Patent · US Expired

X-ray lithography system

US4618971A · kind A · utility

61Cited by
11References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 1984
Grant dateOct 21, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/04
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system is provided for producing plasma pinch X-rays usable in X-ray lithography. Ionized heated plasma is repeatably generated in a first area directly from solid material without exploding the latter. X-rays are generated in a second area by passing high current through the plasma causing radial inward magnetic field pinching. Accurate control and improved intensity performance, and greater flexibility in selection of X-ray emitting materials, are provided by the separation of the plasma generating and the X-ray pinch generating functions. Common electrode structure is provided for plasma generating and for plasma pinching, which common electrode also provides a cylindrical plasma communication passage from the first to the second area, and provides an X-ray emission passage of desired axial orientation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.