KR20130008641A - Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A lithographic apparatus is provided that includes an optical column for projecting a beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the optical column including a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion. The lithographic apparatus comprises an actuator for moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof with respect to the substrate and between the moving portion of the optical column and the target portion of the substrate and / or the moving portion of the optical column and the fixing portion of the optical column. And further comprising a window 940 therebetween, the window configured and arranged in the lithographic apparatus to reduce or minimize movement of the window.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus,

The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus, a programmable patterning device, and a device manufacturing method.

BACKGROUND A lithographic apparatus is a device that imparts a desired pattern onto a substrate or a portion of a substrate. Lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs), flat panel displays, and other devices or structures having microstructures. In existing lithographic apparatus, patterning devices, which may be referred to as masks or reticles, may be used to generate circuit patterns corresponding to individual layers of an IC, flat panel display, or other device. Such a pattern can be transferred onto a substrate (eg, a silicon wafer or glass plate) (some of), for example through imaging onto a layer of radiation sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate.

Instead of a circuit pattern, such patterning device can be used to generate other patterns, for example color filter patterns, or dot matrices. Instead of existing masks, the patterning device may include a patterning array that includes an array of individually controllable elements that create circuits or other applicable patterns. An advantage of this "maskless" system over conventional mask based systems is that the pattern can be provided and / or changed more quickly and at a lower cost.

Thus, the maskless system includes a programmable patterning device (eg, spatial light modulator, contrast device, etc.). Such programmable patterning device is programmed (eg, electronically or optically programmed) to form the desired patterned beam using an array of individually controllable elements. Types of programmable patterning devices include micro mirror arrays, liquid crystal display (LCD) arrays, grating light valve arrays, and the like.

It would be desirable to provide a flexible and low cost lithographic apparatus that includes, for example, a programmable patterning device.

In one embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed, which includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of a substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beam onto the substrate. . The modulator may be movable relative to the exposure area, and / or the projection system may have an array of lenses for receiving a plurality of beams and the array of lenses may be movable relative to the exposure area.

In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus may be provided with an optical column capable of generating a pattern, for example, on a target portion of the substrate. Such an optical column may have a self-emissive contrast device configured to emit a beam, and a projection system configured to project at least a portion of the beam onto the target portion. Such an apparatus may be provided with an actuator for moving the optical column or part thereof with respect to the substrate. A window is provided between the moving part of the optical column and the target part of the substrate, and / or a window is provided between the moving part of the optical column and the non-moving part of the optical column. Can be.

The window between the movable optical column or part thereof and the target portion and / or the window between the moving portion of the optical column and the fixing portion of the optical column may be moved. Such movement of the window can cause movement of the beam projected onto the target portion, which is detrimental to projecting the beam onto the target portion of the substrate.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lithographic apparatus,

An optical column for projecting a beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the optical column comprising a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion;

An actuator for moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof with respect to the substrate; And

A window between the moving part of the optical column and the target part of the substrate and / or between the moving part of the optical column and the fixing part of the optical column

Including,

Wherein the window is constructed and arranged in the lithographic apparatus to reduce or minimize movement of the window.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a device manufacturing method comprising projecting a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate,

Projecting a beam onto a substrate using a projection system of an optical column, thereby creating a pattern on a target portion of the substrate using the optical column;

Allowing the beam to pass through a window; And

Moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof relative to the substrate while reducing or minimizing movement of the window

A device manufacturing method is provided, including.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, describe the principles of the invention and enable those skilled in the art to practice and use the invention. Play a role. In the drawings, like reference numerals may indicate the same or functionally similar components.
1 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6A-6D are schematic plan and side views of a portion of a lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
7A-7O are schematic plan and side views of a portion of a lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
7P shows a power / forward current graph of individually addressable elements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a schematic plan view of an array of individually controllable elements for a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
12 illustrates a mode of transferring a pattern to a substrate using an embodiment of the present invention.
13 shows a schematic arrangement of an optical engine.
14A and 14B are schematic side views of a portion of a lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
15 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16A is a schematic side view of a portion of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
16B shows the schematic position of the detection area of the sensor with respect to the substrate.
17 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
18 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
19 is a schematic plan view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
20 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a portion of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 19.
21 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the individually controllable element Three different rotational positions of the set of optical elements 242 relative to.
FIG. 22 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed in the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the individually controllable element Three different rotational positions of the set of optical elements 242 relative to.
23 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed in the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the individually controllable element 5 different rotational positions of the set of optical elements 242 relative to.
FIG. 24 shows a schematic layout of some of the individually controllable elements 102 when a standard laser diode with a diameter of 5.6 mm is used to obtain full coverage over the width of the substrate.
25 shows a schematic layout of the details of FIG. 24.
FIG. 26 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
27 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed in the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the individually controllable element 5 different rotational positions of the set of optical elements 242 relative to.
FIG. 29 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a portion of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 28.
30 schematically shows a configuration in which eight lines are simultaneously written by one set of movable optical elements 242 of FIGS. 28 and 29.
FIG. 31 shows a schematic configuration for controlling focus using a movable rooftop in the configurations of FIGS. 28 and 29.
32 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. to be.
33 shows a portion of a lithographic apparatus.
FIG. 34 is a top view of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 33.
35 schematically depicts a lithographic apparatus.
36 schematically shows a lithographic apparatus.
37 schematically shows a lithographic apparatus.
38A-38C schematically depict a lithographic apparatus.
39 schematically depicts a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

One or more embodiments of maskless lithographic apparatus, maskless lithography methods, programmable patterning devices and other apparatus, articles of manufacture and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a low cost and / or flexible maskless lithographic apparatus is provided. Being a maskless type, no conventional mask is needed, for example to expose an IC or flat panel display. Likewise, no more than one ring is needed for packaging applications; The programmable patterning device can provide digital edge processing "rings" for packaging applications to avoid edge projection. Maskless type (digital patterning) can be used with the flexible substrate.

In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of super-non-critical applications. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of resolutions of at least 0.1 μm, for example at least 0.5 μm or at least 1 μm. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of resolutions of 20 μm or less, for example resolutions of 10 μm or less, or resolutions of 5 μm or less. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of 0.1 to 10 μm resolution. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of an overlay of 50 nm or more, for example an overlay of 100 nm or more, an overlay of 200 nm or more, or an overlay of 300 nm or more. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is capable of an overlay of 500 nm or less, for example an overlay of 400 nm or less, an overlay of 300 nm or less, or an overlay of 200 nm or less. These overlay and resolution values may be independent of substrate size and material.

In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is highly flexible. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is scalable for substrates of different sizes, types, and properties. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus has a substantially unlimited field size. Thus, a lithographic apparatus can enable a number of applications (eg, IC, flat panel display, packaging, etc.) using one lithographic apparatus or a large number of lithographic apparatus that generally employ a common lithographic apparatus platform. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus allows for automated job creation for flexible manufacturing. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus provides for 3D integration.

In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is low cost. In one embodiment, only conventional off-the-shelf components are used (eg, radiation emitting diodes, simple movable substrate holders, and lens arrays). In one embodiment, pixel-grid imaging is used to enable simple projection optics. In one embodiment, a substrate holder with a single scan direction is used to reduce cost and / or complexity.

1 schematically depicts a lithographic projection apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 100 includes a patterning device 104, an object holder 106 (eg, an object table, such as a substrate table), and a projection system 108.

In one embodiment, patterning device 104 includes a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 that modulate radiation to add a pattern to beam 110. In one embodiment, the position of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 may be fixed relative to the projection system 108. However, in alternative configurations, the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 may accurately position one or more of the plurality of individually controllable elements according to certain parameters (eg, relative to the projection system 108). It can be connected to a positioning mechanism (not shown) for.

In one embodiment, the patterning device 104 is a self-emissive contrast device. Such patterning device 104 eliminates the need for a radiation system, which can, for example, reduce the cost and size of a lithographic apparatus. For example, each individually controllable element 102 may be a radiation emitting diode such as a light emitting diode (LED), an organic LED (OLED), a polymer LED (PLED), or a laser diode (eg, solid state laser diode). to be. In one embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 is a laser diode. In one embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 is a blue violet laser diode (eg, Sanyo Model Number DL-3146-151). Such diodes can be supplied by companies such as Sanyo, Nichia, Osram, and Nitride. In one embodiment, the diode emits radiation having a wavelength of about 365 nm or about 405 nm. In one embodiment, the diode may provide an output power selected from the range of 0.5 to 100 mW. In one embodiment, the size of the laser diode (the size of the pure die) is selected in the range of 250 to 600 micrometers. In one embodiment, the laser diode has an emission region selected in the range of 1-5 square micrometers. In one embodiment, the laser diode has a divergence angle selected in the range of 7 to 44 degrees. In one embodiment, the patterning device 104 has about 1 having a configuration (eg, emission area, divergence angle, output power, etc.) to provide an overall brightness of about 6.4 × 10 ⁸ W / (m 2 .sr) or more. × 10 ⁵ diodes

In one embodiment, a self-emissive contrast device is needed to allow the "extra" individually controllable element 102 to be used if the other individually controllable element 102 fails or fails to operate properly. More than 102 individually addressable elements. In one embodiment, the extra individually controllable elements may be advantageously used in embodiments using movable individually controllable elements 102, as discussed, for example, in connection with FIG. 5 below.

In one embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 of the self-emissive contrast device operates on the sloped portion of the power / forward current curve of the individually controllable element 102 (eg a laser diode). This can be more efficient and can result in less power consumption / heat. In one embodiment, in use, the light output per individually controllable element is at least 1 mW, for example at least 10 mW, at least 25 mW, at least 50 mW, at least 100 mW, or at least 200 mW. In one embodiment, in use, the light output per individually controllable element is less than 300 mW, less than 250 mW, less than 200 mW, less than 150 mW, less than 100 mW, less than 50 mW, less than 25 mW, or less than 10 mW. In one embodiment, in use, the power consumption per patterning device programmable to operate the individually controllable elements is less than 10 kW, for example less than 5 kW, less than 1 kW, or less than 0.5 kW. In one embodiment, in use, the power consumption per patterning device programmable to operate the individually controllable elements is at least 100W, for example at least 300W, at least 500W, or at least 1 kW.

The lithographic apparatus 100 includes an object holder 106. In this embodiment, the objective holder includes an objective table 106 for holding the substrate 114 (eg, a resist-coated silicon wafer or glass substrate). The objective table 106 is movable and can be connected to a positioning mechanism 116 for accurately positioning the substrate 114 according to specific parameters. For example, the positioning mechanism 116 can accurately position the substrate 114 relative to the projection system 108 and / or the patterning device 104. In one embodiment, the movement of the object table 106 is not explicitly shown in FIG. 1, but a long-stroke module (schematic positioning) and optionally a short-stroke module. Can be realized using the positioning mechanism 116 including fine positioning. In one embodiment, such a device lacks at least one short-stroke module for moving the object table 106. Similar systems may be used to locate the individually controllable elements 102. Alternatively / additionally, although the beam 110 may be movable, it is recognized that the objective table 106 and / or the individually controllable element 102 may have a fixed position to provide the required relative movement. Should be. Such a configuration can help to limit the size of the device. In one embodiment, for example, applicable to the manufacture of flat panel displays, the objective table 106 may be fixed, and the positioning mechanism 116 may be substrate (eg, above the objective table) relative to the objective table 106. Configured to move 114. For example, objective table 106 may have a system for scanning substrate 114 at a substantially constant speed. If this is done, the objective table 106 may be provided with a plurality of openings on the flat top surface and may provide a gas cushion through which gas may be supplied to support the substrate 114. This is commonly referred to as a gas bearing configuration. The substrate 114 is moved above the object table 106 using one or more actuators (not shown) that can accurately position the substrate 114 with respect to the path of the beam 110. Alternatively, the substrate 114 can be moved relative to the object table 106 by selectively starting and stopping the passage of gas through the opening. In one embodiment, the objective holder 106 may be a roll system on which the substrate rolls and the positioning mechanism 116 may be a motor for rotating this roll system to provide a substrate onto the objective table 106. .

Projection system 108 (eg, to project a patterned beam modulated by individually controllable element 102 onto target portion 120 (eg, one or more dies) of substrate 114. For example, a refraction refraction system, or mirror system comprising a quartz and / or CaF ₂ lens system or lens element made of such a material) can be used. The projection system 108 can project an image of the pattern provided by the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 such that the pattern is coherently formed on the substrate 114. Alternatively, projection system 108 may project an image of a secondary source in which the elements of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 act as shutters.

In this regard, the projection system may comprise, for example, a focusing element, or a plurality of focusing elements (generally referred to herein as lens arrays), for example micro-lenses, for forming secondary sources and imaging spots on the substrate 114. Arrays (known as MLA) or Fresnel lens arrays. In one embodiment, the lens array (eg, MLA) comprises at least 10 focusing elements, for example at least 100 focusing elements, at least 1,000 focusing elements, at least 10,000 focusing elements, at least 100,000 focusing elements, or at least It contains 1,000,000 focusing elements. In one embodiment, the number of individually controllable elements in the patterning device is greater than or equal to the number of focusing elements in the lens array. In one embodiment, the lens array comprises one or more individually controllable elements in an array of individually controllable elements, for example only one individually controllable element, or individually controllable elements in an array of individually controllable elements. Optically associated with at least two individually controllable elements, such as at least 3, at least 5, at least 10, at least 20, at least 25, at least 35, or at least 50 individually controllable elements in an array of A focusing element; In one embodiment, such focusing elements are optically associated with less than 5,000 individually controllable elements, such as less than 2,500, less than 1,000, less than 500, or less than 100 individually controllable elements. In one embodiment, the lens array includes two or more focusing elements (eg, at least 1,000, most, or almost all) that are optically associated with one or more individually controllable elements in the array of individually controllable elements. do.

In one embodiment the lens array is movable at least towards the substrate and in a direction away from the substrate, for example using one or more actuators. Being able to move the lens array towards and away from the substrate allows for example focus adjustment without having to move the substrate. In one embodiment, individual lens elements of the lens array, for example each individual lens element of the lens array, are movable at least towards and away from the substrate (eg, on a non-flat substrate). For local focusing or to keep each optical column at the same focal length).

In one embodiment, the lens array comprises a plastic focusing element (e.g., easy to manufacture and / or costly by injection molding, for example) wherein the wavelength of the radiation is for example about 400 nm or more (e.g. For example, 405 nm). In one embodiment, the wavelength of radiation is selected in the range of about 400 nm to 500 nm. In one embodiment, the lens array includes quartz focusing elements. In one embodiment, each focusing element or plurality of focusing elements may be an asymmetric lens. This asymmetry may be the same for each of the plurality of focusing elements, or may differ from one or more other focusing elements of the plurality of focusing elements for one or more of the focusing elements. An asymmetric lens can facilitate converting the elliptic radiation output into a circular projected spot or vice versa.

In one embodiment, the focusing element has a high numerical aperture (NA) configured to project radiation onto the substrate away from the focus to obtain a low numerical aperture (NA) for the system. Higher NA of the lens may be more economical, generic, and / or of better quality than available lenses of low NA. In one embodiment, the low NA is 0.3 or less, and in other embodiments 0.18, 0.15 or less. Thus, NA lenses higher than this have an NA greater than the design NA for the system, for example greater than 0.3, greater than 0.18, or greater than 0.15.

In one embodiment, the projection system 108 is separate from, but not necessarily the patterning device 104. Projection system 108 may be integrated with patterning device 104. For example, the lens array block or plate may be attached (integrated) to the patterning device 104. In one embodiment, the lens array may be in the form of spatially separated individual lenses, each small lens attached to an individually addressable element of the patterning device 104 as described in more detail below. Integrated).

Optionally, the lithographic apparatus can include a radiation system for supplying radiation (eg, ultraviolet (UV) radiation) to the plurality of individually controllable elements 102. If the patterning device is itself a radiation source, for example a laser diode array or an LED array, the lithographic apparatus can be designed without a radiation system, ie without a radiation source other than the patterning device, or at least a simplified radiation system.

The radiation system includes an illumination system (illuminator) configured to receive radiation from a radiation source. The illumination system comprises one or more of the following elements: a radiation delivery system (e.g., a directing mirror), a radiation conditioner (e.g., a beam expander), an angular intensity distribution of radiation. An adjuster for setting the intensity distribution (generally, at least the outer and / or inner radial ranges (typically referred to as outer-σ and inner-σ, respectively) of the intensity distribution in the illuminator's pupil plane are to be adjusted). May be used), an integrator, and / or a condenser. The illumination system can be used to adjust the radiation to be provided to the individually controllable elements 102 to have the desired uniformity and intensity distribution in the cross section of the radiation. The illumination system may be configured to split the radiation into a plurality of sub-beams, each of which may be associated with one or more of the plurality of individually controllable elements, for example. Two-dimensional diffraction gratings can be used, for example, to split the radiation into sub-beams. As used herein, the terms "beam of radiation" and "radiation beam" encompass, but are not limited to, a situation in which the beam consists of a plurality of such radiation sub-beams.

The radiation system may also include a radiation source (eg, excimer laser) that generates radiation for supply to or supply by the plurality of individually controllable elements 102. Can be. For example, when the radiation source is an excimer laser, the radiation source and the lithographic apparatus 100 may be separate components. In such a case, the radiation source is not considered to form part of the lithographic apparatus 100 and the radiation is transferred from the radiation source to the illuminator. In other cases, such as when the radiation source is a mercury lamp, this radiation source may be a component integrated in the lithographic apparatus 100. It should be understood that both of these cases fall within the scope of the present invention.

The radiation source, which may be a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 in one embodiment, is, in one embodiment, at least 5 nm, for example at least 10 nm, at least 50 nm, at least 100 nm, at least 150 nm, 175 Radiation having a wavelength of at least nm, at least 200 nm, at least 250 nm, at least 275 nm, at least 300 nm, at least 325 nm, at least 350 nm, or at least 360 nm can be provided. In one embodiment, the radiation has a wavelength of 450 nm or less, such as 425 nm or less, 375 nm or less, 360 nm or less, 325 nm or less, 275 nm or less, 250 nm or less, 225 nm or less, 200 nm or less, or 175 nm or less. Has In one embodiment, the radiation has a wavelength comprising 436 nm, 405 nm, 365 nm, 355 nm, 248 nm, 193 nm, 157 nm, 126 nm, and / or 13.5 nm. In one embodiment, the radiation comprises a wavelength of about 365 nm or about 355 nm. In one embodiment, the radiation includes a broad band of wavelengths, for example 365 nm, 405 nm and 436 nm. A 355 nm laser source may be used. In one embodiment, the radiation has a wavelength of about 405 nm.

