Dynamic compensation system for maskless lithography

1. A method for dynamically registering multiple patterned layers on a substrate comprising:

a) forming a first pattern on said substrate;

b) forming a second pattern on said first pattern wherein said second pattern has associated image data, comprising providing said associated image data to an image data path which is in communication with a gating means and a cross-scan controller, wherein said image data path forms said second pattern by:

i) obtaining expected feature location information for a first current region;

ii) detecting the location of features in said first current region of said substrate having a first portion of said first pattern;

iii) calculating an alignment correction signal from said detected location of the features of ii) and said expected location information in i);

iv) applying said alignment correction signal to said gating means or said cross-scan controller in order to adjust the application of said associated image data in said first current region; and

v) repeating steps i) and ii) until said second pattern is complete and is aligned with said first pattern.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein a first layer is deposited on said substrate prior to forming said first pattern.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said detection is optical.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said optical detection is accomplished by a sensor selected from a group comprising a photodiode with a mask, a linear array, or an area array.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said photodiode is a bi-cell or quad cell or lateral effect photodiode.

6. A method as in claim 3 wherein said optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate; and

detecting reflections due to said first pattern.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said illumination is accomplished by a source selected from a group comprising coherent sources and incoherent sources.

8. A method as in claim 6 wherein said illumination and optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate with a coherent source; and

detecting the reflected beam deflections due to said first pattern.

9. A method as in claim 6 wherein said illumination and optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate with a coherent source; and

detecting changes in coherence due to said first pattern.

10. A method as in claim 6 wherein said illumination and optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate with an incoherent source; and

detecting the differences in reflectivity of said substrate and said first pattern.

11. A method in claim 6 wherein said illumination and optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate with a coherent source; and

detection of interference patterns created by a combination of the outgoing beam and reflected beam.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein said detection step occurs within a capture window.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said capture window is predefined.

14. A method as in claim 12 wherein said capture window is detected by recognizing an optically detected signature due to said first pattern.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said substrate further comprises at least one pre-existing pattern, and wherein the step of detecting the location of features includes detecting features in either said first pattern or in said at least one pre-existing pattern.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said cross-scan controller controls an optical element.

17. A method as in claim 3 where the optical detection comprises a process control system for monitoring for defects, and adjusting calibration of X and Y detection and correction systems, and adjusting characteristics associated with said first pattern comprising addition of at least one additional illumination source and at least one additional detector and signal processing unit.

18. A method as in claim 3 wherein said optical detection comprises:

illuminating said substrate with a source having an optical path that is physically separate from a writing beam optical path.

19. A method as in claim 1 wherein a second layer is deposited on said substrate prior to forming said second pattern.

20. A method for dynamically registering multiple patterned layers on a substrate comprising:

forming a first pattern on a first layer;

depositing a second layer on said first pattern;

illuminating said second layer;

dynamically detecting reflections from said first pattern to align a second pattern to said first pattern; and

forming said second pattern on said second layer.

21. A method as in claim 20 further comprising:

adjusting wavelength or magnitude illumination to optimize detection based on layer or pattern characteristics.

22. A method as in claim 20 :

wherein a write head forms said second pattern; and

wherein write head characteristics are adjusted based on said dynamic detection.