Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveying structure for moving substrates and/or masks mutually and relatively within a lithograph apparatus. SOLUTION: The conveying structure includes a linear motor equipped with beams and a sliding body. The beam is hollow and the inner surface concave inward crosses the conveying direction. The sliding body comes into contact with and is supported by the inner surface concave at least in the two directions crossing the conveying direction. It is preferable that the transfer section of the motor (electromagnet) be arranged on the sliding body on the outside of the inner space of the beam between the support areas of the substrate or the mask. Due to this, it becomes possible to reduce the torque generated by the acceleration of the motor. Further, it is possible to apply a pre-tension for a gas bearer between the beam and the sliding body by using the motor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of effectively compensating for a positional shift including a tilt between a substrate and a supporting structure and a vertical displacement when moving the substrate in a lithographic projection apparatus using the supporting structure. SOLUTION: By providing compliant parts (14, 26) in the supporting structure for holding and moving a substrate (W), for example, a supporting frame (18) of a robot arm (10) adaptable to the tilt and/or the vertical displacement. Clamps (20, 22, 24) that the supporting frame (18) comprises may be a Johnson-Raybeck effect type clamp that requires a stringent positional precision, and the cleaning of the inside of the projection apparatus is carried out by using only one substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method capable of effectively compensating an inclination between a substrate and a support structure or a misregistration including a displacement in the vertical direction when the substrate is moved by the support structure in a lithographic projection apparatus. SOLUTION: By providing a support structure for holding and moving a substrate (W), for example, flexible sections (14, 26) in a support frame (18) of a robot arm (10), it can be adapted to the tilt and/or a displacement in the vertical direction. Clamps (20, 22, 24) provided on the support frame (18) may be a Johnson-Raybeck effect type clamp, which requires the severe position accuracy, and can perform a cleaning treatment in a projection apparatus by only one substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
A transport structure is provided for moving a substrate and or mask relative to one another in a lithographic apparatus. The transport structure comprises a linear motor with a beam and a slide. The beam is hollow with a concave interior surface transverse to the transport direction. The slide is supported against the concave interior surface in at least two directions transverse to the transport direction. Preferably, the transporter part of the motor (an electromagnet) is located on the slide outside the interior space of the beam, between a support area for the substrate or mask. This makes it possible to reduce the torque due to the motor acceleration. Also the motor can be used to provide pretension for a gas bearing between the beam and the slide.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a lithographic projection apparatus with a supporting structure to support and move an object, like a substrate (W). The supporting structure maybe a robot (8). The robot (8) has a robot arm (10) with a support frame (18) for supporting, e.g. the substrate (W). The support frame (18) has one or more clamps (20, 22, 24) for holding the object (W) during movement. The robot arm comprises one or more compliant parts (14; 26; 28). The clamp may be a Johnson-Raybeck effect type clamp with an oxidized upper surface. For better de-clamping, a RF AC decaying de-clamping voltage may be provided to the clamp. The apparatus maybe cleaned with one single substrate only.
Abstract:
A transport structure is provided for moving a substrate and or mask relative to one another in a lithographic apparatus. The transport structure comprises a linear motor with a beam and a slide. The beam is hollow with a concave interior surface transverse to the transport direction. The slide is supported against the concave interior surface in at least two directions transverse to the transport direction. Preferably, the transporter part of the motor (an electromagnet) is located on the slide outside the interior space of the beam, between a support area for the substrate or mask. This makes it possible to reduce the torque due to the motor acceleration. Also the motor can be used to provide pretension for a gas bearing between the beam and the slide.