Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interferometric displacement measuring system for use in a lithographic projection apparatus having increased precision in spite of pressure and temperature disturbances in the optical paths of measurement and reference beams. SOLUTION: Measurement values of an interferometric measurement system are corrected for variations of atmospheric conditions such as pressure, temperature and turbulence using measurement values from a second harmonic interferometer. A ramp, representing the dependence of the SHI (second harmonic interferometer) data on a path length, is removed before use of the SHI data. The SHI may use a passive Q-switched laser as a light source and Brewster prisms in a receiver module. Optical fibers may be used to conduct light to detectors. A mirror reflecting the measurement beams has a coating of a thickness selected to minimize the sensitivity of the SHI data to changes in the coating thickness. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position determination system for measuring the position of an object. SOLUTION: This system comprises: a first increment value measuring unit for measuring the first distance step of a first number at the distance between a reference frame and the object, in which the first number is equal to the value obtained by adding a first fraction to a first integer; and a second increment value measuring unit for measuring the second distance step of a second number at the distance between the reference frame and the object, in which the second number is equal to the value obtained by adding a second fraction to the first integer. The position determination system is constructed and arranged to initialize the second increment value measuring unit based on the first number and the second fraction. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interferometer displacement measuring system of high precision to be used in a lithography projector even when the pressure and temperature in an optical path of measurement beams and reference beams are disturbed externally. SOLUTION: The measured values by an interference measurement system are corrected in relation to the variations in the state of the atmosphere such as that both in pressure and in temperature, and turbulence by using the measured values by a second harmonic interferometer 10. A ramp that indicates the dependence relationship of SHI data on the length of a channel is removed before the SHI data is used. It is possible for the SHI to use a passive Q-switched laser as a light source and a Brewster prism in a receiver module. Optical fibers can be used to guide light to a detector. A mirror 17 for reflecting the measurement beam has a coating whose thickness has been selected so that the sensitivity of the SHI data to the change in coating thickness will be reduced to the minimum level. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus capable of determining the values of an error/variations in a Z-position and/or the roughness of a substrate table. SOLUTION: This lithographic projection apparatus comprises an illuminator configured to provide a radiation beam; a support structure configured to hold a patterning device which is configured to impart the beam with a pattern in its cross-section, a substrate table WT configured to hold a substrate W, a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate W, a plurality of level sensors LS configured to detect the level of a substrate on the substrate table WT by measuring the heights of a plurality of points on the substrate, and a system for determining the position of the substrate table WT. Further, the apparatus is provided with a control unit configured to produce a relative displacement between the substrate W and the array of the level sensors LS from a first position, at which a first measurement value is obtained to a plurality of duplicate points at which another measurement value is obtained; and a calculator configured to calculate the value of an error in the Z-position, and/or the non-roughness of a substrate table WT, and/or the values of the positions/the off-set of the level sensors LS by using duplicate measurement values. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus and a position determination method. SOLUTION: In the lithography apparatus, the position determination of an object existing in the ambient space is corrected by an object position determination system, which is affected by the pressure changes of the ambient space, by making a correct measurement of the ambient space pressure. A reference pressure volume that has a fluid connection with the ambient space can be provided by predetermined fluid properties. Pressure differential between the pressure of the reference pressure volume and the atmospheric pressure of the ambient space can be measured. The pressure change of the ambient space is determined after the absolute pressure of the reference pressure volume is added to the differential pressure. As an alternative method, the differential pressure is integrated by time, by which the pressure change of the reference pressure volume is determined. After that, the pressure change of the ambient space is determined after the pressure change of the reference pressure volume is added to the differential pressure. For the purpose of the fluid connection, it is possible to use a valve that can be opened and closed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography system equipped having an interferometer for measuring the position of a mirror. SOLUTION: In order to measure the nonplanarity of the mirror, this interferometer contains a modulator which modulates the position of incoming beam for the interferometer, a synchronous detector which synchronously detects the interfering modulation beam, and a calculator which computes nonflatness of mirror area from effects on output signal of the synchronous detector caused by positional modulation of the incoming beam. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide lithographic equipment having a small number of modules, as compared with that in conventional equipment. SOLUTION: The lithographic equipment has a radiation system for providing a projection beam of radiation, a support structure for supporting the patterning means that patterns the projection beam according to a desired pattern, a substrate table for holding a substrate, a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target area on the substrate, and an interferometer system to help positioning an object in the equipment, wherein the interferometer system performs position measurement. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for assessing samples using a plurality of charged particle beams. In one arrangement, at least a subset of a beam grid of a plurality of charged particle beams and respective target portions of a sample surface are scanned relative to each other to process the target portions. Signal charged particles from the sample are detected to generate detection signals. A sample surface topographical map is generated that represents a topography of the sample surface by analyzing the detection signals.
Abstract:
A position measurement system for measuring a position of an object is described, the system including: a first incremental measurement unit for measuring a first number of first distance steps in a distance between a reference frame and the object, wherein the first number equals a first integer value plus a first fraction, and a second incremental measurement unit for measuring a second number of second distance steps in a distance between the reference frame and the object, wherein the second number equals a second integer value plus a second fraction, wherein the position measurement system is constructed and arranged to initialize the second incremental measurement unit on the basis of the first number and the second fraction.
Abstract:
Measurements of an interferometric measurement system are corrected for variations of atmospheric conditions such as pressure, temperature and turbulence using measurements from a second harmonic interferometer (10). A ramp, representing the dependence of the SHI data on path length, is removed before use of the SHI data. The SHI may use a passive Q-switched laser (11) as a light source and Brewster prisms (142,144) in the receiver module. Optical fibers may be used to conduct light to the detectors (145-147). A mirror reflecting the measurement beams has a coating of a thickness selected to minimize the sensitivity of the SHI data to changes in coating thickness.