IP Library Granted Patent US 7,244,954
Granted Patent B2
US 7,244,954 · App. 11/243,403 · Granted Jul 17, 2007

Collector having unused region for illumination systems using a wavelength ≦193 nm

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,244,954
App. No.
11/243,403
Granted
Jul 17, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a collector for illumination systems for light having a wavelength ≦193 nm comprising. The collector includes (a) a first mirror shell adjacent to, and positioned inside of, a second mirror shell around a common axis of rotation, in which the first and second mirror shells are rotationally symmetric, and (b) a component in a region between the first and second mirror shells. The collector is for receiving the light from a light source via an object-side aperture and for illuminating an area in an image-side plane, and the region is not used by the light.

Claims (53)

1. A collector for illumination systems for light having a wavelength ≦193 nm comprising:

a first mirror shell adjacent to, and positioned inside of, a second mirror shell around a common axis of rotation, wherein said first and second mirror shells are rotationally symmetric; and

cooling device in a region between said first and second mirror shells,

wherein said collector is for receiving said light from a light source via an object-side aperture and for illuminating an area in an image-side plane, and

wherein said region is not used by said light.

2. The collector of claim 1 ,

wherein said light includes a light bundle that is received and reflected in a direction of said image-side plane from each of said first and second mirror shells, and

wherein said light bundle defines said region.

3. The collector of claim 2 ,

wherein each of said first and second mirror shells comprises a first mirror segment having a first optical surface assigned to a start point and an end point in a meridional plane that includes said axis of rotation,

wherein said start point defines an outer edge beam, and

wherein said end point defines an inner edge beam,

wherein said inner and outer edge beams, when rotated around said axis of rotation, limit said light bundle,

wherein said light bundle is reflected by said first optical surface of each of said first and second mirror shells and runs through said collector from said object-side aperture to said image-side plane.

4. The collector of claim 2 , wherein each of said first and second mirror shells is assigned to a ring aperture element of said object-side aperture.

5. The collector of claim 1 ,

wherein said area includes a first ring element assigned to a first ring aperture element and a second ring element assigned to a second ring aperture element, and

wherein said first and second mirror shells each have a size in a direction of said axis of rotation, surface parameters, and a position such that irradiances of said first and second ring elements are about equal to one another.

6. The collector of claim 5 , wherein said first and second ring elements adjoin one another continuously.

7. The collector of claim 1 ,

wherein said area includes a first ring element assigned to a first ring aperture element and a second ring element assigned to a second ring aperture element,

wherein said first and second ring aperture elements do not adjoin one another continuously, and

wherein said collector further comprises a gap between said first and second ring aperture elements.

8. The collector of claim 7 , wherein said component is positioned in said gap.

9. The collector of claim 1 , wherein said first and second mirror shells are annular segments of aspheres.

10. The collector of claim 9 , wherein said first and second mirror shells are annular segments of a form selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoid, a paraboloid, and a hyperboloid.

11. The collector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second mirror shells includes a first segment having a first optical surface and a second segment having a second optical surface.

12. The collector of claim 11 ,

wherein said first optical surface and said second optical surface do not adjoin one another continuously, and

wherein said collector further comprises a gap between said first optical surface and said second optical surface.

13. The collector of claim 12 , wherein said component is positioned in said gap.

14. The collector of claim 11 ,

wherein said first segment is annular and a section of a hyperboloid, and

wherein said second segment is annular and a section of an ellipsoid.

15. The collector of claim 11 ,

wherein said first segment is annular and a section of a hyperboloid, and

wherein said second segment is annular and a section of a paraboloid.

16. The collector of claim 1 , wherein said cooling device comprises a channel through which a coolant flows.

17. The collector of claim 1 , further comprising a support device for supporting at least one of said first mirror shell and said second mirror shell.

18. The collector of claim 17 , wherein said support device has a support spoke that extends in a radial direction of said first and second mirror shells.

19. The collector of claim 17 ,

wherein said cooling device comprises a coolant supply device and a coolant removal device, and

wherein said coolant supply device and said coolant removal device are positioned in a region of said support device.

20. A collector comprising:

a first mirror shell and a second mirror shell, wherein said first mirror shell is positioned inside said second mirror shell; and

a cooling device associated to said first mirror shell.

21. The collector of claim 20 , wherein said first mirror shell is rotationally symmetric.

22. The collector of claim 20 , wherein said cooling device is in direct contact with said first mirror shell.

23. The collector of claim 20 , wherein said cooling device comprises an annular plate.

24. The collector of claim 20 , wherein said cooling device comprises a cooling ring.

25. The collector of claim 24 , wherein said cooling ring is supported by a feature selected from the group consisting of a holding structure and a rib.

26. The collector of claim 25 , further comprising a solder joint that connects said cooling ring to said feature.

27. The collector of claim 20 , wherein said cooling device is permanently connected to said first mirror shell.

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 Apr 29, 2008
From: SINGER, WOLFGANG; EGLE, WILHELM; WEISS, MARKUS; HAINZ, JOACHIM; WIETZORREK, JOCHEN; MELZER, FRANK; WANGLER, JOHANNES
To: CARL-ZEISS SMT AG
Reel/Frame 020866/0609 →