Patent · US Active

Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method, and method of applying a pattern to a substrate

US8947632B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
13References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 2010
Grant dateFeb 3, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 1, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F9/7034
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A lithographic apparatus includes a patterning subsystem for transferring a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate controlled in accordance with recorded measurements of level variations across a surface of the substrate. A level sensor is provided for projecting a level sensing beam of radiation to reflect from a location on the substrate surface and for detecting the reflected sensing beam to record the surface level at said location. The level sensor incorporates at least one moving optical element to scan the substrate surface by optical movement in at least one dimension to obtain measurements of surface level at different locations without mechanical movement between the level sensor and the substrate. Optical path length equalization measures may be employed, using shaped reflectors and/or additional moving mirrors, to avoid focus variation during the scan.

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