that controls the amount of positions in the second movable element. Disturbance force by capillary force, for example, caused by relative movements of the first and the second movable elements, disturbs the positions y1, y2 of the first and the second movable elements. The lithographic device includes a feed forward control path that feeds a disturbance feed forward signal to the second element controller C2 to correct at least a part of positions of the second movable element caused by such a disturbance force, and the feed forward control path includes a disturbance force estimator Fd that estimates the disturbance force from the amount y1 of the position in the first movable element. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI