Abstract:
A patterning device alignment system including a multipath sensory array including a first collimating light path and one or more other light paths, a first detector positioned at a first end of the first collimating light path, and a second detector positioned at a first end of the one or more other light paths, the first detector configured to receive a reflected illumination beam from an illuminated patterning device and calculate a tilt parameter of the patterning device, and the second detector configured to receive a second reflected illumination beam from a beam splitter and calculate an X-Y planar location position and a rotation position of the patterning device.
Abstract:
An objective lens system having a high numerical aperture, a large working distance, and low optical aberrations over a wide spectral band of wavelengths is disclosed. The objective lens system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group includes first and second positive meniscus lenses that are positioned at a distance from each other along an optical axis of the objective lens system. The distance may be dependent on a focal length of the objective lens system. The second lens group includes first and second meniscus lenses and a bi-convex lens. The third lens group includes a bi-concave lens and a doublet lens.
Abstract:
A compact, self-contained holographic and interferometric apparatus and methods for eliminating vibration, including methods for eliminating relative displacement and vibration errors present in object and reference beam paths, are disclosed. The self-contained apparatus (600) includes an illuminated object (302) that scatters light and an objective lens (304) to form an object beam (350). The self-contained apparatus also includes a reference beam forming lens group (308) that forms a reference beam (352) from a portion of the object beam that passes through a pupil plane (306) of the objective lens (304). The object beam and the reference beam are propagated along a shared optical path, which eliminates relative displacement and vibration errors. The self-contained apparatus includes an image plane (316) where the object beam and reference beam are recombined to create an interference pattern, which is detected and analyzed. Methods for eliminating the instability, using the self-contained apparatus, are disclosed.
Abstract:
A pre-alignment system includes a common object lens group configured to collect diffracted beams from a patterning device, wherein the common object lens group is further configured to produce telecentricity in an object space of the pre-alignment system. The pre-alignment system also includes a multipath sensory array having at least one image lens system, wherein the at least one image lens system includes a telecentric converter lens configured to produce telecentricity in an image space of the pre-alignment system.
Abstract:
An objective lens system having a high numerical aperture, a large working distance, and low optical aberrations over a wide spectral band of wavelengths is disclosed. The objective lens system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group includes first and second positive meniscus lenses that are positioned at a distance from each other along an optical axis of the objective lens system. The distance may be dependent on a focal length of the objective lens system. The second lens group includes first and second meniscus lenses and a bi-convex lens. The third lens group includes a bi-concave lens and a doublet lens.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for inspection are provided utilizing a wide angle optical system. The optical system includes a wide angle input lens group and an output lens group. The wide angle input lens group is configured to receive wide-angle radiation, e.g., having an angular spread of 60 degrees or more, from an object surface, and produce imageable radiation. The wide angle input lens group is arranged such that no intermediate focused image is formed within or after the wide angle input lens group. The output lens group is configured to receive the imageable radiation from the wide angle input lens group and focus the imageable radiation onto an image plane to image at least part of the object surface. A detector receives the image of the at least part of the object surface and, based on the received image, detects, for example, contamination on the object surface.