In one embodiment, the radiation is directed from the illumination system to the patterning device 104 at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees, for example 5 to 85 degrees, 15 to 75 degrees, 25 to 65 degrees, or 35 to 55 degrees. . Radiation from the illumination system may be provided directly to the patterning device 104. In an alternative embodiment, the radiation can be directed from the illumination system to the patterning device 104 using a beam splitter (not shown), which radiation is initially reflected by the beam splitter so that the patterning device 104 It is configured to be guided to. The patterning device 104 modulates the beam and reflects it back to the beam splitter, which transmits the modulated beam towards the substrate 114. However, it should be appreciated that alternative configurations may be used to direct radiation to the patterning device 104 and then to the substrate 114. In particular, when transmissive patterning device 104 (eg, an LCD array) is used or patterning device 104 is self-emissive (eg, a plurality of diodes), an illuminator system configuration may not be required.

In operation of the lithographic apparatus 100, when the patterning device 104 does not emit radiation (eg, includes an LED), the radiation is patterned from the radiation system (lighting system and / or radiation source) 104. ) (Eg, a plurality of individually controllable elements) and modulated by the patterning device 104. Patterned beam 110 is generated by a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 and then passes through projection system 108, which projects beam 108 onto target portion 120 of substrate 114. Focus 110.

Using the positioning mechanism 116 (and optionally, the position sensor 134 on the base 136 (eg, an interferometer measuring device, linear encoder or capacitive sensor that receives the interferometer beam 138)), For example, the substrate 114 can be moved precisely to position different target portions 120 in the path of the beam 110. Positioning mechanisms for the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 can be used to accurately correct the position of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 with respect to the path of the beam 110, for example, during scanning. .

Although lithographic apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the invention has been described for exposing resist on a substrate, lithographic apparatus 100 may be used to project patterned beam 110 for use in resistless lithography. I will understand that.

As shown here, the lithographic apparatus 100 is reflective (e.g., employing individually controllable elements of the reflective type). Alternatively, the lithographic apparatus can be transmissive (eg, employing individually controllable elements of the transmissive).

The depicted apparatus 100 may be used, for example, in one or more of the following modes:

1. In step mode, the entire patterned radiation beam 110 is projected onto the target portion 120 at one time while keeping the individually controllable element 102 and the substrate 114 essentially stationary A single stop exposure). The substrate 114 is then moved in the X and / or Y direction so that different target portions 120 can be exposed to the patterned radiation beam 110. In step mode, the maximum size of the exposure field limits the size of the target portion 120 imaged in a single still exposure.

2. In the scan mode, the patterned radiation beam 110 is projected onto the target portion 120 (ie, a single dynamic exposure) while synchronously scanning the individually controllable element 102 and the substrate 114. . The speed and direction of the substrate relative to the individually controllable elements can be determined by the magnification (reduction ratio) and image reversal characteristics of the projection system PS. In the scan mode, the maximum size of the exposure field limits the width of the target portion (non-scanning direction) in a single dynamic exposure, while the length of the scanning movement limits the height of the target portion (scanning direction).

3. In the pulse mode, the individually controllable elements 102 are basically stationary and using pulses (eg, pulses provided by a pulsed radiation source or by pulsing individually controllable elements). The entire pattern is projected onto the target portion 120 of the substrate 114. The substrate 114 is moved at a substantially constant speed such that the patterned beam 110 scans a line across the substrate 114. The pattern provided by the individually controllable elements is updated as needed between the pulses and the timing of the pulses is set so that the continuous target portion 120 is exposed at the desired location on the substrate 114. As a result, the patterned beam 110 can scan across the substrate 114 to expose a complete pattern to the strip of the substrate 114. This process is repeated until the entire substrate 114 is exposed line by line.

4. In the continuous scan mode, the substrate 114 is scanned at a substantially constant rate with respect to the modulated radiation beam B, and individually when the patterned beam 110 scans across the substrate 114 and exposes it. It is basically the same as the pulse mode, except that the pattern on the array of controllable elements is updated. A substantially constant radiation source or pulsed radiation source may be used that is synchronized with the update of the pattern on the array of individually controllable elements.

In addition, combinations and / or variations of the modes of use described above, or completely different modes of use, may also be employed.

2 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention for use with a wafer (eg, a 300 mm wafer). As shown in FIG. 2, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a substrate table 106 for holding a wafer 114. A positioning mechanism 116 is associated with the substrate table 106 for moving the substrate table 106 in at least the X direction. Alternatively, the positioning mechanism 116 may move the substrate table 106 in the Y and / or Z directions. The positioning mechanism 116 may also rotate the substrate table 106 about the X, Y, and / or Z directions. Thus, the positioning mechanism 116 can provide movement in up to six degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, the substrate table 106 provides movement only in the X direction, which has the advantage of saving cost and being less complex. In one embodiment, the substrate table 106 includes relay optics.

The lithographic apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. Frame 160 may be mechanically isolated from substrate table 106 and positioning mechanism 116. Mechanical isolation may be provided, for example, by connecting the frame 160 to a rigid base or ground separate from the frame for the substrate table 106 and / or the positioning mechanism 116. Additionally or alternatively, between the frame 160 and the structure to which the frame 160 is connected, the structure supports a ground, a rigid base or substrate table 106 and / or a positioning mechanism 116. Regardless of whether it is recognized or not, a damper may be provided.

In this embodiment, each individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a blue violet laser diode. As shown in FIG. 2, the individually addressable elements 102 may be arranged in at least three separate arrays of individually addressable elements 102 extending along the Y direction. In one embodiment, the array of individually addressable elements 102 are staggered in the X direction from adjacent arrays of individually addressable elements 102. The lithographic apparatus 100, in particular the individually addressable elements 102, may be configured to provide pixel-grid imaging as described in more detail herein.

Each array of individually addressable elements 102 may be some of the individual optical engine components that may be manufactured in units for easy replication. Further, frame 160 may be configured to be extensible and configurable to readily employ any number of such optical engine components. The optical engine component can include a combination of an array of individually addressable elements 102 and a lens array 170 (see eg FIG. 8). For example, in FIG. 2 three optical engine components are shown, with associated lens arrays 170 below each individual array of individually addressable elements 102. Thus, in one embodiment, multiple optical column configurations can be provided, with each optical engine forming a column.

The lithographic apparatus 100 also includes an alignment sensor 150. The alignment sensor is used to determine the alignment between the individually addressable element 102 and the substrate 114 before and / or during exposure of the substrate 114. The result of the alignment sensor 150 may be used by the controller of the lithographic apparatus 100 to control the positioning mechanism 116 to position the substrate table 106, for example, to improve alignment. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may position one or more of the individually addressable elements 102 to improve alignment, for example by controlling the positioning mechanisms associated with the individually addressable elements 102. In one embodiment, alignment sensor 150 may include a pattern recognition function / software for performing alignment.

Additionally or alternatively, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a level sensor 150. Level sensor 150 is used to determine whether substrate 114 is level with respect to the projection of the pattern from individually addressable element 102. The level sensor 150 may determine the level before and / or during exposure of the substrate 114. The result of the level sensor 150 can be used by the controller of the lithographic apparatus 100 to control the positioning mechanism 116 to position the substrate table 106, for example, to improve leveling. have. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may control the positioning mechanism associated with the projection system 108 (eg lens array) to improve leveling by, for example, improving the leveling. Lens array). In one embodiment, the level sensor may operate by projecting an ultrasonic beam onto the substrate 114, and / or by projecting an electromagnetic radiation beam onto the substrate 114.

In one embodiment, the results from the alignment sensor and / or level sensor can be used to change the pattern provided by the individually addressable element 102. The pattern may be, for example, distortion arising from optics (if present) between the individually addressable element 102 and the substrate 114, non-uniformity in the positioning of the substrate 114, irregularities of the substrate 114 (unevenness) or the like can be changed. Thus, the results from the alignment sensor and / or level sensor can be used to change the projected pattern to perform nonlinear distortion correction. Nonlinear distortion correction can be useful, for example, for flexible displays that may not have consistent linear or nonlinear distortion.

In operation of the lithographic apparatus 100, the substrate 114 is loaded onto the substrate table 106 using, for example, a robot handler (not shown). Substrate 114 is then displaced in the X direction under frame 160 and individually addressable element 102. The substrate 114 is measured by the level sensor and / or alignment sensor 150 and then exposed to the pattern using individually addressable elements 102. For example, while the substrate 114 is scanned through the focal plane (image plane) of the projection system 108, the sub-beams and thus the image spot S (see, eg, FIG. 12) is a patterning device (see FIG. 12). 104) is switched at least partially ON or fully ON or OFF. Features corresponding to the pattern of the patterning device 104 are formed on the substrate 114. The individually addressable element 102 may be operative to provide pixel-grid imaging, for example, as described herein.

In one embodiment, the substrate 114 may be completely scanned in the positive X direction and then completely scanned in the negative X direction. In this embodiment, an additional level sensor and / or alignment sensor 150 on the opposite side of the individually addressable element 102 may be needed for the negative X direction scan.

3 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus for exposing a substrate, for example in the manufacture of flat panel displays (eg, LCDs, OLED displays, etc.), according to one embodiment of the invention. Like the lithographic apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2, the lithographic apparatus 100 is a substrate table 106 for holding a flat panel display substrate 114, for moving the substrate table 106 with six degrees of freedom or less. The positioning mechanism 116, the alignment sensor 150 for determining the alignment between the individually addressable element 102 and the substrate 114, and the substrate 114 are connected to the pattern from the individually addressable element 102. A level sensor 150 for determining whether it is horizontal to the projection.

The lithographic apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. In this embodiment, each individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a blue violet laser diode. As shown in FIG. 3, the individually addressable elements 102 are arranged in a plurality of (eg, eight or more) fixed discrete arrays of individually addressable elements 102 extending along the Y direction. . In one embodiment, the array is substantially fixed, ie does not significantly move during projection. Also in one embodiment, multiple arrays of individually addressable elements 102 are alternately arranged alternately in the X direction from adjacent arrays of individually addressable elements 102. The lithographic apparatus 100, in particular the individually addressable element 102, may be configured to provide pixel-grid imaging.

In operation of the lithographic apparatus 100, the panel display substrate 114 is loaded onto the substrate table 106 using, for example, a robot handler (not shown). Substrate 114 is then displaced in the X direction under frame 160 and individually addressable element 102. The substrate 114 is measured by the level sensor and / or alignment sensor 150 and then exposed to the pattern using individually addressable elements 102. The individually addressable element 102 may be operative to provide pixel-grid imaging, for example, as described herein.

4 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus for use with a roll-to-roll flexible display / electronic device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Like the lithographic apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. In this embodiment, each individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a blue violet laser diode. The lithographic apparatus also includes an alignment sensor 150 for determining the alignment between the individually addressable element 102 and the substrate 114, and the substrate 114 in the projection of the pattern from the individually addressable element 102. And a level sensor 150 for determining whether or not it is horizontal relative to the device.

The lithographic apparatus may also include an object holder having an object table 106 on which the substrate 114 is moved. The substrate 114 is flexible and rolled onto a roll connected to the positioning mechanism 116, which positioning mechanism 116 may be a motor that rotates the roll. Additionally or alternatively, in one embodiment the substrate 114 may be rolled from a roll connected to the positioning mechanism 116, which positioning mechanism 116 may be a motor that rotates the roll. In one embodiment, at least two rolls are provided, the substrate is rolled from one roll and the substrate rolled onto the other roll. In one embodiment, objective table 106 need not be provided, for example if substrate 114 is sufficiently stiff between rolls. In this case, an object holder, for example one or more rolls, may still be provided. In one embodiment, a lithographic apparatus may provide substrate carrier-less (eg, carrier-less-foil (CLF)) and / or roll-to-roll manufacturing. Can be. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus can provide sheet-to-sheet manufacture.

In operation of the lithographic apparatus 100, the flexible substrate 114 is rolled in the X direction, on the roll, and / or from the roll below the frame 160 and the individually addressable element 102. The substrate 114 is measured by the level sensor and / or alignment sensor 150 and then exposed to the pattern using individually addressable elements 102. The individually addressable element 102 may be operative to provide pixel-grid imaging, for example, as described herein.

5 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus having a movable individually addressable element 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Like the lithographic apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2, the lithographic apparatus 100 has a substrate table 106 for holding the substrate 114, and positioning for moving the substrate table 106 with six degrees of freedom or less. The instrument 116, an alignment sensor 150 for determining the alignment between the individually addressable element 102 and the substrate 114, and the substrate 114 are subjected to projection of the pattern from the individually addressable element 102. A level sensor 150 for determining whether or not it is horizontal relative to the device.

The lithographic apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. In this embodiment, each of the individually addressable elements 102 is a radiation emitting diode, such as a laser diode, for example a blue violet laser diode. As shown in FIG. 5, the individually addressable elements 102 are arranged in a number of separate arrays 200 of individually addressable elements 102 extending along the Y direction. Also in one embodiment, multiple arrays 200 of individually addressable elements 102 are alternately arranged alternately in the X direction from adjacent arrays of individually addressable elements 102. The lithographic apparatus 100, in particular the individually addressable element 102, may be configured to provide pixel-grid imaging. However, in one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus 100 does not need to provide pixel-grid imaging. Rather, the lithographic apparatus 100 is capable of projecting radiation of a diode onto a substrate in such a way that it does not form individual pixels for projection onto the substrate but rather forms a substantially continuous image for projection onto the substrate. Can be.

In one embodiment, one or more of the plurality of individually addressable elements 102 includes an exposure area in which one or more individually addressable elements 102 are used to project all or part of the beam 110. One or more individually addressable elements 102 are movable between locations outside the exposure area that do not project the beam 110 at all. In one embodiment, one or more individually addressable elements 102 are turned on or at least partially turned on, i.e., emitting radiation, in the exposure area 204 (light shaded area in FIG. 5). In addition, when located outside the exposure area 204, the device is turned off, that is, a radiation emitting device that does not emit radiation.

In one embodiment, one or more of these individually addressable elements 102 are radiation emitting devices that can be turned on inside the exposure area 204 and outside the exposure area 204. In such a situation, one or more individually addressable elements 102 are provided to provide compensatory exposure, for example, when radiation is not properly projected in the exposure area 204 by one or more individually addressable elements 102, It may be turned on outside the exposure area 204. For example, referring to FIG. 5, one or more of the individually addressable elements 102 of the array opposite the exposure area 204 may be turned on to correct a failed or inappropriate radiation projection in the exposure area 204. .

In one embodiment, the exposure area 204 is an elongated line. In one embodiment, the exposure area 204 is a one-dimensional array of one or more individually addressable elements 102. In one embodiment, the exposure area 204 is a two dimensional array of one or more individually addressable elements 102. In one embodiment, the exposure area 204 is elongated.

In one embodiment, each movable individually addressable element 102 may be moved separately and need not be moved together as a unit.

In one embodiment, such one or more individually addressable elements are movable and, in use, move in a direction crossing the propagation direction of the beam 110 at least during the projection of the beam 110. For example, in one embodiment, the one or more individually addressable elements 102 are radiation emitting devices that move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the beam 110 during projection of the beam 110.

In one embodiment, each array 200 is a laterally displaceable plate having a plurality of spatially separated individually addressable elements 102 arranged along the plate as shown in FIG. 6. In use, each plate translates along direction 208. In use, the movement of the individually addressable elements 102 is appropriately timed to be located in the exposure area 204 (shown in dark shaded areas in FIG. 6) to project all or a portion of the beam 110. Can be. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting device, and the turning on or off of the individually addressable element 102 is such that the at least one individually addressable element 102 is The timing is set so that they are turned on when in the exposure area 204 and turned off when outside the exposure area 204. For example, in FIG. 6 (a), a plurality of two-dimensional arrays of radiation emitting diodes 200 translate in direction 208-two arrays in a positive direction 208 between two arrays. The intermediate array is in the negative direction 208. The turn on or turn off of the radiation emitting diodes 102 is turned on when a particular radiation emitting diode 102 of each array 200 is in the exposure area 204 and turned off when outside the exposure area 204. , The timing is set. Of course the array 200 can move in the opposite direction, for example when the array 200 reaches the end of the movement, ie the two arrays are in the negative direction 208, between the two arrays. The intermediate array can move in the positive direction 208. As a further example, in FIG. 6 (b), a plurality of interleaved one-dimensional arrays of radiation emitting diodes 200 translate in direction 208-alternating in positive and negative directions 208. So. The turn on or turn off of the radiation emitting diodes 102 is turned on when a particular radiation emitting diode 102 of each array 200 is in the exposure area 204 and turned off when outside the exposure area 204. , The timing is set. Of course, the array 200 can move in the opposite direction. As a further example, in FIG. 6C, a single array of radiation emitting diodes 200 (shown in one dimension but not necessarily) translates in the direction 208. The turn on or turn off of the radiation emitting diodes 102 is turned on when a particular radiation emitting diode 102 of each array 200 is in the exposure area 204 and turned off when outside the exposure area 204. , The timing is set.

In one embodiment, each array 200 is a rotatable plate having a plurality of spatially separated individually addressable elements 102 arranged around the plate. In use, each plate rotates about its axis 206, for example in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. In other words, the array 200 can rotate alternately clockwise and counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5. Alternatively, each array 200 may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. In one embodiment, the array 200 rotates all around. In one embodiment, the array 200 rotates by an arc less than the full circumference. In one embodiment, for example, when the substrate is scanned in the Z direction, the array 200 may rotate about an axis extending in the X or Y direction. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 6 (d), the individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200 may be arranged at the edges and project radially outward toward the substrate 114. The substrate 114 may extend around at least some of one side of the array 200. In this case, the array 200 rotates about an axis extending in the X direction and the substrate 114 moves in the X direction.

In use, the movement of the individually addressable elements 102 may be appropriately timed to be positioned in the exposure area 204 to project all or part of the beam 110. For example, in one embodiment at least one individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting device, and the turning on or off of the individually addressable element 102 is such that the at least one individually addressable element 102 is The timing is set so that they are turned on when in the exposure area 204 and turned off when outside the exposure area 204. Therefore, in one embodiment the radiation emitting device 102 can be kept all on during movement and then certain of the radiation emitting devices 102 are modulated to off in the exposure area 204. In order to shield the exposure area 204 from the turned on radiation emitting device 102 outside the exposure area 204, a suitable shield between the substrate outside the exposure area 204 and the radiation emitting device 102 is required. Can be. By continuously turning on the radiation emitting device 102, it becomes easy to maintain the radiation emitting device 102 at a substantially uniform temperature during use. In one embodiment, the radiation emitting device 102 may remain off most of the time and may be turned on when one or more of the radiation emitting devices 102 are in the exposure area 204.

In one embodiment, the rotatable plate may have a configuration as shown in FIG. 7. For example, FIG. 7A shows a schematic plan view of a rotatable plate. Such a rotatable plate may have a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 (compared to the rotatable plate of FIG. 5 schematically illustrating a single array 200 of individually addressable elements 102 arranged around the plate). The subarray 210 may have an array 200 arranged around this plate. In FIG. 7A, the subarray 210 such that the individually addressable element 102 of one subarray 210 is between two individually addressable elements 102 of the other subarray 210. Are shown staggered relative to one another. However, the individually addressable elements 102 of the subarray 210 may be aligned with each other. In this example, the individually addressable elements 102 can be rotated individually or together by means of the motor 216, through the motor 216 about an axis in the Z direction in FIG. 7 (a). Motor 216 may be attached to a rotatable plate and connected to a frame, eg, frame 160, or attached to frame, eg, frame 160, and connected to a rotatable plate. In one embodiment, the motor 216 (or any motor located elsewhere, for example) may cause different movements of the individually addressable element 102, individually or together. For example, motor 216 may cause translational motion of one or more of the individually addressable elements 102 in the X, Y, and / or Z directions. Additionally or alternatively, motor 216 may cause rotation of one or more of the individually addressable elements 102 (ie, R _x and / or R _y movement) about the X and / or Y direction. .

