The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 24, 2008

Filed:

Dec. 22, 2004
Applicants:

Anastasius Jacobus Anicetus Bruinsma, Delft, NL;

Willem Jurrianus Venema, Eindhoven, NL;

Inventors:
Assignee:

ASML Netherlands B.V., Veldhoven, NL;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 15/02 (2006.01); G01N 29/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A lithographic apparatus comprises an illumination system, a support constructed to support a patterning device, and a projection system. In pixel grid imaging, a large number of small optical spots are imaged onto the substrate surface using a micro-lens array (MLA). The z position of the MLA is adjustable in order to focus the spots on the substrate surface and/or to compensate for differences in height of the substrate surface. The focusing adjustment is based on an output of an ultrasonic distance sensor provided in the vicinity of the substrate surface.


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