Patent · US Expired

Stage apparatus and exposure apparatus provided with the stage apparatus

US6158298A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
13References
72Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 1998
Grant dateDec 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/20354
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A stage apparatus comprises a pedestal, an X axis guide bar which is fixed on the pedestal, an X stage which is movable along an upper surface of the pedestal and the guide bar, and a Y stage which is placed over the X state and movable along the pedestal in a direction of the Y axis. Vacuum-pre-loadable static pressure air bearings, in which pressures of vacuum ports are independently controllable, are provided on a surface of the X stage opposing to the pedestal and on another surface of the X stage opposing to the X axis guide bar. By using the stage apparatus, the electric power consumption of driving means for movable units can be reduced, the amount of heat generation can be reduced, and the bearing gap can be adjusted highly accurately after assembling.

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