In an embodiment of the rotatable plate schematically shown in plan view in FIG. 7 (b), the rotatable plate may have an opening 212 in the central area, and the array 200 of individually addressable elements 102 may be formed. It is arranged outside this opening 212 on the plate. Thus, for example, the rotatable plate may form an annular disk as shown in FIG. 7B, with the array 200 of individually addressable elements 102 arranged around the disk. The opening may reduce the weight of the rotatable plate and / or facilitate cooling of the individually addressable element 102.

In one embodiment, the rotatable plate may be supported at the outer periphery using the support 214. Support 214 may be a bearing, for example a roller bearing or a gas bearing. As shown in Fig. 7 (a), rotation (and / or other movements, for example, translational and / or R _x movements in the X, Y, and / or Z directions, by the motor 216 and / or Or R _y movement). Additionally or alternatively, the support 214 allows the individually addressable elements 102 to rotate about axis A (and / or other movements, for example X, Y, and / or Z). Motors that provide translational motion in the direction and / or R _x motion and / or R _y motion.

In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 7D and 7E, a rotatable plate having an array 200 of individually addressable elements 102 may be attached to the rotatable structure 218. Rotatable structure 218 may be rotated by motor 220 about axis B. As shown in FIG. The rotatable plate may also be rotated by the motor 216 relative to the rotatable structure 218, which causes the rotatable plate to rotate about axis A. In one embodiment, the axes of rotation A and B do not coincide with each other so these axes are spatially separated as shown in FIGS. 7 (d) and 7 (e). In one embodiment, the axes of rotation A and B are substantially parallel to each other. In use during exposure, both the rotatable structure 218 and the rotatable plate rotate. This rotation can be adjusted such that the individually addressable elements 102 in the exposure area 204 can be aligned substantially straight. This may be compared to the embodiment of FIG. 5, for example, where the individually addressable elements 102 in the exposure area 204 may not be aligned substantially linearly.

As discussed above, using movable individually addressable elements can reduce the number of individually addressable elements by moving the individually addressable elements into the exposure area 204 as needed. Thus, the heat load can be reduced.

In one embodiment, more movable individually addressable elements may be provided than theoretically necessary (eg, on a rotatable plate). A possible advantage of this configuration is that if one or more movable individually addressable elements are damaged or inoperative, other one or more movable individually addressable elements can be used instead. Additionally or alternatively, the extra movable individually addressable elements can have the advantage of controlling the thermal load on the individually addressable elements, which means that as more movable individually addressable elements are provided, This is because there is a higher possibility that the movable individually addressable elements outside the exposure area 204 can be cooled.

In one embodiment, the movable individually addressable element 102 is embedded in a material having low thermal conductivity. For example, such materials may be ceramics, for example cordierite or cordierite-based ceramics and / or Zerodur ceramics. In one embodiment, the movable individually addressable element 102 is embedded in a high thermal conductivity material, for example a metal, such as a metal having a relatively light mass, for example aluminum or titanium.

In one embodiment, array 200 may comprise a temperature control configuration. For example, referring to FIG. 7 (f), the array 200 is a fluid for transferring cooling fluid onto, around, or through the array 200 to cool the array. (Eg, liquid) conduction channel 222. Channel 222 may be connected to a suitable heat exchanger and pump 228 for circulating fluid through this channel. Supply 224 and return 226 may be connected between channel 222 and heat exchanger and pump 228 to facilitate circulation and temperature control of the fluid. Sensors 234 may be provided within the array, on or around the array for measuring the parameters of the array 200, which measurements may be used to control the temperature of the fluid flow provided by, for example, heat exchangers and pumps. Can be used. In one embodiment, the sensor 234 can measure the expansion and / or shrinkage of the array 200 body, which can be used to control the temperature of the fluid flow provided by the heat exchanger and pump. This rate of expansion and / or shrinkage is a proxy for temperature. In one embodiment, sensor 234 may be integrated with array 200 (as shown by sensor 234 in dot form), and / or may be separate from array 200 (box form). As shown by sensor 234). The sensor 234 separate from the array 200 may be an optical sensor.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7G, the array 200 may have one or more fins 230 to increase the surface area for heat dissipation. Pin (s) 230 may, for example, be on the top surface of array 200 and / or on the side of array 200. Optionally, one or more additional pins 232 may be provided to cooperate with pin (s) 230 to facilitate heat dissipation. For example, the pin (s) 232 may absorb heat from the pin (s) 230 and may be fluid (e.g., liquid) conduction channels similar to those shown and described with respect to Figure 7 (f) And an associated heat exchanger / pump.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 (h), to facilitate heat dissipation through the fluid, array 200 is fluid confined structure 236 configured to maintain fluid 238 in contact with array 200 body. ) Or around the fluid confinement structure 236. In one embodiment, the fluid 238 may be a liquid, such as water. In one embodiment, the fluid confinement structure 236 provides a seal between the fluid confinement structure 236 and the array 200 body. In one embodiment, such a seal can be a contactless seal provided through, for example, gas flow or capillary force. In one embodiment fluid 238 is circulated to promote heat dissipation, as described for fluid conducting channel 222. Fluid 238 may be supplied by fluid supply device 240.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7H, the array 200 is in or near the fluid supply device 240 configured to project the fluid 238 toward the body of the array 200. Can be positioned to facilitate heat dissipation through the fluid. In one embodiment, the fluid 238 is a gas, such as clean dry air, N ₂ , inert gas, and the like. The fluid confinement structure 236 and the fluid supply device 240 are shown together in FIG. 7 (h), but need not necessarily be provided together.

In one embodiment, the array 200 body is a substantially solid structure having a cavity, for example, for the fluid conduction channel 222. In one embodiment, the array 200 body is a substantially framed structure that is mostly open, to which various components are attached, such as individually addressable elements 102, fluid conducting channels 222, and the like. . This open structure facilitates gas flow and / or increases surface area. In one embodiment, the array 200 body is a substantially solid structure having a plurality of cavities into or through the body to facilitate gas flow and / or increase surface area.

Although embodiments have been described so far to provide cooling, the embodiments may alternatively or additionally provide heating.

In one embodiment, array 200 is preferably maintained at a substantially constant steady-state temperature during exposure use. Thus, for example, all or most of the individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200 may be powered on to reach a desired steady state temperature or near this temperature prior to exposure, and during the exposure the array 200 Any one or more temperature control configurations may be used to cool and / or heat) to maintain a steady state temperature. In one embodiment, any one or more temperature control configurations may be used to heat the array 200 prior to exposure to reach a desired steady state temperature or near this temperature. Then, during exposure, any one or more temperature control arrangements may be used to cool and / or heat the array 200 to maintain a steady state temperature. Measurements from sensor 234 may be used in a feedforward and / or feedback manner to maintain steady state temperatures. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of arrays 200 may have the same steady-state temperature, or one or more arrays 200 of the plurality of arrays 200 may have one or more other arrays 200 of the plurality of arrays 200. It may have a different steady state temperature than. In one embodiment, the array 200 is individually heated to a temperature higher than the desired steady state temperature and then maintained at a temperature higher than the desired steady state temperature and / or because of the cooling applied by any one or more temperature control configurations. Since the use of the addressable element 102 is insufficient, the temperature drops during exposure.

In one embodiment, the number of array 200 bodies is increased along and / or over the exposure area to improve thermal control and overall cooling. Thus, for example, instead of the four arrays 200 shown in FIG. 5, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more arrays 200 may be provided. Fewer arrays may be provided, for example one array 200, such as a single large array covering the entire width of the substrate.

In one embodiment, the lens array as described herein is associated with or integrated with the movable individually addressable element. For example, a lens array plate may be attached to each movable array 200 and thus moveable (eg rotatable) with the individually addressable element 102. As noted above, the lens array plate may be displaceable relative to the individually addressable element 102 (eg, in the Z direction). In one embodiment, a plurality of lens array plates may be provided for the array 200, and each lens array plate may be associated with a different subset of the plurality of individually addressable elements 102.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 (i), a single separate lens 242 may be attached in front of each individually addressable element 102 and move with the individually addressable element 102. May be possible (eg, rotatable about axis A). In addition, the lens 242 may be displaceable (eg, in the Z direction) with respect to the individually addressable element 102 using the actuator 244. In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 (j), the individually addressable element 102 and the lens 242 may be displaced together with respect to the body 246 of the array 200 by the actuator 244. . In one embodiment, the actuator 244 is configured to displace the lens 242 only in the Z direction (ie, with respect to the individually addressable element 102 or with the individually addressable element 102). .

In one embodiment, the actuator 244 is configured to displace the lens 242 with three or fewer degrees of freedom (Z direction, rotation about the X direction and / or rotation about the Y direction). In one embodiment, actuator 244 is configured to displace lens 242 with six degrees of freedom or less. If lens 242 is movable relative to individually addressable element 102, lens 242 may be moved by actuator 244 to change the focal position of lens 242 relative to the substrate. When lens 242 is movable with individually addressable element 102, the focal position of lens 242 is substantially constant, but displaced relative to the substrate. In one embodiment, movement of lens 242 is individually controlled for each lens 242 associated with each individually addressable element 102 of array 200. In one embodiment, the subset of the plurality of lenses 242 is movable relative to or with the corresponding subset of the plurality of individually addressable elements 102. In the latter situation, the precision of focus control can be sacrificed for lower data overhead and / or faster response. In one embodiment, the size of the radiation spot provided by the individually addressable element 102 can be adjusted by defocus, i.e., the larger the defocusing, the larger the spot size.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 (k), an opening structure 248 having an opening therein may be located under the lens 242. In one embodiment, the opening structure 248 may be positioned above the lens 242, between the lens 242 and the corresponding individually addressable element 102. The opening structure 248 may limit the diffraction effects of the lens 242, the corresponding individually addressable element 102, and / or the adjacent lens 242 / individually addressable element 102.

In one embodiment, the individually addressable element 102 may be a radiation emitting device, for example a laser diode. Such a radiation emitting device may have high spatial coherence, thus causing speckle problems. To avoid this speckle problem, the radiation emitted by the radiation emitting device must be scrambled by shifting the phase of the beam portion relative to the other beam portion. In one embodiment, referring to FIGS. 7 (l) and 7 (m), plate 250 may be located, for example, on frame 160, and individually addressable elements 102 may be plates (e.g., 250). When the individually addressable element 102 is moved above it with respect to the plate 250, the plate 250 collapses the spatial coherence of radiation emitted by the individually addressable element 102 toward the substrate ( cause disruption). In one embodiment, when the individually addressable element 102 is moved relative to the plate 250, the plate 250 is positioned between the lens 242 and the corresponding individually addressable element 102. do. In one embodiment, plate 250 may be located between lens 242 and the substrate.

In one embodiment, referring to FIG. 7 (n), a spatial coherence decay device 252 can be located between at least individually addressable element 102 and the substrate that project radiation onto an exposure area. . In one embodiment, the spatial coherence disruption device 252 may be located between the individually addressable element 102 and the lens 242 and attached to the body 246. In one embodiment, spatial coherence disruption device 252 is a phase modulator, vibration plate, or rotating plate. When the individually addressable elements 102 project radiation toward the substrate, the spatial coherence collapse device 252 causes the collapse of the spatial coherence of radiation emitted by the individually addressable elements 102. do.

In one embodiment, the lens array (either together as a unit or as a separate lens) is preferably attached to the array 200 through a material with high thermal conductivity to facilitate thermal conduction from the lens array to the array 200. Thus, cooling can be made more advantageous.

In one embodiment, array 200 may include one or more focus or level sensors 254, similar to level sensor 150. For example, sensor 254 may be configured to focus on each individually addressable element 102 of array 200 or on a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 of array 200. have. Thus, if an out of focus condition is detected, the focus is on each of the individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200 or on a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200. Can be modified. For example, the focus can be corrected by moving the lens 242 in the Z direction (and / or about the X direction and / or about the Y direction).

In one embodiment, the sensor 254 is integrated with the individually addressable element 102 (or may be integrated with the plurality of individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200). Referring to FIG. 7 (o), an exemplary sensor 254 is schematically shown. The focus detection beam 256 is redirected (eg, reflected) from the substrate surface and is directed through the lens 242 to the detector 262 by the semi-silvered mirror 258. In one embodiment, focus detection beam 256 may be radiation used for exposure purposes, which may be redirected from a substrate. In one embodiment, the focus detection beam 256 may be a dedicated beam guided to the substrate, which becomes the beam 256 when redirected by the substrate. The knife edge 260 (which may be an opening) is placed in the path of the beam 256 before the beam 256 impinges on the detector 262. In this embodiment, the detector 262 includes at least two radiation sensitive portions (eg, regions or detectors) by the split of the detector 262 as shown in FIG. 7 (o). If the substrate is in focus, a sharp image is formed at the edge 260 so that the radiation sensitive portion of the detector 262 receives the same amount of radiation. If the substrate is out of focus, beam 256 is shifted and an image will be formed before edge 260 or after edge 260. Thus, edge 260 may intercept a particular portion of beam 256 and one radiation sensitive portion of detector 262 may receive a smaller amount of radiation than another radiation sensitive portion of detector 262. Comparing the output signals from the radiation sensitive portion of the detector 262, it can be seen how different and in which direction the substrate plane to which the beam 256 has been reguided differs from the desired position. Such a signal can be processed electronically to provide a control signal that can, for example, adjust the lens 242. Mirror 258, edge 260 and detector 262 may be mounted to array 200. In one embodiment, the detector 262 may be a quad cell.

In one embodiment, there may be 400 individually addressable elements 102 (at any one time) operating at 133. In one embodiment, 600 to 1,200 of the individual individually addressable elements 102 that operate, optionally additionally addressable elements, for example, for preliminary and / or modified exposure purposes (eg, as described above). 102 may be provided. The number of individually addressable elements 102 that operate may depend on, for example, resist, which requires a particular radiation dose for patterning. If the individually addressable elements 102 are rotatable, these individually addressable elements 102 may be rotated at a rotational speed of 6 Hz with the individually addressable elements 102 operating 1,200. If there are fewer individually addressable elements 102, the individually addressable elements 102 can rotate at higher revolutions; If there are more individually addressable elements 102, the individually addressable elements 102 may rotate at lower rotational speeds.

In one embodiment, the number of individually addressable elements 102 may be reduced using movable individually addressable elements 102 as compared to an array of individually addressable elements 102. For example, individually addressable elements 102 may be provided, operating 600 to 1,200 (at any time). Furthermore, this reduced number may result in substantially similar results to an array of individually addressable elements 102, but has one or more advantages. For example, for sufficient exposure capability using an array of blue violet diodes, an array of 100,000 blue violet diodes may be needed, for example arranged in 200 diodes × 500 diodes. When operating at 10 kHz, the optical power per laser diode will be 0.33 mW. The power per laser diode will be 150 mW = 35 mA x 4.1 V. Therefore, for the array, the power will be 15 kW. In one embodiment using movable individually addressable elements, 400 blue violet diodes, 133 of which may be provided, may be provided. When operating at revolutions of 9 MHz, the optical power per laser diode would be 250 mW. The power per laser diode will be 1000 mW = 240 mA x 4.2 V. Therefore, for the array, the power will be 133 W. Thus, the diode of the movable individually addressable element 102 configuration operates at the sloped portion (240 mA vs. 35 mA) of the optical output power versus forward current curve, for example as shown in FIG. 7 (p). Can produce high output power (250 mW vs. 0.33 mW) per diode, but will produce low power (133 W vs. 15 kW) for a plurality of individually addressable elements. Thus, such diodes can be used more efficiently, resulting in reduced power consumption and / or heat generation.

Thus, in one embodiment, the diode operates on the sloped portion of the power / forward current curve. Operating in a non-sloped portion of the power / forward current curve can cause incoherence of radiation. In one embodiment, the diode operates with an optical power of greater than 5 mW but less than 20 mW, or less than 30 mW, or less than 40 mW. In one embodiment, the diode does not operate with optical power greater than 300 mW. In one embodiment, the diode operates in single-mode rather than multi-mode.

The number of individually addressable elements 102 on the array 200 is particularly (and to the extent also mentioned above) the length of the exposure area to be covered by the array 200, the speed at which the array is moved during exposure, spot The size (i.e., the cross-sectional dimension of the spot projected onto the substrate from the individually addressable element 102, eg width / diameter), the desired intensity that each individually addressable element 102 should provide (e.g., For example, whether it is necessary to diffuse the intended radiation dose for a spot on a substrate through two or more individually addressable elements to prevent damage to the substrate or resist on the substrate), the desired scan rate of the substrate, cost considerations For the frequency at which the individually addressable elements are turned on or off, and for the redundant individually addressable elements 102. Necessity; may depend on the (As previously discussed, for example, if the addressable elements in at least one individual faulty or for example pre-corrected exposure purposes). In one embodiment, the array 200 includes at least 100 individually addressable elements 102, for example at least 200 individually addressable elements, at least 400 individually addressable elements, at least 600 individually addressable. Elements, at least 1,000 individually addressable elements, at least 1,500 individually addressable elements, at least 2,500 individually addressable elements, or at least 5,000 individually addressable elements. In one embodiment, array 200 includes fewer than 50,000 individually addressable elements 102, such as less than 25,000 individually addressable elements, less than 15,000 individually addressable elements, less than 10,000 individually Addressable elements, less than 7,500 individually addressable elements, less than 5,000 individually addressable elements, less than 2,500 individually addressable elements, less than 1,200 individually addressable elements, less than 600 individually Addressable elements, or fewer than 300 individually addressable elements.

In one embodiment, the array 200 is configured for every 10 cm long exposure area (i.e., normalizing the number of individually addressable elements of the array to 10 cm long exposure areas), and at least 100 individually addressable elements ( 102), for example, at least 200 individually addressable elements, at least 400 individually addressable elements, at least 600 individually addressable elements, at least 1,000 individually addressable elements, at least 1,500 individually addressable elements At least 2,500 individually addressable elements, or at least 5,000 individually addressable elements. In one embodiment, array 200 is less than 50,000 individually addressable elements 102 per 10 cm long exposure area (ie, normalizing the number of individually addressable elements of the array to 10 cm long exposure areas). For example, less than 25,000 individually addressable elements, less than 15,000 individually addressable elements, less than 10,000 individually addressable elements, less than 7,500 individually addressable elements, less than 5,000 individually addressable elements Elements, less than 2,500 individually addressable elements, less than 1,200 individually addressable elements, less than 600 individually addressable elements, or less than 300 individually addressable elements.

