Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembly having a sensor for determining at least one of tilt and height of a surface of a substrate by a lithographic projection apparatus. SOLUTION: The substrate (W; 11) is movable along at least one path substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate with respect to the sensor. The lithographic projection apparatus (1) has an exposure scanning direction (y). The assembly is constructed to continuously move the substrate along at least one path with respect to the sensor and to provide measured data concerning at least one of the data of the tilt and height along at least the one path. The assembly has a memory (10) for storing the measurement data so that the lithographic projection apparatus uses the substrate above thereafter during exposure. At least a portion of the at least one path of the substrate has an angle to the exposure scanning direction. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for determining a map, a device manufacturing method, and a lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: This method includes a step of determining a map of a second part of a substrate belonging to a group of substrates. The method includes a step of measuring a first part of at least one substrate belonging to the group, to create an average profile map or an average height map, and a step of computing a map of the second part of the substrate belonging to the group, based on the average profile map or the average height map. The computed map is stored for use during later determination of the height or tilt of the substrate from the group. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for determining a map, a device manufacturing method, and a lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: A method according to one embodiment of the invention includes a step of determining a map of a second part of a substrate belonging to a group of substrates. The method includes a step of measuring a first part of at least one substrate belonging to the group, to create an average profile map or average height map, and a step of computing a map of the second part of the substrate belonging to the group, based on the average profile map or an average height map. The computed map is stored for use during the later determination of the height or the tilt of the substrate from the group. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for controlling lithographic projection system, by which focal points over the whole exposure area can be further improved. SOLUTION: In the lithographic projection system, a focal surface is adjusted by using a manipulator which can be used by a projection lens system, so that the shape of the surface matches that of the surface of a wafer in the exposure area, as much as possible. The form control of the focal surface can be integrated with leveling control which decides the height and inclination of the surface of the wafer.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid the need to relate the origins of apparatuses which measure heights of substrates or masks on a plurality of stations in a lithographic projection apparatus having a plurality of substrate tables or mask tables. SOLUTION: A substrate W is mounted on a substrate table WT; then, vertical positions of a physical reference surface and vertical positions Z LS of the substrate surface are measured at a plurality of points on a measurement station (at the right of figure 8) using a level sensor 10; simultaneously, vertical positions Z IF of the substrate table are measured at the same points using a Z-interferometer Z IF ; and the substrate surface height, Z Wafer =Z LS +Z IF , is mapped. Then, the substrate table carrying the substrate is moved to an exposure station (to the left of figure 8) and vertical positions of the physical reference surface is again determined. Then, when the substrate is positioned at a right vertical position during the exposure process, the height map is referenced. This process can be applied to a mask. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract translation:要解决的问题:为了避免在具有多个基板台或掩模台的光刻投影设备中将测量基板或掩模高度的设备的起点与多个台站相关联的需要。 解决方案:将衬底W安装在衬底台WT上; 然后使用液位传感器10在测量站(图8右侧)的多个点测量基板表面的物理基准表面和垂直位置Z LS SB>的垂直位置; 同时,使用Z型干涉仪Z SB,在同一点测量衬底台的垂直位置Z IF SB>; 并且映射基板表面高度Z Wafer SB> = Z LS SB> + Z IF SB>。 然后,承载基板的基板台移动到曝光站(图8的左侧),再次确定物理基准面的垂直位置。 然后,当曝光处理期间基板位于右垂直位置时,参考高度图。 该过程可以应用于掩模。 版权所有(C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article support which allows every kind of deformation induced by a heat load or the like of an article supported by itself during a lithography process. SOLUTION: The article support which is constructed for supporting a reticle (a first article) or a wafer (a second article) includes several protrusions for support on each of which the article is set when in use and which is constructed in such a way as to demarcate a support region for providing a flat surface on which they support the article, to enable the expansion and contraction of at least a part of the article by the support region when the article is subjected to the heat load in this way and to reduce the accumulation of mechanical stress in the article and a position sensor which is constructed in such a way as to determine a displacement position offset in one direction of the article on a flat surface of its support region for a certain period. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography device which has an improved focus control system. SOLUTION: The lithography device comprises servo units which position board holders, sensor units which determine the distance of at least one positional point on the surface of a board from a reference surface, a memory unit which stores the surface information of the board, on the basis of each distance of at least one positional point on the surface of the board from the reference distance, and computing units which determine a feed-forward setting point signal, on the basis of the memorized surface information. The feed-forward setting signal is supplied in forward direction to the servo units to position the board holders. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembly comprising a sensor for determining at least one of tilt and height of a surface of a substrate in a lithographic projection apparatus. SOLUTION: The substrate (W;11) is movable along at least one path approximately parallel to the surface of the substrate with respect to the sensor. The lithographic projection apparatus (1) has an exposure scanning direction (y), and the assembly is arranged to continuously move the substrate relative to the sensor along at least the above one path and to provide measurement data about at least one of tilt and height along at least the above one path. The assembly comprises a memory (10) for storing the measurement data for use during a later exposure of the substrate by the lithographic projection apparatus. At least the above one path of the substrate is at least partly at an angle to the exposure scanning direction. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
The present invention discloses a lithographic apparatus a lithographic apparatus with an improved focus control system. The lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system (IL) configured to provide a beam of radiation (PB), a first support structure (MT) configured to support a patterning device (MA) that imparts the beam of radiation with a desired pattern in its cross-section, a second support structure (WT) that includes a substrate holder for holding a substrate (W), a projection system (PL) configured to project the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion (C) on a surface of the substrate, and a servo unit (PW) configured to position the substrate holder. The apparatus further includes a sensor unit (LS) configured to determine a distance of at least one location point on the surface of the substrate relative to a reference plane (REF), a memory unit configured to store surface information of the substrate based on respective distances of corresponding the at least one location point on the substrate surface, and a calculating unit configured to determine a feed-forward set-point signal based on the stored surface information, such that the feed-forward set-point signal is forwardly fed to the servo unit in order to position the substrate holder.
Abstract:
In a lithographic apparatus the shape of the focal plane (11,12,13) is adjusted using available manipulators (22,24,26) in the projection lens system (PL) so that it is in closer conformity to the shape of the wafer surface (WS) in the exposure area. The control of the focal plane shape can be integrated with the leveling control which determines the height and tilt of the wafer surface.