Patent · US Expired

Systems and methods for deflecting plasma-generated ions to prevent the ions from reaching an internal component of an EUV light source

US7217941B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
148References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 2005
Grant dateMay 15, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 10, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05G2/0094
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system is disclosed for protecting an internal EUV light source component from ions generated at a plasma formation site. In one aspect, the system may comprise a plurality of foil plates and an arrangement for generating a magnetic field to deflect ions into one of the foil plate surfaces. In another aspect, an electrostatic grid may be positioned for interaction with ions to reduce ion energy, and a magnetic field may be used to deflect the reduced energy ions onto paths wherein the ions do not strike the internal component. In yet another aspect, a grid may be connected to a circuit tuned to a resonant frequency to reduce ion energy. For example, the resonant frequency may be substantially equal to an inverse of a time difference between the time when electrons reach the grid and a subsequent time when ions reach the grid.

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