In one embodiment, the array 200 is less than 75% of spare individually addressable elements 102, such as up to 67%, up to 50%, up to about 33%, up to 25%, up to 20%, up to 10% Or up to 5% extra, individually addressable element 102. In one embodiment, the array 200 is at least 5% extra individually addressable element 102, such as at least 10%, at least 25%, at least 33%, at least 50%, or at least 65% extra individual. Element 102 is addressable. In one embodiment, the array includes about 67% extra individually addressable element 102.

In one embodiment, the spot size of individual addressable elements on a substrate is 10 microns or less, 5 microns or less, such as 3 microns or less, 2 microns or less, 1 micron or less, 0.5 micron or less, 0.3 micron or less, or about 0.1 micron or less. to be. In one embodiment, the spot size of the individual addressable elements on the substrate is at least 0.1 micron, at least 0.2 micron, at least 0.3 micron, at least 0.5 micron, at least 0.7 micron, at least 1 micron, at least 1.5 micron, at least 2 micron, or at least 5 microns. More than micron. In one embodiment, the spot size is about 0.1 micron. In one embodiment, the spot size is about 0.5 microns. In one embodiment, the spot size is about 1 micron.

In operation of the lithographic apparatus 100, the substrate 114 is loaded onto the substrate table 106 using, for example, a robot handler (not shown). Substrate 114 is then displaced in the X direction under frame 160 and individually addressable element 102. Substrate 114 is exposed to the pattern using individually addressable elements 102 after being measured by level sensor and / or alignment sensor 150, as discussed above. The individually addressable element 102 may be operative to provide pixel-grid imaging, for example, as described herein.

8 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a patterning device 104 and a projection system 108. Projection system 108 includes two lenses 176, 172. The first lens 176 is configured to receive the modulated radiation beam 110 from the patterning device 104 and to focus this beam through the contrast opening at the opening stop 174. Additional lenses (not shown) may be located in the openings. The radiation beam 110 then diverges and is focused by the second lens 172 (eg, a field lens).

Projection system 108 further includes a lens array 170 configured to receive modulated radiation beam 110. Different portions of the modulated radiation beam 110, corresponding to one or more individually controllable elements in the patterning device 104, pass through each different lens of the lens array 170. Each lens focuses each portion of the modulated radiation beam 110 at a point lying on the substrate 114. In this way, an array of radiation spots S (see FIG. 12) is exposed on the substrate 114. While only five lenses of the illustrated lens array 170 are shown, it will be appreciated that the lens array may include hundreds or thousands of lenses (the same content being individually used as the patterning device 104). Also applies to controllable elements).

As shown in FIG. 8, a free working distance FWD is provided between the substrate 114 and the lens array 170. This distance allows for movement of the substrate 114 and / or lens array 170, for example to enable focus correction. In one embodiment, the free working distance is in the range of 1 to 3 mm, such as about 1.4 mm. The individually addressable elements of the patterning device 104 are arranged in a pitch P, which in turn is associated with the pitch P of the imaging spot in the substrate 114. In one embodiment, lens array 170 may provide an NA of 0.15 or 0.18. In one embodiment, the imaging spot size is about 1.6 μm.

In this embodiment, the projection system 108 may be a 1: 1 projection system in that the array spacing of the image spots on the substrate 114 is equal to the array spacing of the pixels of the patterning device 104. In order to provide improved resolution, the image spot can be much smaller than the pixels of the patterning device 104.

9 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there is no optic between the patterning device 104 and the substrate 114 in addition to the lens array 170.

The lithographic apparatus 100 of FIG. 9 includes a patterning device 104 and a projection system 108. In this case, projection system 108 only includes lens array 170 configured to receive modulated radiation beam 110. Different portions of the modulated radiation beam 110, corresponding to one or more individually controllable elements of the patterning device 104, pass through each different lens of the lens array 170. Each lens focuses each portion of the modulated radiation beam 110 at a point lying on the substrate 114. In this way, an array of radiation spots S (see FIG. 12) is exposed on the substrate 114. While only five lenses of the illustrated lens array 170 are shown, it will be appreciated that the lens array may include hundreds or thousands of lenses (the same content being individually controlled used as the patterning device 104). This also applies to possible elements).

As in FIG. 8, a free working distance FWD is provided between the substrate 114 and the lens array 170. This distance allows the substrate 114 and / or lens array 170 to be moved, for example, to enable focus correction. The individually addressable elements of the patterning device 104 are arranged in a pitch P, which in turn is associated with the pitch P of the imaging spot in the substrate 114. In one embodiment, the lens array 170 may provide a NA of 0.15. In one embodiment, the imaging spot size is about 1.6 μm.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a lithographic apparatus using individually addressable elements 102 movable as discussed above with respect to FIG. 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, there is no optic between the patterning device 104 and the substrate 114 in addition to the lens array 170.

The lithographic apparatus 100 of FIG. 10 includes a patterning device 104 and a projection system 108. In this case, projection system 108 only includes lens array 170 configured to receive modulated radiation beam 110. Different portions of the modulated radiation beam 110, corresponding to one or more individually controllable elements of the patterning device 104, pass through each different lens of the lens array 170. Each lens focuses each portion of the modulated radiation beam 110 at a point lying on the substrate 114. In this way, an array of radiation spots S (see FIG. 12) is exposed on the substrate 114. While only five lenses of the illustrated lens array 170 are shown, it will be appreciated that the lens array may include hundreds or thousands of lenses (the same content being individually controlled used as the patterning device 104). This also applies to possible elements).

As in FIG. 8, a free working distance FWD is provided between the substrate 114 and the lens array 170. This distance allows the substrate 114 and / or lens array 170 to be moved, for example, to enable focus correction. The individually addressable elements of the patterning device 104 are arranged in a pitch P, which in turn is associated with the pitch P of the imaging spot in the substrate 114. In one embodiment, the lens array 170 may provide a NA of 0.15. In one embodiment, the imaging spot size is about 1.6 μm.

11 shows a plurality of individually addressable elements 102, specifically six individually addressable elements 102. In this embodiment, each individually addressable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a blue violet laser diode. Each radiation emitting diode bridges two power lines for supplying current to the radiation emitting diode to control the diode. Thus, such diodes form an addressable grid. The width between the two power lines is approximately 250 μm and the radiation emitting diode has a pitch of approximately 500 μm.

12 schematically illustrates how a pattern on a substrate 114 may be generated. The filled circle represents the array of spots S projected onto the substrate 114 by the lens array MLA of the projection system 108. The substrate 114 is moved relative to the projection system 108 in the X direction as a series of exposures are exposed on the substrate. The hollow circle represents the spot exposure SE previously exposed on the substrate. As shown, each spot projected onto the substrate 114 by the lens array 170 in the projection system 108 exposes a row R of spot exposure on the substrate 114. The complete pattern for the substrate 114 is generated by the sum of all rows R of the spot exposures SE exposed by each spot S. This configuration is commonly referred to as "pixel grid imaging". It will be appreciated that FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing and that the spots S may overlap substantially.

It can be seen that the array of radiation spots S is arranged at an angle α with respect to the substrate 114 (edges of the substrate 114 lie parallel to the X and Y directions). This is so that when the substrate 114 is moved in the scanning direction (X direction), each radiation spot passes over a different area of the substrate so that the entire substrate can be covered by the array of radiation spots S. In one embodiment, the angle α is no more than 20 °, no more than 10 °, such as no more than 5 °, no more than 3 °, no more than 1 °, no more than 0.5 °, no more than 0.25 °, no more than 0.10 °, no more than 0.05 °, or no more than 0.01 °. It is as follows. In one embodiment, the angle α is at least 0.0001 °, for example at least 0.001 °. The inclination angle α of the array and the width of the array in the scanning direction are determined according to the image spot size and the array spacing in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction so that the entire surface area of the substrate 114 is addressed.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates how the entire substrate 114 may be exposed in a single scan using a plurality of optical engines where each optical engine includes one or more individually addressable elements. Eight arrays SA of radiation spots S (not shown) are created by eight optical engines, with these eight optical engines, the edges of one array of radiation spots S being the radiation spots S. It is arranged in two rows (R1, R2) or in a staggered configuration in the "chessboard" so as to slightly overlap with the edges of the adjacent array of. In one embodiment, the optical engine is arranged in at least three rows, such as four or five rows. In this way, the band of radiation extends across the width of the substrate W so that the exposure of the entire substrate can be performed in a single scan. This “full width” single pass exposure helps to avoid the problem of stitching connecting two or more passes, and the mechanical footprint since the substrate may not need to be moved in the direction crossing the substrate pass direction. May be reduced. It will be appreciated that any suitable number of optical engines may be used. In one embodiment, the number of optical engines is at least 1, for example at least 2, at least 4, at least 8, at least 10, at least 12, at least 14, or at least 17. In one embodiment, the number of optical engines is less than 40, for example less than 30 or less than 20. Each optical engine may include a separate patterning device 104 and may optionally include a separate projection system 108 and / or a radiation system as described above. However, it will be appreciated that two or more optical engines may share at least some of one or more of the radiation system, patterning device 104, and / or projection system 108.

In the embodiment described herein, a controller is provided for controlling individually addressable elements. For example, in embodiments where the individually addressable element is a radiation emitting device, such a controller may control when the individually addressable element is turned on or off and enable high frequency modulation of the individually addressable element do. The controller can control the power of the radiation emitted by one or more individually addressable elements. The controller can modulate the intensity of the radiation emitted by one or more individually addressable elements. The controller can control / adjust the intensity uniformity for all or part of the array of individually addressable elements. The controller can adjust the radiation output of the individually addressable elements to correct imaging errors such as etendue and optical aberrations (eg coma, astigmatism, etc.).

In lithography, one can create the desired features on the substrate by selectively exposing the resist layer on the substrate to radiation, for example by exposing the resist layer to patterned radiation. The area of the resist that receives a certain minimum radiation dose (“radiation dose threshold”) will undergo a chemical reaction, while the other areas will remain unchanged. The chemical difference produced in this way in the resist layer makes it possible to selectively remove the phenomenon of the resist, i.e., the region that has received at least the minimum radiation dose or selectively remove the region that has not received the minimum radiation dose. As a result, some of the substrate is still protected by resist, but the area of the substrate from which the resist has been removed is exposed to produce the desired features, for example, by further processing steps, such as selective etching of the substrate, selective metal deposition, or the like. Make it possible. The radiation delivered to the area of the resist layer on the substrate within the desired feature has a sufficiently high intensity such that the area receives a radiation dose that exceeds the radiation dose threshold during exposure, while the other area on the substrate is zero or substantially higher. By setting the corresponding individually controllable elements to provide low radiation intensity, the patterning of the radiation can be made by setting the individually controllable elements at the patterning device to receive radiation doses below the radiation dose threshold.

In practice, even if the individually controllable elements are set to provide maximum radiation intensity on one side of the feature boundary and minimum radiation intensity on the other side, the radiation dose at the edge of the desired feature is zero radiation dose from a given maximum radiation dose. It may not change suddenly. Instead, due to the diffraction effect, the level of radiation dose may drop over the transition region. The boundary position of the desired feature, which is ultimately formed after development of the resist, is then determined by the position at which the received radiation dose falls below the radiation dose threshold. The profile of the drop in radiation dose across the transition region, i.e. the precise location of the feature boundary, may be defined as the maximum or minimum intensity level, with individually controllable elements providing radiation to a point on the substrate that is on or around the feature boundary. By setting the intensity level between the maximum intensity level and the minimum intensity level as well, it can be controlled more accurately. This is commonly referred to as "grayscaling" or "gray leveling".

Grayscaling is relative to the position of the feature boundary, rather than control possible in a lithography system, in which the radiation intensity provided to a substrate by a given individually controllable element can be set to only two values (ie, minimum and maximum values). Better control can be provided. In one embodiment, at least three different radiation intensity values, such as at least four radiation intensity values, at least eight radiation intensity values, at least 16 radiation intensity values, at least 32 radiation intensity values, at least 64 radiation intensity values, at least One hundred radiation intensity values, at least 128 radiation intensity values, or at least 256 radiation intensity values may be projected onto the substrate. If the patterning device is the radiation source itself (eg an array of light emitting diodes or laser diodes), grayscaling can be carried out, for example, by controlling the intensity level of the transmitted radiation. When the contrast device is a micromirror device, grayscaling can be carried out, for example, by controlling the tilt angle of the micromirror. In addition, grayscaling can be implemented by grouping a plurality of programmable elements in the contrast device and controlling the number of elements that are switched on or switched off at a given time within the group.

In one example, the patterning device can have a series of states, including: (a) a black state in which the provided radiation makes a minimum or zero contribution to the intensity distribution of the corresponding pixel; (b) a white state in which the radiation provided makes the greatest contribution; And (c) a plurality of states in between in which the provided radiation makes a moderate contribution. This condition is divided into a normal set used for normal beam patterning / printing, and a compensation set used to compensate for the influence of a defective element. The normal set includes a first group of cancer states and intermediate states. This first group will be described as a gray state and may be selected to provide a progressively increasing contribution to the corresponding pixel intensity, from the minimum dark state value to a certain normal maximum. The compensation set includes the remaining second group of intermediate states, along with the bright state. This second group of intermediate states will be described as a white state and may be selected to provide a contribution greater than the normal maximum and to incrementally increase up to a true maximum corresponding to the bright state. Although the second group of intermediate states is described as a white state, it will be understood that this is only to facilitate the distinction between the normal exposure step and the compensating exposure step. The entirety of the plurality of states may alternatively be described as a series of gray states between the dark state and the light state, and may be selected to enable grayscale printing.

It should be appreciated that grayscaling may be used for additional or alternative purposes to the foregoing. For example, processing of the substrate after exposure may be tuned such that there are three or more potential reaction regions on the substrate, depending on the radiation dose level received. For example, the portion of the substrate that receives a radiation dose below the first threshold reacts in a first manner; The portion of the substrate that receives the radiation dose above the first threshold but below the second threshold reacts in a second manner; The portion of the substrate that receives the radiation dose above the second threshold reacts in a third manner. Thus, grayscaling may be used such that a radiation dose profile with three or more desired radiation dose levels is provided across the substrate. In one embodiment, the radiation dose profile includes at least two desired dose levels, such as at least three desired dose levels, at least four desired dose levels, at least six desired dose levels, or at least eight desired dose levels. Has

It should also be appreciated that the radiation dose profile can be controlled by methods other than simply controlling the intensity of the radiation received at each point on the substrate, as described above. For example, the radiation dose received by each point on the substrate can alternatively or additionally be controlled by controlling the exposure period of this point. As a further example, each point on the substrate may receive radiation in a plurality of consecutive exposures. Therefore, the amount of radiation received by each point can alternatively or additionally be controlled by exposing these points using a selected subset of these plurality of successive exposures.

In order to form a pattern on a substrate, it is necessary to set each individually controllable element of the patterning device to the required state at each stage during the exposure process. Therefore, a control signal indicative of the required state must be sent to each individually controllable element. Preferably, the lithographic apparatus comprises a controller 400 for generating a control signal. The pattern to be formed on the substrate may be provided to the lithographic apparatus in a vector-defined format, for example GDSII. In order to convert the design information into control signals for each individually controllable element, the controller comprises one or more data manipulation devices, each such data manipulation device performing processing steps on a data stream representing the pattern. Configured to perform. Data manipulation devices may be referred to collectively as "datapaths."

The data manipulation device of the datapath may be configured to perform one or more of the following functions; Converting the vector based design information into bitmap pattern data; Converting the bitmap pattern data into a desired radiation dose map (ie, a desired radiation dose profile across the substrate); Converting a desired radiation dose map into a desired radiation intensity value for each individually controllable element; And converting the desired radiation intensity value for each individually controllable element into a corresponding control signal.

In one embodiment, the control signal may be supplied to the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) by wire or wireless communication. Furthermore, signals from the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) can be communicated to the controller 400.

Referring to FIG. 14A, in a wireless embodiment, a transceiver (or only a transmitter) 406 transmits a signal including a control signal to be received by the transceiver (or only a receiver) 402. The control signal is transmitted to each individually controllable element 102 by one or more lines 404. In one embodiment, signals from transceiver 406 may include a number of control signals and transceiver 402 may transmit such signals to each individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, For example, the sensor may be demultiplexed into a plurality of control signals. In one embodiment, the wireless transmission may be by radio frequency (RF).

Referring to FIG. 14B, in a wired embodiment, one or more lines 404 connect controller 400 to individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors). Can be. In one embodiment, a single line 404 may be provided to carry respective control signals to and / or from the array 200 body. Then, in the array 200 body, control signals may be provided separately to the individually controllable element 102 and / or to one or more other devices (eg, sensors). For example, like the wireless embodiment, control signals can be multiplexed to be transmitted on a single line, and then to the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors). It may be demultiplexed to provide. In one embodiment, multiple lines 404 may be provided to convey individual control signals of the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors). If the array 200 is rotatable, line (s) 404 may be provided along the axis of rotation A. FIG. In one embodiment, the signal may be provided to or from the array 200 body through sliding contact at or around the motor 216. This may be advantageous for rotatable embodiments. Sliding contact can be made, for example, via a brush in contact with the plate.

In one embodiment, the line (s) 404 may be an optical line. In such a case, the signal can be an optical signal, for example, in which different control signals can be transmitted at different wavelengths.

In a manner similar to the control signal, power may be supplied to the individually controllable element 102 or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) by wired or wireless means. For example, in a wired embodiment, power may be supplied by one or more lines 404 regardless of whether it is the same as the line carrying the signal. Sliding contact arrangements can be provided as described above for transmitting power. In a wireless embodiment, power can be delivered by RF coupling.

While the previous discussion focuses on control signals supplied to the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors), alternatively or additionally, individually, via appropriate configurations, It should be understood that the transmission of signals from the controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) to the controller 400. Thus, communication may be in one direction (eg, only individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) or individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices. (Eg, from a sensor) or bidirectional (ie, individually controllable element 102 and / or from one or more other devices (eg, sensor) and individually controllable element 102 and / or one Or other devices (eg, sensors). For example, the transceiver 402 may multiplex multiple signals for transmission to the transceiver 406 from the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors), At the transceiver 406, these signals can be demultiplexed into individual signals.

In one embodiment, control signals for providing a pattern may be changed to take into account factors that may affect the proper supply and / or realization of the pattern on the substrate. For example, modifications may be applied to the control signal to account for heating of one or more arrays 200. Such heating can cause a change in the direction of indication of the individually controllable element 102, and can change the uniformity of the radiation from the individually controllable element 102, and the like. In one embodiment, the temperature and / or expansion / shrinkage measured, for example, associated with the array 200 (eg, an array of one or more individually controllable elements 102) from the sensor 234, is otherwise determined by the pattern. It can be used to change the control signal that would have been provided to form. Thus, for example, during exposure, the temperature of the individually controllable elements 102 may change, which change may cause a change in the projected pattern to be provided at a single constant temperature. Thus, the control signal can be changed to account for this change. Likewise, in one embodiment, results from alignment sensor and / or level sensor 150 may be used to change the pattern provided by individually controllable element 102. The pattern may arise from, for example, optics (if present) between the individually controllable element 102 and the substrate 114, non-uniformity in the positioning of the substrate 114, irregularities of the substrate 114, and the like. For example, it can be changed to correct distortion.

