Patent · US Expired

Low cost stage for raster scanning of semiconductor wafers

US5212580A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 12, 1992
Grant dateMay 18, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/20292
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A raster scan apparatus provides a scanning assembly capable of moving in a sinusoidal motion along a first direction and stepping in fine steps in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric bimorph sets in scanning motion a scanning assembly formed by a wafer holder and leaf springs. The amplitude of the scanning motion is controlled by a voltage applied across the piezoelectric bimorph. A Hall effect sensor provides an output signal indicating the instantaneous location of the scanning assembly in motion. The output signal of the Hall effect sensor is compared against a predetermined threshold to provide a trigger signal for synchronization. The output signal of the Hall effect sensor is also fed back to the source of sinusoidal voltage to adaptively adjust the sinusoidal voltage so as to achieve a predetermined amplitude for the scanning motion.

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