Patent · US Expired

Stage device, control system, and method for stabilizing wafer stage and wafer table

US6504162B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
10References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 15, 2000
Grant dateJan 7, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70725
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A wafer stage device and control system are provided to stabilize a wafer stage and a wafer table in a wafer manufacturing process. The wafer table supports the semiconductor wafer, while the wafer stage is accelerated in response to a wafer manufacturing control system to position the wafer table. The wafer stage device includes a set of flexures connecting the wafer table to the wafer stage. The flexures are positioned in a plane which is substantially in alignment with an upper surface of the wafer. The flexure's configuration causes a rotational error, such as pitching or rolling, of the wafer table as the wafer stage moves. The wafer stage device further includes a plurality of actuators to control the rotational error by exerting a stabilizing torque to the wafer table. The control system determines the stabilizing torque necessary to correct the pitching or rolling error of the wafer table.

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