In one embodiment, the change in the control signal is based on the theory of physical / optical results for the desired pattern, resulting from measured parameters (e.g., measured temperature, measured distance, etc. by a level sensor or the like). Can be determined. In one embodiment, the change in the control signal may be determined based on an experimental or empirical model of the physical / optical results for the desired pattern resulting from the measured parameters. In one embodiment, the change in the control signal may be applied in a feedforward and / or feedback manner.

In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus may include a sensor 500 for measuring a characteristic of the radiation to be delivered or delivered towards the substrate by one or more individually controllable elements 102. Such a sensor may be a spot sensor or a transmission image sensor. Radiation intensity from individually controllable element 102, uniformity of radiation from individually controllable element 102, cross-sectional size or area of radiation spot from individually controllable element 102, and / or individual Such a sensor can be used to determine the location (on the XY plane) of the radiation spot from the controllable element 102.

15 is a schematic plan view of a lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing some exemplary positions of the sensor 500. In one embodiment, one or more sensors 500 are provided on or on the substrate table 106 for holding the substrate 114. For example, the sensor 500 may be provided at the leading edge of the substrate table 106 and / or at the trailing edge of the substrate table 106. In this embodiment, four sensors 500 are shown, one for each array 200. Preferably, such a sensor is located at a location that may not be covered by the substrate 114. In an alternative and additional example, the sensor may be provided at a side edge of the substrate table 106, preferably at a location that may not be covered by the substrate 114. Sensor 500 at the leading edge of substrate table 106 may be used for pre-exposure detection of individually controllable element 102. Sensor 500 at the trailing edge of substrate table 106 may be used for post-exposure detection of individually controllable element 102. Sensor 500 at the side edge of substrate table 106 may be used for in-exposure detection (“on-the-fly” detection) of individually controllable element 102.

Referring to Figure 16 (a), a schematic side view of a portion of a lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. In this example, only one array 200 is shown and other portions of the lithographic apparatus are omitted for simplicity; The sensors described herein may be applied to each array 200 or some of the arrays 200. Some additional or alternative embodiments of the location of the sensor 500 are shown in FIG. 16 (a) (in addition to the sensor 500 of the substrate table 106). The first embodiment is a sensor 500 on frame 160 that receives radiation from individually controllable element 102 via beam redirecting structure 502 (eg, a reflective mirror configuration). In this first embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 moves in the XY plane, so that different elements of the individually controllable element 102 can be positioned to provide radiation to the beam redirecting structure 502. have. An additional or alternative second embodiment provides for receiving radiation from the individually controllable element 102, from the rear side of the individually controllable element 102, ie from the opposite side to which the exposure radiation is provided. Sensor 500 on frame 160. In this second embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 moves in the X-Y plane, so that different elements of the individually controllable element 102 can be positioned to provide radiation to the sensor 500. Although the sensor 500 in the second embodiment is shown in the path of the individually controllable element 102 in the exposure area 204, the sensor 500 may be located where the sensor 510 is shown. . In one embodiment, the sensor 500 on the frame 160 may be in a fixed position or may be movable by, for example, a corresponding actuator. The first and second embodiments can be used to provide "on-the-fly" sensing in addition to or as an alternative to pre- and / or post-exposure sensing. The third embodiment is a sensor 500 on the structures 504, 506. The structures 504, 506 may be moveable by the actuator 508. In one embodiment, the structure 504 is located below the path through which the substrate table can move (as shown in FIG. 16 (a)) or on the side of this path. In one embodiment, the structure 504 may be moved by the actuator 508 to the location of the sensor 500 of the substrate table 106 shown in FIG. 16 (a) if the substrate table 106 is not there. And if the structure 504 is on the side of the path, this movement may be in the Z-direction (as shown in Figure 16 (a)) or may be in the X and / or Y direction. In one embodiment, the structure 506 is located above or along the side of the path through which the substrate table can be moved (as shown in FIG. 16 (a)). In one embodiment, the structure 506 may be moved by the actuator 508 to the position of the sensor 500 of the substrate table 106 shown in FIG. 16A if the substrate table 106 is not there. have. Structure 506 may be attached to frame 160 and may be displaceable relative to frame 160.

An operation for measuring a characteristic of radiation to be delivered or delivered towards a substrate by one or more individually controllable elements 102, by moving the radiation beam of the sensor 500 and / or the individually controllable elements 102. The sensor 500 is positioned in the path of radiation from the individually controllable element 102. Thus, as an example, the substrate table 106 can be moved to position the sensor 500 in the path of radiation from the individually controllable element 102 as shown in FIG. 16 (a). In this case, the sensor 500 is located in the path of the individually controllable element 102 in the exposure area 204. In one embodiment, the sensor 500 controls the individually controllable element 102 outside the exposure area 204 (eg, if the beam redirecting structure 502 is not there, individually controlled as shown on the left side). Possible elements 102 may be located within the path. Once located in the path of radiation, sensor 500 can detect radiation and measure the properties of the radiation. To facilitate sensing, the sensor 500 can move relative to the individually controllable element 102, and / or the individually controllable element 102 can be moved relative to the sensor 500.

As a further example, the individually controllable element 102 can be moved to a position such that radiation from the individually controllable element 102 impinges on the beam redirecting structure 502. The beam redirecting structure 502 directs the beam to the sensor 500 on the frame 160. To facilitate sensing, the sensor 500 can move relative to the individually controllable element 102 and / or the individually controllable element 102 can be moved relative to the sensor 500. In this example, the individually controllable element 102 is measured outside the exposure area 204.

In one embodiment, the sensor 500 may be fixed or mobile. When stationary, the individually controllable element 102 is preferably movable relative to the stationary sensor 500 to facilitate sensing. For example, array 200 may move (eg, rotate or translate) relative to sensor 500 (eg, sensor 500 on frame 160) to facilitate sensing by sensor 500. Can be If the sensor 500 is movable (eg, the sensor 500 on the substrate table 106), the individually controllable elements 102 may remain stationary for sensing, or for example sensing Can be moved to speed up.

Sensor 500 may be used to calibrate one or more individually controllable elements 102. For example, the position of the spot of the individually controllable element 102 can be detected by the sensor 500 prior to exposure, thereby calibrating the system. The exposure can then be adjusted based on this expected position of the spot (eg, the position of the substrate 114 is controlled, the position of the individually controllable element 102 is controlled, and individually Turning off or turning on the controllable element 102, etc.). Furthermore, calibration can subsequently be made. For example, the calibration can be done immediately after the exposure, before further exposure, for example using the sensor 500 on the trailing edge of the substrate table 106. Calibration may occur before each exposure and after a certain number of exposures. Furthermore, the position of the spot of the individually controllable element 102 can be detected “on-the-fly” using the sensor 500, so that the exposure is adjusted. The individually controllable element 102 may possibly be recalibrated based on “on-the-fly” sensing.

In one embodiment, one or more individually controllable elements 102 may be coded to detect which of the individually controllable elements 102 is at a particular location or in use. In one embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 may comprise a marker, and the sensor 510 may be used to detect markers, barcodes, and the like, which may be RFID. For example, each of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 may be moved adjacent to the sensor 510 to read the marker. Knowing which of the individually controllable elements 102 is adjacent to the sensor 510, which of the individually controllable elements 102 is adjacent to the sensor 500, in the exposure area 204, etc. It can be seen. In one embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 may be used to provide radiation having a different frequency, and sensors 500 and 510 may indicate which of the individually controllable elements 102 is a sensor ( 500, 510 may be used to detect proximity. For example, each of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 may be moved to be adjacent to the sensors 500, 510 that receive radiation from the individually controllable element 102, and then the sensor 500. , 510 may demultiplex the received radiation to determine which of the individually controllable elements 102 were adjacent to the sensors 500, 510 at a particular time. From this information, it can be seen which of the individually controllable elements 102 is adjacent to the sensor 500, in the exposure area 204, and the like.

In one embodiment, as discussed above, a position sensor may be provided to determine the position of one or more individually controllable elements 102 with up to 6 degrees of freedom. For example, sensor 510 may be used for position detection. In one embodiment, sensor 510 may include an interferometer. In one embodiment, the sensor 510 may include an encoder that may be used to detect one or more one-dimensional encoder gratings and / or one or more two-dimensional encoder gratings.

In one embodiment, sensor 520 may be provided to determine the characteristics of the radiation delivered to the substrate. In this embodiment, the sensor 520 captures radiation redirected by the substrate. For illustrative purposes, the redirected radiation captured by sensor 520 can be used to facilitate determining the location of the radiation spot from individually controllable element 102 (eg, individually In case of misalignment of the radiation spot from the controllable element 102. In particular, the sensor 520 may capture radiation redirected from the just exposed portion of the substrate, i.e., the latent image. Such a measurement of the intensity of the redirected radiation may provide an indication of whether the spot is properly aligned. For example, repeated measurements of this tail may provide a repetitive signal, and deviations from this signal may indicate misalignment of the spot (eg, out of phase signals may indicate misalignment). FIG. 16B shows a schematic location of the detection area of the sensor 520 relative to the exposed area 522 of the substrate 114. In the present embodiment, three detection regions are shown, and the results thereof can be compared and / or combined to help the recognition of misalignment. Only one detection area, for example the detection area on the left side, needs to be used. In one embodiment, the detector 262 of the individually controllable element 102 may be used in a similar manner as the sensor 520. For example, one or more individually controllable elements 102 outside the exposure area 204 of the array 200 on the right side can be used to detect radiation redirected from the latent image on the substrate.

17 shows one embodiment of a lithographic apparatus. In this embodiment, a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 direct radiation towards the rotatable polygon 600. The surface 604 of the polygon 600 where the radiation impinges redirects the radiation towards the lens array 170. Lens array 170 redirects radiation towards substrate 114. During exposure, polygon 600 rotates about axis 602 to cause individual beams from each of the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 to move across lens array 170 in the Y direction. Specifically, this beam will repeatedly scan across lens array 170 in the positive Y direction as each new face of polygon 600 collides with radiation. As described herein, the individually controllable elements 102 are modulated during exposure to provide the desired pattern. The polygon may have any number of suitable sides. Further, the individually controllable element 102 is modulated in timing with the rotatable polygon 600 such that each beam impinges upon the lenses of the lens array 170. In one embodiment, on the opposite side of the polygon, ie on the right side, an additional plurality of individually controllable elements 102 may be provided to impinge radiation on the surface 606 of the polygon 600.

In one embodiment, a vibrating optical element may be used in place of polygon 600. The vibrating optical element has any fixed angle with respect to the lens array 170 and translates back and forth in the Y direction so that the beam can be scanned back and forth in the Y direction across the lens array 170. In one embodiment, an optical element rotated back and forth around axis 602 may be used instead of polygon 600. By rotating the optical element back and forth in an arc, the beam is scanned back and forth in the Y direction across the lens array 170. In one embodiment, polygon 600, vibrating optical element, and / or rotating optical element has one or more mirror surfaces. In one embodiment, polygon 600, vibrating optical element, and / or rotating optical element comprises a prism. In one embodiment, an acoustic-optic modulator may be used instead of the polygon 600. The acousto-optic modulator may be used to scan the beam across the lens array 170. In one embodiment, lens array 170 is disposed between a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 and polygon 600, a vibrating optical element, a rotating optical element, and / or an aco-optic modulator in the radiation path. Can be.

Thus, in general, the width of an exposure area (eg, a substrate) may be covered with a radiation output less than the width of the radiation output divided by the width of the exposure area. In one embodiment, this may include moving the radiation beam source relative to the exposure area or moving the radiation beam relative to the exposure area.

18 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a lithographic apparatus 100 having individually controllable elements 102 movable in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the lithographic apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a substrate table 106 for holding a substrate and a positioning mechanism 116 for moving the substrate table 106 with no more than six degrees of freedom. Include.

The lithographic apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. In this embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a laser diode, such as a blue violet laser diode. Individually controllable elements 102 are arranged in an array 200 of individually controllable elements 102 extending along the Y direction. Although one array 200 is shown, the lithographic apparatus may comprise a plurality of arrays 200, for example as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the array 200 is a rotatable plate, and a plurality of spatially separated individually controllable elements 102 are arranged around such rotatable plate. In use, the plate rotates about its axis 206, for example in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5. Plates of array 200 rotate about axis 206 using motor 216. In addition, the plates of the array 200 can be moved in the Z direction by the motor 216 so that the individually controllable elements 102 can be displaced relative to the substrate table 106.

In this embodiment, array 200 may include one or more fins 230 to increase surface area for heat dissipation. Pin (s) 230 may be on the top surface of array 200, for example. Optionally, one or more additional pins 232 may be provided to cooperate with pin (s) 230 to facilitate heat dissipation. For example, the fin (s) 232 can absorb heat from the fin (s) 230 and can be a fluid (eg, liquid) conducting channel similar to that shown and described with respect to FIG. 7 (f). And an associated heat exchanger / pump.

In this embodiment, the lens 242 may be located in front of each individually controllable element 102 and moveable with the individually controllable element 102 (eg, about the axis A). Can be rotated). In FIG. 18, two lenses 242 are shown and attached to the array 200. In addition, the lens 242 may be displaceable with respect to the individually controllable element 102 (eg, in the Z direction).

In this embodiment, an opening structure 248 having an opening therein may be positioned above the lens 242, between the lens 242 and the corresponding individually controllable element 102. Opening structure 248 may limit the diffraction effects of lens 242, corresponding individually addressable element 102, and / or adjacent lens 242 / individually controllable element 102.

In this embodiment, the sensor 254 may be provided with an individually addressable element 102 (or a plurality of individually addressable elements 102 of the array 200). In this embodiment, sensor 254 is configured to detect focus. The focus detection beam 256 is redirected (eg, reflected) from the substrate surface and passed through the lens 242, for example by the semi-silvered mirror 258 toward the detector 262. In one embodiment, focus detection beam 256 may be radiation used for exposure purposes, which may be redirected from a substrate. In one embodiment, the focus detection beam 256 may be a dedicated beam guided to the substrate, which becomes the beam 256 when redirected by the substrate. An exemplary focus sensor has been described above with reference to FIG. 7 (o). Mirror 258 and detector 262 may be mounted to array 200.

In this embodiment, the control signal may be provided to the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) by wire or wireless communication. In addition, signals from the individually controllable element 102 and / or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) can be communicated to the controller. In FIG. 18, line (s) 404 may be provided along the axis of rotation 206. In one embodiment, the line (s) 404 may be an optical line. In such a case, the signal can be an optical signal, for example, in which different control signals can be transmitted at different wavelengths. In a manner similar to the control signal, power may be supplied to the individually controllable element 102 or one or more other devices (eg, sensors) by wired or wireless means. For example, in a wired embodiment, power may be supplied by one or more lines 404 regardless of whether it is the same as the line carrying the signal. In a wireless embodiment, power may be delivered by RF coupling as shown at 700.

In this embodiment, the lithographic apparatus may include a sensor 500 for measuring the characteristics of the radiation to be delivered or delivered towards the substrate by one or more individually controllable elements 102. Such a sensor may be a spot sensor or a transmission image sensor. Radiation intensity from individually controllable element 102, uniformity of radiation from individually controllable element 102, cross-sectional size or area of radiation spot from individually controllable element 102, and / or individual Such a sensor can be used to determine the location (on the XY plane) of the radiation spot from the controllable element 102. In this embodiment, the sensor 500 is on the frame 160 and may be adjacent to or accessible through the substrate table 106.

In one embodiment, rather than the individually controllable elements 102 being movable in the X-Y plane, the individually controllable elements 102 are substantially fixed to the X-Y plane during exposure of the substrate. This does not mean that the individually controllable elements 102 cannot move in the X-Y plane. For example, these elements may be movable in the X-Y plane to modify their position. A possible advantage of having a substantially controllable individually controllable element 102 is that power and / or data transfer can be made easier to the individually controllable element 102. An additional or alternatively possible advantage is that the ability to locally adjust the focus to compensate for height differences in the substrate, which is larger than the depth of focus of the system and higher than the pitch of the movable controllable element, is improved.

In the present embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 is substantially fixed, but there is at least one optical element that moves relative to the individually controllable element 102. Various configurations of the individually controllable element 102 that are substantially fixed to the X-Y plane and optical elements movable therewith are now described.

In the description that follows, the term “lens” generally refers to any one or various types of optical components, including refractive, reflective, magnetic, electromagnetic, and electrostatic optical components, as the context permits. It is to be understood that the combination encompasses any refractive, reflective, and / or diffractive optical element that provides the same functionality as the referenced lens. For example, the imaging lens may be implemented in the form of a conventional refractive lens with optical power, in the form of a Schwarzschild reflective system with optical power, and / or in the form of a zone plate with optical power. Can be. The imaging lens may further comprise non-imaging optics if the resulting effect is to produce a beam that converges on the substrate.

Also in the following description, reference is made to a plurality of individually controllable elements 102, such as a mirror of a mirror array modulator or a plurality of radiation sources. However, this description should be understood as more generally referring to a modulator configured to output a plurality of beams. For example, the modulator may be an acoustic-optic modulator for outputting a plurality of beams from the beam provided by the radiation source.

19 illustrates a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 (eg, laser diodes) and movable optical elements 242 about them, which are substantially fixed in the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A schematic plan view layout of some of the lithographic apparatus. In this embodiment, the plurality of individually controllable elements 102 are attached to the frame and substantially fixed in the XY plane, and the plurality of imaging lenses 242 are substantially relative to these individually controllable elements 102. In the XY plane (as indicated by the rotational representation of the wheel 801 in FIG. 19), the substrate moves in the direction 803. In one embodiment, imaging lens 242 moves relative to individually controllable element 102 by rotating about an axis. In one embodiment, imaging lens 242 is mounted on a rotatable structure about an axis (eg in the direction shown in FIG. 19) and circularly (eg partially shown in FIG. 19). As shown).

Each individually controllable element 102 provides a collimated beam to the movable imaging lens 242. In one embodiment, the individually controllable element 102 is associated with one or more collimating lenses to provide a collimated beam. In one embodiment, the collimating lens (s) are attached to a frame that is substantially fixed in the X-Y plane and to which the individually controllable element 102 is attached.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional width of the collimated beam is smaller than the cross-sectional width of the imaging lens 242. Thus, as soon as the collimated beam is completely within the optically transmissive portion of the imaging lens 242, the individually controllable element 102 (eg, a laser diode) can be switched on. Then, the individually controllable element 102 (eg, a laser diode) is switched off when the beam exits outside of the optically transmissive portion of the imaging lens 242. Thus, in one embodiment, the beams from the individually controllable elements 102 pass through a single imaging lens 242 at any time. The resulting traversal of the imaging lens 242 to the beam from the individually controllable element 102 generates a corresponding imaged line 800 on the substrate from each individually controllable element 102 that is turned on. do. In FIG. 19, three imaged lines 800 are shown for each of the three exemplary individually controllable elements 102 in FIG. 19, while the remaining individually controllable elements 102 are also substrates in FIG. 19. It will be apparent that the imaged line 800 corresponding to the image may be generated.

