IP Library Granted Patent US 7,400,460
Granted Patent B2
US 7,400,460 · App. 10/599,784 · Granted Jul 15, 2008

Method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,400,460
App. No.
10/599,784
Granted
Jul 15, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure, whereby in a first step the optical element is connected to the mount structure and in a second step the optical element is welded to the mount structure in the region of the connection.

Claims (26)

1. A method for connection of an optical element to a mount structure, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting the optical element to the mount structure by wringing to form a wrung connection between the optical element and the mount structure in a first step, and, in a second step, soldering the optical element to the mount structure in the region of the wrung connection.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a solder having a low melting point is used for the soldering.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein tin-indium solder is used for the soldering.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the solder is acted on by ultrasound during heating of the solder.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an oxide layer of the solder is chemically removed prior to soldering.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an oxide layer of the solder is mechanically removed prior to soldering.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a solderable layer is applied on said optical element and on said mount structure prior to the soldering.

8. A method for connecting of an optical element to a mount structure, said method comprising the steps of: connecting the optical element to the mount structure in a first step, and, in a second step, soldering the optical element to the mount structure with nickel being used for the solderable layer and titanium-tungsten being used as an adhesion promoter.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein gold is applied as a protective layer to the solderable layer.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soldering is performed in a vacuum.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soldering comprises the step of applying solder to form a fillet seam.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing a gap being introduced into at least one of said optical element and said mount structure, and wherein said second step comprises the step of introducing solder into said gap to form of a gap seam.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical element comprises a connection element of an objective.

14. Use of the optical element connected to the mount structure by means of the method as claimed in claim 1 in an objective.

15. The use as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the objective is a lithography objective.

16. The use as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the lithography objective is an immersion lithography objective.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical element, and a mount structure, said optical element and said mount structure being connected to one another by way of a first joint and a second joint, said first joint comprising a wrung connection between said optical element and said mount structure, said second joint comprising a solder connection between said optical element and said mount structure, said second joint being formed in the region of said first joint.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the mount structure is formed in annular fashion.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the second joint surrounds the first joint.

20. A projection objective for microlithography said projection objective, comprising:

an optical element and a mount structure, said optical element and said mount structure being connected to one another by way of a first joint and a second joint, said first joint comprising a wrung connection between said optical element and said mount structure, said second joint comprising a solder joint between said optical element and said mount structure.

21. A projection objective as claimed in claim 20 wherein said solder joint comprises a soldering seam formed using a method which comprises the step of heating solder to a molten state.

22. A projection objective for carrying out immersion microlithography using an immersion medium, said projection objective comprising:

an optical element and a mount structure, said optical element and said mount structure being connected to one another by way of a first joint and a second joint, said first joint comprising a wrung joint between said optical element and said mount structure, said second joint comprising a solder joint formed between said optical element and said mount structure, said solder joint being located to prevent ingress of the immersion fluid into said first joint to protect said wrung joint from being adversely affected by the immersion fluid.

Assignments (2)
A MODIFYING CONVERSION Recorded Jan 18, 2011
From: CARL ZEISS SMT AG
To: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
Reel/Frame 025763/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2006
From: HOLDERER, HUBERT; GELLRICH, BERNHARD; REXHAEUSER, DIRK
To: CARL ZEISS SMT AG
Reel/Frame 018517/0379 →