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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 08, 2004
Pieter Willem Herman DE Jager, Rotterdam, NL;
Cheng-qun Gui, Best, NL;
Jacob Fredrik Friso Klinkhamer, Delft, NL;
Eduard Hoeberichts, Mol, NL;
Pieter Willem Herman De Jager, Rotterdam, NL;
Cheng-Qun Gui, Best, NL;
Jacob Fredrik Friso Klinkhamer, Delft, NL;
Eduard Hoeberichts, Mol, NL;
ASML Netherlands B.V., Veldhoven, NL;
Abstract
A lithographic apparatus and method for exposing a substrate. An illumination system supplies a series of beams of radiation that are patterned by an array of individually controllable elements. The patterned beams are projected through arrays of lenses onto target portions of a substrate. Each lens in the arrays directs a respective part of the patterned beam towards the substrate. A displacement system causes relative displacement between the substrate and the beam, such that the beams are scanned across the substrate in a predetermined scanning direction. The projection systems are positioned so that each beam is scanned along a respective one of a series of tracks on the substrate. The tracks overlap so that each track comprises a first portion that is scanned by one beam and at least one second portion that overlaps an adjacent track, and is scanned by two beams. A maximum intensity of a first part of each beam directed towards a first portion of the track can be greater than a maximum intensity of a second part of that beam directed towards a second portion of the track, such that the first and second portions of the track are exposed to radiation of substantially the same maximum intensity. Such overlapping of adjacent beams and modulation of the intensity of the beams can allow the optical footprints of different optical columns to be seamed together to enable exposure of large area substrates in a single scan.