In the layout of FIG. 19, the imaging lens 242 pitch may be 1.5 mm, and the cross-sectional width (eg, diameter) of the beam from each individually controllable element 102 is slightly less than 0.5 mm. With this configuration, with each individually controllable element 102 it is possible to record a line about 1 mm in length. Therefore, in this configuration of 0.5 mm beam diameter and 1.5 mm imaging lens 242 diameter, the duty cycle can be as high as 67%. By properly positioning the individually controllable elements 102 relative to the imaging lens 242, full coverage over the width of the substrate is possible. Therefore, if only a standard 5.6 mm diameter laser diode is used, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, several concentric rings of the laser diode can be used to obtain full coverage over the substrate width. Therefore, in this embodiment, fewer individually controllable elements 102 than using only a fixed array of individually controllable elements 102 or perhaps using the mobile individually controllable elements 102 described herein. (Eg, a laser diode) may be possible.

In this embodiment, each imaging lens 242 must be identical because each individually controllable element 102 will be imaged by all movable imaging lenses 242. In this embodiment, a higher NA lens is required, but for example a NA lens larger than 0.3, larger than 0.18, or larger than 0.15 is required but not all imaging lenses 242 need to image the field. Using one such optical element, diffraction limited imaging is possible.

The focus of the beam on the substrate is fixed to the optical axis of the imaging lens 242 irrespective of where the collimated beam enters the lens (eg, a schematic three-dimensional view of some of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 19). 20, which shows a drawing). The disadvantage of this configuration is that the beam from the imaging lens 242 toward the substrate is not telecentric, and as a result there is a possibility that a focus error may occur and cause an overlay error.

In this embodiment, adjusting the focus by using elements that do not move in the X-Y plane (eg, in individually controllable elements 102) has the potential to cause vignetting. Thus, the desired adjustment of focus must occur in the movable imaging lens 242. Thus, this may require an actuator of higher frequency than the movable imaging lens 242.

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and a movable optical element substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, individually controllable Three different rotational positions of the imaging lens 242 set relative to the element 102 are shown. In this embodiment, the lithographic apparatus of FIGS. 19 and 20 is extended by having the imaging lens 242 include two lenses 802, 804 for receiving collimated beams from the individually controllable element 102. . As in FIG. 19, the imaging lens 242 moves relative to the individually controllable element 102 in the XY plane (eg, rotates about an axis when the imaging lens 242 is at least partially circularly arranged). ). In this embodiment, the beam from the individually controllable element 102 is collimated by the lens 806 before reaching the imaging lens 242, but in one embodiment such a lens need not be provided. Lens 806 is substantially fixed to the X-Y plane. The substrate moves in the X direction.

The two lenses 802, 804 are arranged in the optical path of the collimated beam from the individually controllable element 102 to the substrate such that the beam towards the substrate is telecentric. Between individually controllable element 102 and lens 804, lens 802 comprises two lenses 802A, 802B having substantially the same focal length. The collimated beam from the individually controllable element 102 is focused between the two lenses 802A, 802B such that the lens 802B collimates the beam towards the imaging lens 804. Imaging lens 804 images the beam onto the substrate.

In this embodiment, the lens 802 moves at a predetermined speed (eg, at a specific RPM (rpm)) in the X-Y plane relative to the individually controllable element 102. Thus, in this embodiment, the collimated beam exiting from lens 802 will have a speed in the X-Y plane twice that of the moving imaging lens 242 when moving at the same speed as lens 802. Thus, in this embodiment, the imaging lens 804 moves at a different speed than the lens 802 with respect to the individually controllable element 102. In particular, the imaging lens 804 will move in the XY plane at twice the speed of the lens 802 (eg, twice the RPM of the lens 802) so that the beam will be telecentrically focused on the substrate. . This alignment of the collimated beam exiting the lens 802 to the imaging lens 804 is schematically illustrated in three exemplary locations in FIG. 21. Furthermore, since the actual writing on the substrate will be performed at twice the speed as in the example of FIG. 19, the power of the individually controllable elements 102 should be doubled.

In this embodiment, adjusting the focus by using elements that do not move in the X-Y plane (eg, in the individually controllable elements 102) has the potential to cause loss of vitrification and vignetting. Thus, the desired adjustment of focus must occur in the movable imaging lens 242.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, not all imaging lenses 242 need to image the field. Using one such optical element, diffraction limited imaging is possible. A duty cycle of about 65% is possible. In one embodiment, lenses 806, 802A, 802B, and 804 may include two aspherical lenses and two spherical lenses.

In one embodiment, about 380 individually controllable elements 102 (e.g., standard laser diodes) may be used. In one embodiment, about 1,400 sets of imaging lenses 242 may be used. In embodiments using standard laser diodes, about 4,200 sets of imaging lenses 242 may be used, which may be arranged in six concentric rings on the wheel. In one embodiment, the rotatable wheel of the imaging lens can rotate at about 12,000 RPM.

FIG. 22 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and a movable optical element substantially fixed thereto in an XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, individually controllable Three different rotational positions of the imaging lens 242 set relative to the element 102 are shown. In this embodiment, a so-called 4f telecentric in / telecentric out imaging system for moving the imaging lens 242 is shown in FIG. 22 to avoid lenses moving at different speeds as described with respect to FIG. 21. It can be used as shown. The movable imaging lens 242 moves two imaging lenses 808, 810 moving at substantially the same speed in the XY plane (eg, rotating about an axis when the imaging lens 242 is at least partially circularly arranged). And receive telecentric beams, ie telecentric imaging beams, as inputs and outputs to the substrate. In this configuration of magnification 1, the image on the substrate moves at twice the speed of the movable imaging lens 242. The substrate moves in the X direction. In such a configuration, the optics will need to image the field with a relatively large NA, for example greater than 0.3, greater than 0.18, or greater than 0.15. This configuration may not be possible with two single element optics. Six or more elements with very accurate alignment tolerances may be required to obtain diffraction limited images. A duty cycle of about 65% is possible. In this embodiment, it is also relatively easy to focus locally using elements that do not move along or move with the movable imaging lens 242.

23 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, individually controllable 5 different rotational positions of the set of imaging lenses 242 relative to element 102. In this embodiment, in order to avoid lenses moving at different speeds as described in relation to FIG. 21 and to have optics that do not image the field as discussed in relation to FIG. 22, they are substantially fixed in the XY plane. The combination of lenses is combined with the movable imaging lens 242. Referring to FIG. 23, an individually controllable element 102 is provided that is substantially fixed to the X-Y plane. Substantially fixed to the XY plane to collimate the beam from the individually controllable element 102 and provide the collimated beam (eg, having a cross-sectional width (eg diameter) of 0.5 mm) to the lens 812 An optional collimating lens 806 is provided.

Lens 812 is also substantially fixed to the XY plane and focuses a collimated beam on field lens 814 (eg, having a cross-sectional width (eg, diameter) of 1.5 mm) of movable imaging lens 242. do. Lens 814 has a relatively large focal length (eg f = 20 mm).

The field lens 814 of the movable imaging lens 242 moves relative to the individually controllable element 102 (eg, rotates about an axis when the imaging lens 242 is at least partially circularly arranged). . Field lens 814 guides the beam towards imaging lens 818 of movable imaging lens 242. Like the field lens 814, the imaging lens 818 moves relative to the individually controllable element 102 (eg, rotates about an axis when the imaging lens 242 is at least partially circularly arranged). . In this embodiment, the field lens 814 moves at substantially the same speed as the imaging lens 818. The pair of field lens 814 and imaging lens 818 are aligned with respect to each other. The substrate moves in the X direction.

There is a lens 816 between field lens 814 and imaging lens 242. Lens 816 is substantially fixed to the X-Y plane and collimates the beam from field lens 814 to imaging lens 818. Lens 816 has a relatively large focal length (eg f = 20 mm).

In this embodiment, the optical axis of the field lens 814 will coincide with the optical axis of the corresponding imaging lens 816. The field lens 814 is designed such that the beam is folded so that the primary ray of the beam collimated by the lens 816 coincides with the optical axis of the imaging lens 818. In this way, the beam towards the substrate is telecentric.

Lenses 812 and 816 can be simple spherical lenses due to large f values. Field lens 814 should not affect image quality and may also be a spherical element. In this embodiment, the collimating lens 806 and the imaging lens 818 are lenses that do not need to image the field. Using such single element optics, diffraction limited imaging is possible. A duty cycle of about 65% is possible.

In one embodiment, when the movable imaging lens 242 is rotatable, an individually controllable element 102 and at least two concentric rings of the lens are provided to obtain full coverage over the width of the substrate. In one embodiment, the individually controllable elements 102 on this ring are arranged at a pitch of 1.5 mm. If a standard laser diode with a diameter of 5.6 mm is used, at least six concentric rings may be needed for full coverage. 24 and 25 show the configuration of concentric rings of individually controllable elements 102 according to this configuration. In one embodiment, this would be approximately 380 individually controllable elements 102 with corresponding lenses that are substantially fixed in the X-Y plane. The movable imaging lens 242 will have 700 × 6 rings = 4,200 sets of lenses 814, 818. With this configuration, it is possible to write a line with a length of about 1 mm into each individually controllable element 102. In one embodiment, about 1,400 sets of imaging lenses 242 may be used. In one embodiment, the lenses 812, 814, 816, and 818 can include four aspherical lenses.

In this embodiment, adjusting the focus by using elements that do not move in the XY plane (eg, in the individually controllable elements 102) is likely to result in loss of telecentric characteristics and cause vignetting. . Thus, the desired adjustment of focus must occur in the movable imaging lens 242. Therefore, this may require an actuator of higher frequency than the movable imaging lens 242.

FIG. 26 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the X-Y plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an optical derotator is used to couple the individually controllable element 102, which is substantially fixed to the X-Y plane, to the movable imaging lens 242.

In this embodiment, the individually controllable elements 102 are arranged in a ring, with an optional collimating lens. Two parabolic mirrors 820, 822 reduce the ring of collimated beams from the individually controllable element 102 to an allowable diameter for the derotator 824. In FIG. 26, a Pechan prism is used as the derotator 824. When the derotator rotates at a speed 1/2 of the speed of the imaging lens 242, each individually controllable element 102 appears to be substantially fixed relative to the individual imaging lens 242. Two additional parabolic mirrors 826, 828 expand the ring of derotated beam from the derotator 824 to an allowable diameter for the movable imaging lens 242. The substrate moves in the X direction.

In this embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 is paired with an imaging lens 242. Therefore, it may not be possible to mount the individually controllable elements 102 on a concentric ring, and thus the overall coverage across the width of the substrate may not be obtained. A duty cycle of about 33% is possible. In this embodiment, imaging lens 242 is a lens that does not need to image the field.

FIG. 27 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having individually controllable elements and optical elements movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the X-Y plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this configuration, the imaging lens 242 is configured to rotate about a direction extending in the X-Y plane (eg, a rotating drum rather than a rotating wheel as described with reference to FIGS. 19-26). Referring to FIG. 27, a movable imaging lens 242 is arranged on a drum configured to rotate about, for example, the Y direction. The movable imaging lens 242 receives radiation from the individually controllable element 102 extending in a straight line in the Y direction between the movable imaging lens 242 and the axis of rotation of the drum. In principle, the lines that can be recorded by such a drum's movable imaging lens 242 can be parallel to the scan direction 831 of the substrate. Thus, the di rotator 830 mounted at 45 ° is configured to rotate the line made by the movable imaging lens 242 of the drum by 90 ° so that the imaged line is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the substrate. The substrate moves in the X direction.

For all stripes on the substrate, a circularly arranged movable imaging lens 242 may be needed on the drum. If one such circle can write a 3 mm wide stripe on the substrate and the substrate width is 300 mm, 700 (opticals on the circumference of the drum) x 100 = 70,000 optical assemblies may be needed on the drum. It may be less if cylindrical optics are used on the drum. Furthermore, in such embodiments the imaging optics may need to image a particular field, which may complicate the optics more. A duty cycle of about 95% is possible. An advantage of this embodiment is that the imaged stripes can be substantially the same length, substantially parallel and straight. Using elements that do not move along with the movable imaging lens 242 or that do not move with the movable imaging lens 242 is also relatively easy to focus locally.

FIG. 28 is a schematic side view layout of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the XY plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, individually controllable 5 different rotational positions of the set of imaging lenses 242 relative to the elements.

Referring to FIG. 28, an individually controllable element 102 is provided that is substantially fixed to the X-Y plane. The movable imaging lens 242 includes a plurality of lens sets, each of which includes a field lens 814 and an imaging lens 818. The substrate moves in the X direction.

Field lens 814 (eg, spherical lens) of movable imaging lens 242 moves in direction 815 with respect to individually controllable element 102 (eg, imaging lens 242 is Rotation about an axis if at least partially arranged in a circle). Field lens 814 guides the beam towards imaging lens 818 (eg, aspherical lens, such as a double aspherical lens) of movable imaging lens 242. Like the field lens 814, the imaging lens 818 moves relative to the individually controllable element 102 (eg, rotates about an axis when the imaging lens 242 is at least partially circularly arranged). . In this embodiment, the field lens 814 moves at substantially the same speed as the imaging lens 18.

The focal plane of the field lens 814 coincides in position 815 with the inverse focal plane of the imaging lens 818, which provides a telecentric in / telecentric out system. In contrast to the configuration of FIG. 23, imaging lens 818 images a particular field. The focal length of the field lens 814 is such that the field size for the imaging lens 818 becomes a half angle of less than 2 to 3 degrees. Even in this case, it is still possible to obtain diffraction limited imaging with one single element optic (eg, double aspherical single element). The field lens 814 is configured to be mounted without a gap between each field lens 814. In this case the duty cycle of the individually controllable element 102 may be about 95%.

The focal length of the imaging lens 818 is such that for an NA of 0.2 on the substrate such lens does not become larger than the diameter of the field lens 814. The focal length of the imaging lens 818, which is the same as the diameter of the field lens 814, will provide the diameter of the imaging lens 818, which leaves enough space for mounting the imaging lens 818.

Because of the field angle, a line slightly larger than the pitch of the field lens 814 can be recorded. This also provides for overlap between the imaged lines of neighboring individually controllable elements 102 on the substrate, depending on the focal length of the imaging lens 818. Thus, the individually controllable element 102 can be mounted on one ring at the same pitch as the imaging lens 242.

FIG. 29 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a portion of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 28. In this figure, five individually controllable elements 102 are shown with five corresponding movable imaging lens sets 242. It will be apparent that additional individually controllable elements 102 and corresponding movable imaging lens sets 242 may be provided. The substrate moves in the X direction as indicated by arrow 819. In one embodiment, the field lens 814 is arranged without a gap therebetween. The pupil plane is located at 817.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid the relatively small double aspherical imaging lens 818, to reduce the amount of optics of the movable imaging lens 242, and to use a standard laser diode as the individually controllable element 102, There is a possibility of imaging multiple individually controllable elements 102 with a single lens set of imaging lenses 242. As long as the individually controllable element 102 is telecentrically imaged on the field lens 814 of each movable imaging lens 242, the corresponding imaging lens 818 is individually controllable element 102. The beam from will be telecentrically re-imaged onto the substrate. For example, if eight lines are recorded simultaneously, the field lens 814 diameter and the focal length of the imaging lens 818 can be increased by 8 times with the same yield, while the amount of the movable imaging lens 242 is 8 Can be reduced by a factor Furthermore, because some of the optics needed to image the individually controllable elements 102 on the field lens 814 may be common, the optics that are substantially fixed to the X-Y plane can be reduced. This configuration, in which eight lines are simultaneously recorded by a single set of movable imaging lenses 242, results in a rotation axis 821 of the imaging lens 242 and a radius 823 of the set of imaging lenses 242 from this rotation axis 821. Is schematically shown in FIG. 30. Starting from a pitch of 1.5 mm to 12 mm (when eight lines are simultaneously recorded by a single set of movable imaging lenses 242), it is sufficient to mount a standard laser diode as the individually controllable element 102. It will leave space. In one embodiment, 224 individually controllable elements 102 (eg, standard laser diodes) may be used. In one embodiment, a set of 120 imaging lenses 242 may be used. In one embodiment, a set of 28 substantially fixed optics may be used with 224 individually controllable elements 102.

In this embodiment, using elements that do not move along or move along with the movable imaging lens 242 are also relatively easy to focus locally. As long as the telecentric image of the individually controllable element 102 on the field lens 814 is moved along the optical axis and remains telecentric, only the focus of the image on the substrate will change and the image remains telecentric. Will remain. FIG. 31 shows a schematic configuration for controlling focus using a movable rooftop in the configurations of FIGS. 28 and 29. Two folding mirrors 832 with a rooftop (eg, prism or mirror set) 834 are located in the telecentric beam from the individually controllable element 102 before the field lens 814. By moving the rooftop 834 away from the folding mirror 832 in the direction 833 or towards the folding mirror 832, the image is shifted along the optical axis and thus also with respect to the substrate. Since the axial focus change is equal to the squared ratio of F / value, the magnification is large along the optical axis, so the 25 μm defocus on the substrate with the F / 2.5 beam is the field with an f / 37.5 beam of 5.625 mm (37.5 / 2.5) ² . Will provide focus shift at lens 814. In other words, rooftop 834 must move one half of it.

32 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having an individually controllable element and an optical element movable relative thereto, substantially fixed to the X-Y plane, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 32 shows a configuration similar to that of FIG. 23, but may be suitably modified to suit any of the embodiments of FIGS. 19-22 and / or 24-31.

Referring to FIG. 32, the lithographic apparatus 100 includes a substrate table 106 for holding a substrate and a positioning mechanism 116 for moving the substrate table 106 in six degrees of freedom or less.

The lithographic apparatus 100 further includes a plurality of individually controllable elements 102 arranged on the frame 160. In this embodiment, each individually controllable element 102 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a laser diode, such as a blue violet laser diode. Individually controllable elements 102 are arranged on frame 838 and extend along the Y direction. Although only one frame 838 is shown, the lithographic apparatus can have a plurality of frames 838, like the array 200, for example, as shown in FIG. Lens 812 and 816 are further arranged on frame 838. The frame 838, thus the individually controllable elements 102 and the lenses 812 and 816, are substantially fixed in the X-Y plane. The frame 838, the individually controllable elements 102 and the lenses 812 and 816 can be moved in the Z direction by the actuator 836.

In this embodiment, the frame 840 is provided to be rotatable. Field lens 814 and imaging lens 818 are arranged on frame 840, and the combination of field lens 814 and imaging lens 818 forms a movable imaging lens 242. In use, the plate rotates about its axis 206, for example with respect to the array 200, in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5. Frame 840 is rotated about axis 206 using motor 216. In addition, the frame 840 can be moved in the Z direction by the motor 216 so that the movable imaging lens 242 can be displaced relative to the substrate table 106.

