IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,675,175
Granted Patent B2
US 8,675,175 · App. 13/791,477 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method

Inventors: Richard Alexander George (Son en Breugel, NL); Cheng-Qun Gui (Best, NL); Pieter Willem Herman De Jager (Rotterdam, NL); Robbert Edgar Van Leeuwen (Eindhoven, NL); Jacobus Burghoorn (Haelen, NL)
Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,675,175
App. No.
13/791,477
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lithography apparatus includes a projection system configured to project a radiation beam onto a substrate, a detector configured to inspect the substrate, and a substrate table configured to support the substrate and move the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector. The detector is arranged to inspect a portion of the substrate while the substrate is moved and before the portion is exposed to the radiation beam.

Claims (22)

1. A lithography apparatus comprising:

a projection system comprising a plurality of projection optics arranged in a direction across a substrate, each of the projection optics for projecting a radiation beam onto a substrate;

a detector unit for inspecting the substrate comprising a plurality of detectors arranged in the direction such that each detector in the plurality of detectors is aligned with an associated projection optic in the plurality of projection optics; and

a substrate table configured to support the substrate and move the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector unit;

wherein each detector is arranged to inspect a portion of the substrate while the substrate is moved and before the portion is exposed to the radiation beam projected by the associated projection optic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detectors are arranged to simultaneously inspect a plurality of portions of the substrate across the full width of the substrate.

3. The apparatus of claim I, further comprising a controller for adjusting exposure conditions based on said inspecting.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a patterned beam using an array of individually controllable elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of arrays of individually controllable elements.

6. A device manufacturing method comprising:

moving a substrate relative to a projection system comprising a plurality of projection optics arranged in a direction across the substrate and a detector unit comprising a plurality of detectors arranged in the direction such that each detector in the plurality of detector is aligned with an associated projection optic in the plurality of projection optics;

inspecting a portion of the substrate using each of the detectors; and

exposing the portion of the substrate using each of the associated projection optics while the exposure conditions are adjusted according to the inspection.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the inspecting and the exposing occurs while moving the substrate.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein moving the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector unit occurs between consecutive exposures.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein moving the substrate relative to the projection system and the detector unit occurs during continuous exposure.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the portion of the substrate being inspected subsequently becomes the portion of the substrate being exposed.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the exposure conditions are adjusted to optimize for overlay accuracy.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the substrate moves at a substantially constant velocity relative to the projection system and the detector unit.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the position of the detectors relative to the projection system is substantially fixed and known.

14. The method of claim 6 , further comprising monitoring the position of the detectors relative to the projection system during exposure.

15. The method of daub 6 , wherein the portion of the substrate comprises the full width of the substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2013
From: GEORGE, RICHARD ALEXANDER; GUI, CHENG-QUN; DE JAGER, PIETER WILLEM HERMAN; VAN LEEUWEN, ROBBERT EDGAR; BURGHOORN, JACOBUS
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 030826/0017 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 03253419 · May 30, 2003 · regional
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12506808 · Jul 21, 2009
Continuation 12113831 · May 1, 2008
Division 10853577 · May 26, 2004
Related Publication 20130201466A1 · Aug 8, 2013