Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve mechanical insulation between elements of a projection system.SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus having means for reducing the extent to which vibrations propagate between a first element of a projection system and a second element of the projection system, and a device manufacturing method are disclosed. The method includes the use of a plurality of elastic members in series as a part of a vibration insulation system, a plurality of insulation frames for separately supporting first and second projection system frames, and corrected connection positions for the interaction between the first and second projection system frames and the insulation frame(s).
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for reducing noise in an original signal which contains a linear time-varying signal and the noise.SOLUTION: In the method and apparatus, the original signal is differentiated to obtain a differentiated original signal. The differentiated original signal is Fourier transformed to obtain power spectral densities of the differentiated original signal. A noise frequency is detected in a power spectral density spectrum of the obtained power spectral densities of the differentiated original signal. For the noise frequency, a corresponding noise component is determined. The noise component is subtracted from the original signal to obtain a noise-reduced original signal.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration isolation system for an imprint lithographic apparatus, capable of improving a throughput of an imprint lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: An imprint lithographic apparatus 100 includes an actuator 130 displacing an imprint template holder 110 relative to a substrate holder 120. A support structure 140 of the imprint template holder 110 and/or the substrate holder 120 is attached to a vibration isolation system 150 attached to a base 160. The vibration isolation system 150 isolates vibration of the support structure 140 relative to the base 160. A control unit controlling the actuator 130 in an imprint process controls an adjusting member of the vibration isolation system 150, and adjusts a dynamic characteristic of the vibration isolation system 150 during at least part of the imprint process to reduce a displacement of the support structure 140 relative to the base 160, the displacement being caused by a force acting the support structure 140. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide favorably an encoder type highly accurate measurement system configured to measure a position dependent signal of a movable object with almost no substantial influence of the motion of the moving object on measuring accuracy. SOLUTION: The encoder type measurement system is configured to measure the position dependent signal of the movable object and includes at least one sensor attachable onto the movable object, a sensor target attachable onto a substantially stationary frame, and an attaching device configured to attach the sensor target onto the substantially stationary frame. It further includes a compensation device configured to compensate for movement and/or deformation of a sensor target object relative to the substantially stationary frame. The compensation device may include a passive type or active type damping device and/or a feedback position control system. In a substitute embodiment, the compensation device includes a gripping device fixing the position of the sensor target object. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
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 increase a stable operating range of active damping.SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, and a support constructed to support a patterning device. The lithographic apparatus further includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An active damping system is provided to damp a vibration of at least part of the projection system. The active damping system includes a combination of a sensor to measure a position quantity of the projection system and an actuator to exert a force on the projection system in dependency on a signal provided by the sensor. The active damping system is connected to a damping mass, which is connected to the projection system.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an efficient feed forward compensation mechanism for compensating pressure pulses caused by movements of an object of a device in relation to a metrology frame. SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus including: a projection system; a metrology frame MF supported by a vibration isolation support device ISD; a movable object WT; and a displacement determining unit to determine positions, speeds and/or accelerations of the object WT in relation to the metrology frame MF and/or a projection system. At least one actuator F is provided for applying correcting forces and/or torques on the metrology frame MF, and a controller C is provided which is configured to calculate the correcting forces and/or torques to be applied to the metrology frame MF on the basis of the determined positions, speeds and/or accelerations of the object WT in order to compensate pressure pulses exerted on the metrology frame MF caused by movements of the object WT in relation to the metrology frame MF. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus having an improved positioning accuracy of a stage thereof. SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus includes: a stage that holds an object and is movable relative to a reference structure within a motion range; a magnet structure that provides a spatially varying magnetic field in at least a part of the motion range and is movable relative to the reference structure and the stage; a first position measuring system to provide a first measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage and/or the object in a measuring direction relative to the reference structure; a second position measuring system to provide a second measurement signal corresponding to a position of the stage relative to the magnet structure; and a data processor that corrects the first measurement signal with a value dependent on the second measurement signal to provide a first corrected measurement signal representing the position of the stage and/or the object in the measuring direction relative to the reference structure. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a patterning device support that leads to improvement in overlays. SOLUTION: Lithographic apparatus includes a position controller for selectively pressurizing, at least one of sides of a patterning device M to control the position of the patterning device M in its planar direction. The position controller includes a gas supply section and one or a plurality of outflow openings directed to the side of the gas pressure supply section, to apply a pressurized gas to at least one side of the patterning device to control the position of the patterning device, in its planar direction in a non-contact manner. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A reaction mass 14; 54; 64 and an actuator 15; 55; 65 are used to reduce unwanted vibrations of an optical element 10; 50; 60 in the projection system of a lithographic projection apparatus. The reaction mass 14; 54; 64 may be mechanically connected only to the optical element 50; 60 or may be compliantly mounted to the projection system frame 11.