In this embodiment, an opening structure 248 having an opening therein may be positioned above the lens 812, between the lens 812 and the corresponding individually controllable element 102. The opening structure 248 may limit the diffraction effects of the lens 812, the corresponding individually controllable element 102, and / or the adjacent lens 812 / individually controllable element 102.

In one embodiment, lithographic apparatus 100 includes one or more movable plates 890 (eg, rotatable plates, such as rotatable disks) that include optical elements, such as lenses. In the embodiment of FIG. 32, plate 890 with field lens 814 and plate 890 with imaging lens 818 are shown. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is free of any reflective optical elements that rotate during use. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is free of any reflective optical element that receives radiation from any individually controllable element 102 or all individually controllable elements 102 and rotates in use. In one embodiment, one or more (eg, all) plates 890 are substantially flat, such as having any optical elements (or portions of optical elements) protruding above or below one or more surfaces of the plates. Not. This is achieved, for example, by making the plate 890 thick enough (ie placing the optical element at least thicker than the height of the optical element or not protruding) or by providing a flat cover plate (not shown) over the plate 890. Can be. Allowing one or more surfaces of the plate to be substantially flat can help, for example, to reduce noise when the device is in use.

33 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a portion of a lithographic apparatus having individually controllable elements that are substantially fixed in the X-Y plane. The lithographic apparatus 900 includes a substrate table 902 for holding a substrate, and a positioning mechanism 904 for moving the substrate table 902 in six degrees of freedom or less. The substrate may be a resist coated substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a wafer. In one embodiment, the substrate is a polygonal (eg, rectangular) substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a glass plate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a plastic substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a foil. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is suitable for roll-to-roll manufacturing.

The lithographic apparatus 900 further includes a plurality of individually controllable self-emissive contrast devices 906 configured to emit a plurality of beams. In one embodiment, self-emissive contrast device 906 is a radiation emitting diode, eg, a light emitting diode (LED), an organic LED (OLED), a polymer LED (PLED), or a laser diode (eg, a solid state laser diode). to be. In one embodiment, each individually controllable element 906 is a blue violet laser diode (eg, Sanyo Model Number DL-3146-151). Such diodes can be supplied by companies such as Sanyo, Nichia, Osram, and Nitride. In one embodiment, the diode emits UV radiation, eg, having a wavelength of about 365 nm or about 405 nm. In one embodiment, the diode may provide an output power selected from the range of 0.5 to 100 mW. In one embodiment, the size of the laser diode (pure die size) is selected in the range of 100 to 800 micrometers. In one embodiment, the laser diode has an emission region selected in the range of 1-5 square micrometers. In one embodiment, the laser diode has a divergence angle selected in the range of 7 to 44 degrees. In one embodiment, the diode has a configuration (eg, emission area, divergence angle, output power, etc.) to provide an overall brightness of about 6.4 × 10 ⁸ W / (m 2 .sr) or more.

The individually controllable device 906 may be arranged on the frame 908 and extend along the Y and / or X direction. Although only one frame 908 is shown, the lithographic apparatus can have a plurality of frames 908. Lens 920 is further arranged on frame 908. The frame 908, and therefore the individually controllable self-emissive contrast device 906 and the lens 920, are substantially fixed in the X-Y plane. The frame 908, the individually controllable contrast device 906 and the lens 920 can be moved in the Z direction by the actuator 910. Alternatively, lens 920 may be moved in the Z direction by an actuator associated with the particular lens. Each lens 920 may be provided with its own actuator.

The self-emissive contrast device 906 can be configured to emit a beam and the projection systems 920, 924, and 930 can be configured to project the beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The self-emissive contrast device 906 and the projection system form an optical column. The lithographic apparatus 900 may include an actuator (eg, a motor 918) configured to move the optical column and portions thereof relative to the substrate. The frame 912 with the field lens 924 and the imaging lens 930 arranged thereon may be rotatable with an actuator. The combination of field lens 924 and imaging lens 930 form movable optics 914. In use, the frame 912 rotates about its axis 916, for example in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 34. The frame 912 is rotated about an axis 916 using an actuator, for example a motor 918. In addition, the frame 912 can be moved in the Z direction by the motor 910 so that the movable optics 914 can be displaced relative to the substrate table 902.

An opening structure 922 having an opening therein may be positioned above the lens 920, between the lens 920 and the self-emissive contrast device 906. The opening structure 922 is a diffraction effect of the lens 920, the corresponding individually controllable self-emissive contrast device 906, and / or the adjacent lens 920 / individually controllable self-emissive contrast device 906. Can be limited.

The apparatus shown can be used by rotating the frame 912 and simultaneously moving the substrate on the substrate table 902 under the optical column. The self-emissive contrast device 906 can emit a beam through the lenses 920, 924, and 930 when the lenses 920, 924, and 930 are substantially aligned with respect to each other. By moving the lenses 924 and 930, the image of the beam on the substrate is scanned over a portion of the substrate. By simultaneously moving the substrate on the substrate table 902 under the optical column, the portion of the substrate that is the subject of the image of the self-emissive contrast device 906 is also moved. In addition, by switching on and off the self-emissive contrast device 906 at high speed under the control of a controller that controls the rotation of the optical column or a dual portion and the speed of the substrate, the required pattern can be imaged in the resist layer on the substrate. .

FIG. 34 is a schematic plan view of the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 33 with a self-emissive contrast device 906. Like the lithographic apparatus 900 shown in FIG. 33, the lithographic apparatus 900 is a substrate table 902 for holding the substrate 928, and a position for moving the substrate table 902 with no more than 6 degrees of freedom. A setting mechanism 904. In one embodiment, the lithographic apparatus is arranged to determine the alignment between the individually addressable element 906 and the substrate 928 and to determine whether the substrate 928 is horizontal with respect to the projection of the self-emissive contrast device 906. / Level sensor 932 is further included. As shown, the substrate 928 has a rectangular shape, but additionally or alternatively, a round shaped substrate may also be processed.

Self-emissive contrast device 906 is arranged on frame 926. The self-emissive contrast device 906 is a radiation emitting diode, for example a laser diode, such as a blue violet laser diode. As shown in FIG. 34, the self-emissive contrast device 906 may be arranged in an array 934 extending in the X-Y plane.

This array 934 can be an elongated line. In one embodiment, this array 934 may be a one-dimensional array of one or more individually addressable contrast devices 906. In one embodiment, this array 934 may be a two dimensional array of one or more individually addressable contrast devices 906.

A rotatable frame 912 may be provided that can rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow. The rotatable frame may be provided with lenses 924 and 930 (see FIG. 33) to provide an image of each of the individually addressable contrast devices 906.

The apparatus may be provided with an actuator for rotating the optical column including the frame 912 and the lenses 924 and 930 relative to the substrate. Movement of the optical column or part thereof can cause turbulence around the lens. This shift can cause a change in density in the media surrounding the optical column. This change in density can cause an optical effect called Schlieren, which degrades the imaging of the beam on the substrate 928.

35 and 36 schematically illustrate the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 33, which is configured to reduce the optical effect of the density change of the medium around the moving portion of the optical column with respect to the beam. Compartment 936 may substantially surround rotatable frame 912, and the space within compartment 936 may be evacuated by pump 944 to reduce pressure. One or more openings may be provided to deliver reduced pressure over the entire compartment 936. By reducing this pressure it is possible to reduce the Schullen effect. The pressure in the compartment can be reduced to levels below 1 bar, below 100 mbar, below 20 mbar, or below 10 mbar.

Compartment 936 may be provided with a particular medium, such as helium, from gas reservoir 946 to reduce the Schullen effect. The advantage of using helium is that it has better cooling properties than conventional air. Movement of the optical column or part thereof may heat up part of the lithographic apparatus. Helium's improved cooling capacity can reduce this heating. Provision of helium may be combined with a reduction in pressure and / or space between compartment 936 and lenses 924, 930, or may be used as a separate solution. Certain pressures, such as reduced pressure and helium, can be combined with lower rotational speeds to further reduce the Sullen effect.

The beam 938 emitted by the self-emissive contrast device 906 passes through the window 940 in the compartment to the substrate 928 on the substrate table. Movement of the frame 912 can cause turbulence in the medium in which the frame 912 is moving. This turbulence can cause the window 940 to move. This movement of the window 940 can cause the beam to move as well, which will be detrimental to projecting the beam onto the target portion of the substrate.

Additionally or alternatively, movement of the window 940 can be caused by reducing the pressure in the compartment 936. The compartment may have limited stiffness, and by reducing the pressure, the top plate 956 and / or the bottom plate 954 may bend, thus moving the window 940, thereby moving the beam 938 as well. . The pressure in the compartment can be controlled to levels below 1 bar, below 100 mbar, below 30 mbar and / or below 10 mbar.

FIG. 36 schematically depicts the lithographic apparatus of FIG. 33, which is configured to reduce the optical effect of density variations of the medium around the moving portion of the optical column with respect to the beam. Compartment 936 may substantially surround rotatable frame 912, and the space within compartment 936 may be evacuated by pump 944 to reduce pressure. One or more openings 942 may be provided to deliver reduced pressure through the entire compartment 936. By reducing this pressure it is possible to reduce the Schullen effect. The pressure in the compartment can be reduced to levels below 1 bar, below 100 mbar, below 20 mbar, or below 10 mbar.

Compartment 936 may be provided with a particular medium, such as helium, from gas reservoir 946 to reduce the Schullen effect. The advantage of using helium is that it has better cooling properties than conventional air. Movement of the optical column or part thereof may heat up part of the lithographic apparatus. Helium's improved cooling capacity can reduce this heating. Provision of helium may be combined with a reduction in pressure and / or space between compartment 936 and lenses 924, 930, or may be used as a separate solution. Certain pressures, such as reduced pressure and helium, can be combined with lower rotational speeds to further reduce the Sullen effect. Movement of the window 940 can be caused by reducing the pressure in the compartment 936. The compartment may have limited stiffness, and by reducing the pressure, the top plate 956 and / or bottom plate 954 of the compartment may bend, thus moving the window 940, thereby moving the beam 938 as well. Done. The pressure in the compartment can be controlled to levels below 1 bar, below 100 mbar, below 30 mbar and / or below 10 mbar.

37 is a lithographic apparatus configured to reduce the optical effect of density variation of the medium around the moving portion of the optical column for the beam. The self-emissive contrast device 906 emits a radiation beam through the rotating lenses 924 and 930 and the fixed lens 920 which are connected to the rotating frame 912. Compartment 936 provides a substantially closed environment for rotating lenses 924 and 930. The closed environment may have a reduced pressure and / or helium may be provided as described above. Movement of the frame 912 can cause turbulence in the medium through which the frame 912 moves. This turbulence can cause the window 940 to move. This movement of the window 940 can cause the beam to move as well, which will be detrimental to projecting the beam onto the target portion of the substrate.

Movement of the window may be caused by reducing the pressure in compartment 936. Compartment 936 may have limited stiffness, and by reducing pressure, top plate 956 and / or bottom plate 954 of compartment 936 may bend, thus moving windows in the top and / or bottom plate. This causes the beam to move as well. The pressure in the compartment can be controlled to levels below 1 bar, below 100 mbar, below 30 mbar and / or below 10 mbar.

38A-38C schematically depict a lithographic apparatus. 38A discloses a rotatable frame 912 (partially shown) with a rotating part 950, which partly closes the space between the lenses 924, 930, and the beam It is partially open for passage. As such, the rotatable frame will be more similar to the rotatable drum in this embodiment. Turbulence between the lenses 924 and 930 can be minimized in this way. The lithographic apparatus is also provided with a stationary covering 952, which partially encloses the space between the lenses 920, 924, leaving a space open for the beam to pass through. A window 940 is provided below the stationary covering 952 to prevent gas from entering the open space inside the stationary covering 952. Under the lens 930, a plate 948 with a window 940 is provided to reduce or minimize turbulence. The window 940 may also protect the lens 930 from debris from the substrate.

38B discloses an embodiment in which a plate 948 is provided near the movable lenses 924 and 930. The plate 948 may be provided with a transparent portion, that is, a window 940. Plate 948 can reduce turbulence around the movable lens and reduce the Schullen effect.

38C discloses an embodiment in which a fixed covering 952 is provided around the beam. The fixed covering 952 is provided with a transparent window 940 near the open space in the covering 952 through which the beam passes. This reduces the sensitivity of the beam to turbulence caused by the movement of the lenses 924 and 930. Movement of the lenses 924 and 930 can cause turbulence in the medium through which the frame 912 moves. This turbulence can cause the window 940 to move. This movement of the window 940 can cause the beam to move as well, which will be detrimental to projecting the beam onto the target portion of the substrate.

39 schematically shows some of the lithographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention from the side and from the top. Compartment 936 (only partially shown) is provided with a bottom plate 954 with a window 940. The window 940 has high rigidity and is mechanically mounted to the device. The bottom plate 954 and the window 940 can be flexibly connected with relatively low rigidity such that movement of the bottom plate does not cause movement of the window 940. For example, window 940 may be connected to bottom plate 954 with glue, membrane, flexible adhesive, or rubber. Window 940 may be provided with a rubber O-ring to mount it to bottom plate 954. In this way, the lower plate 954 can move inward without applying force to the window 940. The window 940 may be rigidly mounted to the compartment 936 or base frame of the device. Because the window 940 is smaller than the entire bottom plate 954, the force on the window 940 is much smaller. Therefore, it becomes easier to mount the window 940 to remain optically flat and / or in the correct position without movement.

A leaky seal 958 may be provided between the window 940 and the bottom plate. The leak seal is a very small opening, for example less than 200 micrometers, less than 50 micrometers or less than 10 micrometers, which mechanically isolates the window from the bottom plate 954. This small opening restricts the inflow of gas through the leak seal 958 to the interior of the compartment.

The examples are also presented below with the following numbered items:

1. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a required pattern; And

A projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate, the projection system including a lens array receiving a plurality of beams

Wherein the projection system is configured to move the lens array relative to the modulator during exposure of the exposure area.

2. In the first embodiment,

Each lens comprises at least two lenses arranged along a beam path of at least one of the plurality of beams from the modulator to the substrate.

3. In the second embodiment,

A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first of the at least two lenses comprises a field lens and the second of the at least two lenses comprises an imaging lens.

4. In the third embodiment,

A lithographic apparatus according to the focal plane of the field lens coincides with the inverse focal plane of the imaging lens.

5. In the third or fourth embodiment,

The imaging lens comprises a double aspheric lens.

6. The method according to any one of embodiments 3 to 5, wherein

A focal length of a field lens is a length such that the field size for the imaging lens is half angle smaller than 2 to 3 degrees.

7. The method according to any one of embodiments 3 to 6, wherein

A focal length of an imaging lens is such that the length of the imaging lens does not become larger than the diameter of the field lens when NA is 0.2 in the substrate.

8. In the seventh embodiment,

A lithographic apparatus, wherein the focal length of the imaging lens is the same as the diameter of the field lens.

9. The method according to any one of embodiments 3-8, wherein

A lithographic apparatus in which a plurality of beams are imaged with a single combination of a field lens and an imaging lens.

10. The method according to any one of embodiments 3 to 9, wherein

And a focus control device arranged along a beam path of at least one of the plurality of beams from the modulator to the field lens.

11. In the tenth embodiment,

The focus control device comprises a folding mirror and a movable rooftop.

12. In the third embodiment,

And a lens in the path for collimating the beam from the first lens to the second lens.

13. In the twelfth embodiment,

The lens on the path for collimating the beam is substantially fixed relative to the modulator.

14. In the third, twelfth, or thirteenth embodiment,

And a lens for focusing at least one of the plurality of beams toward the first lens in a path between the modulator and the first lens.

15. In the fourteenth embodiment,

The lens on the path for focusing the beam is substantially fixed relative to the modulator.

16. The method according to any one of the third embodiment or the twelfth to fifteenth embodiments,

The optical axis of the field lens coincides with the optical axis of the imaging lens.

17. The second embodiment,

A first lithographic apparatus of at least two lenses comprises at least two sub-lenses, wherein at least one of the plurality of beams is focused in the middle of the two sub-lenses.

18. The seventeenth embodiment,

The lithographic apparatus each of the at least two sub-lenses has substantially the same focal length.

19. The embodiment of any one of the second, seventeenth or eighteenth embodiments,

The first lens is configured to output a collimated beam toward a second one of the at least two lenses.

20. The embodiment of any one of the second or seventeenth to nineteenth embodiments,

A lithographic apparatus, configured to move a first of the at least two lenses at a different speed than the second of the at least two lenses.

21. The embodiment 20,

The speed of the second lens is twice the speed of the first lens.

22. The first embodiment,

Each lens comprising a 4f telecentric in / telecentric out imaging system.

23. The embodiment of 22, wherein

The 4f telecentric in / telecentric out imaging system comprises at least six lenses.

24. The first embodiment

A lithographic apparatus further comprising a derotator between the modulator and the lens array.

25. The embodiment 24, wherein

The derotator comprises a Pechan prism.

26. The twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth embodiment,

The derotator is configured to move at half the speed of the lens array.

27. The method according to any one of embodiments 24 to 26, wherein

Further comprising a parabolic curved mirror for reducing the size of the beam between the modulator and the de-rotator.

28. The method according to any one of embodiments 24 to 27, wherein

And a parabolic mirror for increasing the size of the beam between the derotator and the lens array.

29. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein

The lens array is rotated with respect to the modulator.

30. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein

The modulator comprises a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation.

31. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein

The modulator comprises a micromirror array.

32. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein

The modulator comprises a radiation source and an acoustic-optic modulator.

33. A device manufacturing method,

Providing a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern; And

Projecting the plurality of beams onto the substrate using a lens array that receives the plurality of beams; And

Moving the lens array with respect to the beam during projection

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

34. The embodiment 33, wherein

Each lens comprising at least two lenses arranged along a beam path of at least one of the plurality of beams from a source of the at least one beam to the substrate.

35. The embodiment of embodiment 34, wherein

The first lens of the at least two lenses comprises a field lens and the second one of the at least two lenses comprises an imaging lens.

36. The embodiment 35, wherein

The focal plane of the field lens coincides with the inverse focal plane of the imaging lens.

37. The embodiment 35 or 36, wherein

The imaging lens comprises a double aspherical lens.

38. The method of any one of embodiments 35-37, wherein

The focal length of the field lens is the length such that the field size for the imaging lens is half angle less than 2-3 degrees.

39. The method of any one of embodiments 35-38, wherein

The focal length of the imaging lens is the length such that when the NA is 0.2 on the substrate, the imaging lens is not larger than the diameter of the field lens.

40. The method of embodiment 39, wherein

The focal length of the imaging lens is the same as the diameter of the field lens.

41. The method according to any one of embodiments 35-40, wherein

And the plurality of beams are imaged with a single combination of field lens and imaging lens.

42. The method of any one of embodiments 35-41, wherein

Using a focus control device between a source lens and a source of at least one of the plurality of beams.

43. The method of embodiment 42, wherein

The focus control device comprises a folding mirror and a movable rooftop.

44. The process of embodiment 35 wherein,

Collimating at least one beam between the first lens and the second lens using the lens.

