Method of aligning a die and stamping a substrate for nano-imprint lithography

1. A method of stamping a substrate, comprising:

providing a die and a first flexure member;

aligning the die by linearly displacing the die along a first axis using the first flexure member; and

pressing the die along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis while maintaining coupling of the die with the first flexure member.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aligning the die by linearly displacing the die along a third axis using a second flexure member.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis and the third axis.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

pressing the die in a direction perpendicular to the first and third axes while maintaining coupling of the die with the first and second flexure members.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein maintaining coupling comprises flexing the first and second flexure members during the pressing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein aligning comprises linearly displacing the first flexure member using a first position adjustment mechanism.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising detecting an offset in the position of the die using a target, coupled to the die, and a sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein aligning comprises adjusting the position of the die using a servo control system.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first position adjustment mechanism comprises a spindle and wherein the first flexure member is a flexure rod, the flexure rod coupled to the spindle.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

raising the die; and

maintaining coupling between the die and the first flexure member during the raising.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the die is raised using a floating linkage coupled between the die and a thrust pad.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first flexure rod has a thread and the spindle has a thread receiver, and wherein the first flexure rod is coupled to the spindle using the thread and thread receiver.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

aligning the die along a third axis using the first flexure member; and

pressing the die along the second axis substantially perpendicular to the first and third axes while maintaining coupling of the die with the first flexure member.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein maintaining coupling comprises flexing the first flexure member during the pressing.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

raising the die; and

maintaining coupling between the die and the first flexure member during the raising.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first position adjustment mechanism further comprises a motor coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the motor comprises a worm reduction gear.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a thrust pad coupled to the first die through a gas bearing during an initial range of travel of the thrust pad.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: providing a thrust rod pivotally coupled to the thrust pad, the thrust pad comprising a gas inlet and a vacuum ring outlet.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the gas inlet is configured to direct gas between a gas bearing surface of the thrust pad and the first die.

21. The method of claim 2 , wherein aligning comprises linearly displacing the second flexure member using a second position adjustment mechanism.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second position adjustment mechanism comprises a second spindle and wherein the second flexure member is a second flexure rod, the second flexure rod coupled to the second spindle.