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:
Apr. 23, 2013
Filed:
Apr. 13, 2012
Laurentius Cornelius DE Winter, Vessem, NL;
Jozef Maria Finders, Veldhoven, NL;
Laurentius Cornelius De Winter, Vessem, NL;
Jozef Maria Finders, Veldhoven, NL;
ASML Netherlands B.V., Veldhoven, NL;
Abstract
A method of increasing a depth of focus of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes forming diffracted beams of radiation using a patterning device pattern; and transforming a phase-wavefront of a portion of the diffracted beams into a first phase-wavefront having a first focal plane for the lithographic apparatus, and a second phase-wavefront having a second, different focal plane, wherein the transforming comprises: subjecting a phase of a first portion of a first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding first portion of a second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the first phase-wavefront, and subjecting a phase of a second portion of the first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding second portion of the second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the second phase-wavefront.