Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for determining direction of a substrate concerning a patterning method, especially a method for determining it with quick rotation without requiring a special mark on the substrate. SOLUTION: At least two structures (S1) and (S2) that are on the substrate (2) and have corresponding formations mutually, for example, previously projected pattern image that is formed on known measured position in measuring coordinates system (u-v axes) of a lithography device and the pattern after the rotation, are used for determining the direction of the substrate. Metrical vector (Tx) between these at least two structures (S1) and (S2) is determined. Rotation angle (Rz) of pattern coordinates system (x-y axes) relating to the substrate from the measuring coordinates system is calculated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load lock with temperature regulation, a lithography system equipped with a load lock, and a method for producing a substrate using the load lock. SOLUTION: An object, e.g. a substrate W, is transferred into/from a lithography system. Load lock outer walls 38 and 40 define at least a part of the load lock volume for containing support units 33 and 141 which support the object W when it is in the load lock. Furthermore, the load lock has a structure for temperature regulation to control the temperature of the object at least before it is transferred from the load lock toward the lithography system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus which can position a substrate onto a substrate table with a small stress.SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus comprises a substrate table to hold a substrate, and a gripper to position the substrate onto the substrate table. The gripper includes an electrostatic clamp to clamp the substrate at a top side thereof. The electrostatic clamp is arranged so as to clamp at least part of a circumferential outer zone of a top surface of the substrate. The invention provides a substrate handling method including positioning for the substrate by means of the gripper onto the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. The substrate is clamped at the top side thereof by using the electrostatic clamp of the gripper.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load lock with temperature regulation, a lithography system equipped with a load lock, and a method for producing a substrate using the load lock. SOLUTION: An object, e.g. a substrate W, is transferred into/from a lithography system. Load lock outer walls 38 and 40 define at least a part of the load lock volume for containing support units 33 and 141 which support the object W when it is in the load lock. Furthermore, the load lock has a structure for temperature regulation to control the temperature of the object at least before it is transferred from the load lock toward the lithography system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide lithography equipment for reducing replacement time required for arranging another substrate on a substrate support. SOLUTION: The lithography equipment comprises a replaceable object handling device, capable of replacing a replaceable object using replaceable object station and support. The replaceable object is one substrate W. Pattern forming device and support are one of a substrate support WT and the pattern forming device support. The replaceable object handling device 1 comprises an intermediate holding device 3 for holding the replaceable object. The intermediate holding device 3 can act mutually with the support WT such that the substrate W is arranged on the support WT or the substrate W is taken out from the support WT. A robot 2 can replace the replaceable object, using the support WT, the intermediate holding device 3 and the replaceable object station. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus that can limit temperature effect when a high operation speed is used for a load lock.SOLUTION: A substrate processing apparatus has a vacuum chamber and the load lock for gas removal. The load lock has a support table for supporting a substrate. A cover plate is provided in the load lock and has a lower surface facing an upper surface of the support table. An opening is provided to the lower surface of the cover plate so as to remove gas from above the substrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lower surface. As an embodiment, gas removal constitution which has an opening in the upper surface of the support table is provided to initially reduce gas pressure between the upper surface of the support table and the substrate to predetermined pressure lower than simultaneous load lock pressure in the rest of the load lock through the opening. When the load lock pressure in the rest of the load lock is made lower than predetermined, the gas pressure between the upper surface of the support table and the substrate is reduced together with the load lock pressure in the rest of the load lock.
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:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can limit a temperature effect when a high working speed is used for a load lock. SOLUTION: This substrate treatment device has a vacuum chamber and the load lock for gas removal. The load lock has a support table in order to support a substrate. A cover plate is provided in the load lock and the cover plate has a lower surface facing an upper surface of the support table. An opening is formed in the lower surface of the cover plate and enables gas removal from an upper part of the substrate in the substantially perpendicular direction to the lower surface. In one embodiment, a gas removal structure with the opening in the upper surface of the support table is provided and gas pressure between the upper surface of the support table and the substrate is reduced through the opening in an early stage to predetermined pressure lower than simultaneous load lock pressure in the remainder of the load lock. When the load lock pressure in the remainder of the load lock is reduced to pressure lower than the predetermined pressure, the gas pressure between the upper surface of the support table and the substrate is reduced together with the load lock pressure in the remainder of the load lock. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus capable of arranging and removing objects, such as a quickly and effectively patterning device and substrate. SOLUTION: The lithography apparatus is provided with a lighting system that adjusts radiation beams, support that gives patterns to the cross-section of radiation beams and supports patterning devices to form patterning radiation beams, substrate table that holds a substrate, projection system that projects patterning radiation beams on the targeted part of the substrate, and robot that is configured to transmit replaceable objects, to and from a support region. The robot is provided with an arm and end-effecter equipped with first and second carriers that are configured to transmit each replaceable object. The end-effecter is connected with the arm of the robot so that it can be rotated about the axis of rotation that extends substantially in parallel with the support region. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI