Computervision Corporation

Walter Thomas Novak

Magnus B Hansen

A lamp holder that compensates for thermally induced expansion of an arcuate lamp is disclosed. Each end of the arcuate lamp is secured to a relatively flexable lamp support. In the preferred embodiment the lamp support at one end is moveable generally in a plane containing the arcuate lamp, while the lamp support at the other end is moveable generally in a plane that intersects the plane of the lamp. The resulting horizontal and vertical freedom of movement compensates for thermal expansion of the lamp during lamp operation. Both lamp supports are mounted on a lamp holder base, having a plurality of locator pin apertures therein that are cooperatively operative with locator pins positioned on the base of a lamp holder housing. The locator pins and locator pin apertures accurately position the arcuate lamp with respect to an optical system. Forced fluid cooling of the lamp is provided through the lamp holder housing.

Lamp holder for projection aligner

A non-planar semiconductor wafer chuck having a plurality of outwardly extending channels in the chuck face and a plurality of vacuum/pressure ports extending through the chuck and communicating with the face thereof. When a semiconductor wafer is positioned with respect to an overlying photomask by the chuck, atmospheric pressure is applied to the centrally located port or ports and a vacuum is applied to the peripheral ports of the chuck. The resulting pressure differentials acting in concert with a surrounding vacuum chamber causes the central portion of the wafer to rise against the photomask while the peripheral portions of the wafer are drawn down into the channels. At this point in the operational sequence, the normally trapped nitrogen can escape through breaks in the peripheral seal between the mask and wafer which are formed by the downwardly extending wafer surface in each channel. Thereafter, pressure is applied to all of the ports to press the wafer firmly against the overlying photomask for subsquent exposure.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Walter Thomas Novak