45. The method of embodiment 44,

The lens for collimating the at least one beam is substantially fixed with respect to the at least one beam.

46. The method according to any one of embodiments 35, 44 or 45,

Focusing at least one of the plurality of beams toward the first lens using the lens in a path between the source of the at least one beam and the first lens.

47. The embodiment 46, wherein

The lens for focusing at least one beam is substantially fixed relative to the at least one beam.

48. The embodiment of any one of embodiments 35 or 44-47, wherein

The optical axis of the field lens coincides with the optical axis of the corresponding imaging lens.

49. The embodiment of embodiment 34, wherein

The first lens of the at least two lenses comprises at least two sub-lenses, and at least one of the plurality of beams is focused in the middle of the two sub-lenses.

50. The method of embodiment 49, wherein

Wherein each of the at least two sub-lenses has substantially the same focal length.

51. The embodiment of any one of embodiments 34, 49, or 50, wherein

The first lens is configured to output a collimated beam toward a second of the at least two lenses.

52. The method as in any one of the thirty-fourth or forty-ninth to fifty-first embodiments,

Moving the first of the at least two lenses at a different speed than the second of the at least two lenses.

53. The method of embodiment 52,

The speed of the second lens is twice the speed of the first lens.

54. The embodiment of embodiment 33, wherein

Each lens comprising a 4f telecentric in / telecentric out imaging system.

55. The embodiment of embodiment 54, wherein

The 4f telecentric in / telecentric out imaging system comprises at least six lenses.

56. The embodiment of embodiment 33, wherein

Derotating the beam between the source of the beam and the lens array using a derotator.

57. The embodiment of embodiment 56, wherein

The derotator comprises a Pechan prism.

58. The 56th or 57th embodiment

Moving the derotator at half the speed of the lens array.

59. The method of any one of embodiments 56-58, wherein

Using a parabolic mirror to further reduce the size of the beam between the source of the beam and the derotator.

60. The method of any one of embodiments 56-59, wherein

Using a parabolic mirror to increase the size of the beam between the source of the beam and the derotator.

61. The method of any one of embodiments 33-60, wherein

Rotating the lens array relative to the beam.

62. The method according to any one of embodiments 33-61,

Wherein each of the plurality of individually controllable radiation sources emits each of a plurality of beams.

63. The method of any one of embodiments 33-61, wherein

And the micromirror array emits a plurality of beams.

64. The method of any one of embodiments 33-61, wherein

Wherein the radiation source and the acousto-optic modulator produce a plurality of beams.

65. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation, the modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern; And

A projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate, the projection system including a lens array for receiving a plurality of beams

/ RTI >

And the projection system is configured to move the lens array with respect to the individually controllable radiation source during exposure of the exposure area.

66. A device manufacturing method,

Providing a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern using a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources;

Projecting the plurality of beams onto the substrate using a lens array that receives the plurality of beams; And

Moving the lens array with respect to the individually controllable radiation source during projection

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

67. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a required pattern; And

A projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate, the projection system including a plurality of lens arrays for receiving the plurality of beams

/ RTI >

Each lens array is arranged separately along the beam path of the plurality of beams.

68. The method of embodiment 67, wherein

The projection system is configured to move the lens array relative to the modulator during exposure of the exposure area.

69. The sixty seventh or sixty eighth embodiment

The lithographic apparatus of each array, wherein the lenses are arranged in a single body.

70. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation and configured to expose the exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated in accordance with the required pattern, and not all radiation sources but fewer radiation sources A modulator configured to move the plurality of radiation sources with respect to the exposure area during exposure of the exposure area so that the exposure area can be exposed at any time; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

71. A lithographic apparatus,

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated in accordance with a desired pattern, wherein at least one of the plurality of radiation sources is movable between a location emitting radiation and a location not emitting radiation, A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources;

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

72. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation, and configured to expose the exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern, the at least one radiation source from at least one of the plurality of radiation sources A modulator configured to move at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area during exposure of the exposure area such that the radiation is adjacent to or overlaps with radiation from at least another one of the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

73. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated in accordance with a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, wherein at least one of the plurality of radiation sources is capable of emitting radiation in the exposure area. A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources movable between the position and the position at which radiation cannot be emitted to the exposure area; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

74. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources, configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposed area of the substrate, and configured to move the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposed area during exposure of the exposed area. A modulator, the modulator having a plurality of beam outputs to an exposure area, the beam output having an area smaller than an output area of the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

75. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of arrays of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to each exposure area of the substrate, and to move each array with respect to each exposure area, or to each exposure area A modulator configured to move a plurality of beams from each array with respect to each other, or to move both the array and the plurality of beams with respect to each exposure area, wherein each exposure area of the array of the plurality of arrays is in use during the plurality of arrays. A modulator adjacent or overlapping each exposure area of the other array; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

76. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources, configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, or to the exposure area A modulator configured to move a plurality of beams or to move both each of a plurality of radiation sources and a plurality of beams with respect to an exposure area, wherein during use each radiation source operates at an inclined portion of each power / forward current curve. A modulator; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

77. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources, configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, or to the exposure area A modulator configured to move the plurality of beams or to move both the plurality of respective radiation sources and the plurality of beams relative to the exposure area, each individually controllable radiation source comprising a blue violet laser diode; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

78. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source is arranged in at least two concentric circular arrays; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

79. The embodiment of embodiment 78, wherein

At least one circular array of the circular arrays is arranged in a staggered manner with the circular array of at least another one of the circular arrays.

80. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, Wherein the radiation source is arranged around a center of the structure and the structure has an opening extending through the structure inside the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

81. The process of embodiment 80,

And a support for holding the substrate structure at or outside the radiation source.

82. The embodiment of 81,

And the support comprises a bearing to allow movement of the structure.

83. The embodiment 81 or embodiment 82

And the support comprises a motor for moving the structure.

84. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator configured to include a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a required pattern to an exposure region of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure region, Wherein the radiation source of the radiation source is arranged around a center of the structure;

A support for holding a structure at or outside a radiation source, comprising: a support configured to rotate the structure or to allow rotation of the structure; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

85. The embodiment of 84, wherein

And the support comprises a bearing to allow rotation of the structure.

86. The embodiment 84 or 85, wherein

And the support comprises a motor for rotating the structure.

87. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source is arranged on the movable structure, the movable structure being arranged on the movable plate; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

88. The method of embodiment 87, wherein

And the movable structure is rotatable.

89. The method of embodiment 87 or embodiment 88, wherein

And the movable plate is rotatable.

90. For the embodiment 89,

And a center of rotation of the movable plate is inconsistent with a center of rotation of the movable structure.

91. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source of the modulator is arranged in or on the movable structure;

A fluid channel arranged in the movable structure to provide a temperature control fluid to at least adjacent the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

92. The method of embodiment 91, wherein

A lithographic apparatus, further comprising a sensor located in or on the movable structure.

93. The method of embodiment 91 or 92.

And a sensor disposed at a position adjacent to at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources, but not disposed in or on the movable structure.

94. The embodiment 92 or 93,

The sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

95. The method of any one of embodiments 92-94 wherein

The sensor comprises a sensor configured to measure the rate of expansion and / or shrinkage of the structure.

96. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source of the modulator is arranged in or on the movable structure;

Fins arranged in or on the movable structure to provide temperature control of the structure; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

97. The embodiment of 96, wherein

And a securing pin cooperating with said pin in or on the movable structure.

98. The method of embodiment 97, wherein

And at least two pins in or on the movable structure, wherein the securing pins are in the movable structure or in the movable structure and at least one of the at least two pins in the movable structure or on the movable structure. A lithographic apparatus, disposed between at least another one of the at least two fins on the top.

99. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source of the modulator is arranged in or on the movable structure;

A fluid supply device configured to supply fluid to an outer side of the structure to control the temperature of the structure; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

100. The method of embodiment 99, wherein

The fluid supply device is configured to supply a gas.

101. The embodiment of embodiment 99, wherein

The fluid supply device is configured to supply a liquid.

102. The embodiment of embodiment 101, wherein

And a fluid confinement structure configured to maintain liquid in contact with the structure.

103. The method of embodiment 102, wherein

And the fluid confinement structure is configured to maintain a seal between the structure and the fluid confinement structure.

104. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area; And

Structurally separated lens attached to or adjacent to each radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources and movable with each radiation source

Lithographic apparatus comprising a.

105. The embodiment of 104, wherein

And an actuator configured to displace the lens with respect to each radiation source.

106. The method of embodiment 104 or 105,

And an actuator configured to displace the lens and each radiation source relative to the lens and the structure supporting the respective radiation source.

107. The embodiment of embodiment 105 or 106, wherein

The actuator is configured to move the lens in 3 degrees of freedom or less.

108. The method of any one of embodiments 104-107, wherein

And an opening structure downstream from at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources.

109. The method of any one of embodiments 104-107, wherein

The lens is a lithographic apparatus supporting the lens and each radiation source and attached to a high thermal conductivity structure.

110. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area;

A spatial coherence collapse device configured to scramble radiation from at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

111. The embodiment of embodiment 110, wherein

And said spatial coherence collapse device comprises a stationary plate and said at least one radiation source is movable relative to the plate.

112. The method of embodiment 110,

The spatial coherence disruption device comprises: at least one of a phase modulator, a rotating plate or a vibrating plate.

113. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area;

A sensor configured to measure a focus associated with at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources, at least some of the sensor being in or on the at least one radiation source; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

114. The embodiment of embodiment 113, wherein

The sensor is configured to individually measure the focus associated with each radiation source.

115. The embodiment 113 or 114,

Wherein the sensor is a knife edge focus detector.

116. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area;

A transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit signals and / or power to the plurality of radiation sources to control the plurality of radiation sources, respectively, and / or to power the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

117. The method of embodiment 116,

Wherein the signal comprises a plurality of signals and the lithographic apparatus further comprises a demultiplexer for transmitting each of the plurality of signals towards each radiation source.

118. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source of the modulator is arranged in or on the movable structure;

A single line configured to connect a controller to the movable structure, to respectively control the plurality of radiation sources, and / or to transmit the plurality of signals and / or power to the plurality of radiation sources for powering the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

119. The method of embodiment 118, wherein

The signal comprises a plurality of signals, the lithographic apparatus further comprising a demultiplexer for transmitting each of the plurality of signals towards each radiation source.

120. The method of embodiment 118 or 119, wherein

Wherein said line comprises an optical line.

121. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area;

A sensor for measuring a characteristic of radiation to be delivered or delivered towards the substrate by at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

122. The method of embodiment 121, wherein

At least some of the sensors are located in or on the substrate holder.

123. The method of embodiment 122,

At least some of the sensors are located in or on the substrate holder at a location outside of the area where the substrate is supported on the substrate holder.

124. The method as in any one of embodiments 121-123, wherein

At least some of the sensors are located at the substrate side extending in the scanning direction of the substrate substantially in use.

125. The method of any one of embodiments 121-124, wherein

At least some of the sensors are mounted to or on a frame for supporting the movable structure.

126. The method according to any one of embodiments 121-125, wherein

And the sensor is configured to measure radiation from at least one radiation source outside the exposure area.

127. The method according to any one of embodiments 121-126, wherein

At least some of said sensors are movable.

128. The method according to any one of embodiments 121-127, wherein

And a controller configured to calibrate at least one radiation source based on the sensor result.

129. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of a substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, The radiation source of the modulator is arranged in or on the movable structure;

A sensor for measuring the position of the movable structure; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

130. The method of embodiment 129,

At least some of the sensors are mounted to or on a frame that supports the movable structure.

131. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area, each The plurality of radiation sources of the modulator having or providing an identification;

A sensor configured to detect the identifier; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

132. The embodiment of 131, wherein

At least some of the sensors are mounted to or on a frame that supports a plurality of radiation sources.

133. The embodiment 131 or 132 embodiment

And the identifier comprises a frequency of radiation from each radiation source.

134. The method according to any one of embodiments 131 to 133,

The identifier comprises: at least one selected from a barcode, a radio frequency identifier, or a mark.

135. A lithographic apparatus,

A substrate holder configured to hold a substrate;

A modulator comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern to an exposure area of the substrate, the modulator configured to move each of the plurality of radiation sources relative to the exposure area;

A sensor configured to detect radiation from at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources, redirected by the substrate; And

Projection system configured to project a modulated beam onto a substrate

/ RTI >

136. The embodiment of 135, wherein

And the sensor is configured to determine a location of a radiation spot from at least one radiation source incident on the substrate from the redirected radiation.

137. The method of any one of embodiments 70-136 wherein

The modulator is configured to rotate the at least one radiation source about an axis substantially parallel to the propagation direction of the plurality of beams.

138. The method as in any one of embodiments 70-137, wherein

The modulator is configured to translate the at least one radiation source in a direction transverse to the propagation direction of the plurality of beams.

139. The method of any one of embodiments 70-138 wherein

The modulator comprises a beam deflector configured to move the plurality of beams.

140. The method of embodiment 139, wherein

And the beam deflector is selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, or acoustic-optic modulators.

141. The embodiment of 139, wherein

The beam deflector comprises a polygon.

142. The method of embodiment 139, wherein

The beam deflector is configured to vibrate.

143. The method of embodiment 139, wherein

The beam deflector is configured to rotate.

144. The method of any one of embodiments 70-143, wherein

The substrate holder is configured to move the substrate in a direction in which a plurality of beams are provided.

145. The embodiment of 144, wherein

Lithographic apparatus, wherein the movement of the substrate is rotation.

146. The method of any one of embodiments 70-145, wherein

And a plurality of radiation sources are movable together.

147. The method of any one of embodiments 70-146, wherein

And a plurality of radiation sources are arranged in a circle.

148. The method of any one of embodiments 70-147 wherein

The plurality of radiation sources are arranged spaced apart from each other on the plate.

149. The method of any one of embodiments 70-148 wherein

The projection system comprises a lens array.

150. The method of any one of embodiments 70-149, wherein

A lithographic apparatus in which the projection system consists essentially of an array of lenses.

151. The embodiment 149 or the embodiment of 150,

The lens of the lens array has a high numerical aperture and the lithographic apparatus causes the substrate to be out of focus of the radiation associated with the lens in order to effectively lower the numerical aperture of the lens.

152. The system as in any one of embodiments 70-151, wherein

Each radiation source comprises a laser diode.

153. The embodiment of 152, wherein

Each laser diode is configured to emit radiation having a wavelength of about 405 nm.

154. The system as in any one of embodiments 70-153, wherein

And a temperature controller configured to maintain the plurality of radiation sources at a substantially constant temperature during exposure.

155. The method of embodiment 154,

The temperature controller is configured to heat the plurality of radiation sources to a substantially constant temperature or near a substantially constant temperature prior to exposure.

156. The method of any one of embodiments 70-155, wherein

And at least three separate arrays arranged along a direction, each array comprising a plurality of radiation sources.

157. The method of any one of embodiments 70-156 wherein

The plurality of radiation sources comprise at least about 1,200 radiation sources.

158. The method of any one of embodiments 70-157, wherein

And an alignment sensor for determining an alignment between the substrate and the radiation source of at least one of the plurality of radiation sources.

159. The method according to any one of embodiments 70-138,

And a level sensor for determining a position of the substrate with respect to a focal point of at least one of the plurality of beams.

160. The method of embodiment 158 or 159, wherein

And a controller configured to change the pattern based on the alignment sensor result and / or the level sensor result.

161. The method of any one of embodiments 70-160, wherein

And a controller configured to change the pattern based on a temperature measurement of at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources or a measurement associated with the at least one radiation source.

162. The method as in any one of embodiments 70-161, wherein

And a sensor for measuring a characteristic of radiation to be delivered or delivered towards the substrate by at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources.

163. A lithographic apparatus,

A plurality of individually controllable radiation sources configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern;

A lens array including a plurality of small lenses; And

Substrate holder configured to hold a substrate

Including,

In use, there is no optical device other than a lens array between the plurality of radiation sources and the substrate.

164. A programmable patterning device,

A substrate having an array of radiation emitting diodes spaced apart in at least one direction; And

Lens array on the downstream side of the radiation emitting diode

And a programmable patterning device.

165. The method of embodiment 164, wherein

The lens array comprises a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses, the plurality of microlenses corresponding to the plurality of radiation emitting diodes, arranged to focus the radiation selectively delivered by each of the radiation emitting diodes into an array of microspots. Programmable patterning device.

166. The method of embodiment 164 or 165, wherein

And the radiation emitting diodes are spaced apart in at least two orthogonal directions.

167. The method according to any one of embodiments 164 to 166, wherein

The radiation emitting diode is embedded in a low thermal conductivity material.

168. A device manufacturing method,

Using a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern towards an exposed area of the substrate;

Moving at least one of the plurality of radiation sources while providing the plurality of beams such that only a few radiation sources, not all of the plurality of radiation sources, can expose the exposure area at any time; And

Projecting a plurality of beams onto a substrate

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

169. A device manufacturing method,

Providing a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern using a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources;

Moving at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources between a location that emits radiation and a location that does not emit radiation; And

Projecting a plurality of beams onto a substrate

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

170. A device manufacturing method,

Providing a modulated beam according to a desired pattern using a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources and projecting the modulated beam to a substrate from the plurality of individually controllable radiation sources using only a lens array; Device manufacturing method.

171. A device manufacturing method,

Providing a plurality of modulated electromagnetic radiation beams using a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources;

At least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources with respect to the exposure area during exposure of the exposure area such that radiation from at least one radiation source of the plurality of radiation sources is simultaneously adjacent or overlapping radiation from at least one other radiation source. Moving; And

Projecting a plurality of beams onto a substrate

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

172. The method of any of embodiments 168-171, wherein

Wherein the moving comprises rotating at least one radiation source about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of propagation of the plurality of beams.

173. The method of any of embodiments 168-172, wherein

Wherein the moving comprises translating the at least one radiation source in a direction transverse to the propagation direction of the plurality of beams.

174. The method of any of embodiments 168-73, wherein

Moving the plurality of beams by using a beam deflector.

175. The method of embodiment 174, wherein

And the beam deflector is selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, or acoustic-optic modulators.

176. The embodiment of 174, wherein

And the beam deflector comprises a polygon.

177. The embodiment of 174, wherein

And the beam deflector is configured to vibrate.

178. The method of embodiment 174, wherein

And the beam deflector is configured to rotate.

179. The method of any one of embodiments 168-178, wherein

Moving the substrate in a direction in which the plurality of beams is provided.

180. The method of embodiment 179,

The movement of the substrate is rotation.

181. The method as in any one of embodiments 168-180, wherein

Moving the plurality of radiation sources together.

182. The method as in any one of embodiments 168-181, wherein

And the plurality of radiation sources are arranged in a circle.

183. The method as in any one of embodiments 168-182, wherein

And the plurality of radiation sources are arranged spaced apart from each other on a plate.

184. The method of any of embodiments 168-183, wherein

Projecting includes forming an image of each beam onto the substrate using a lens array.

185. The method of any of the embodiments 168-184, wherein

Projecting comprises forming an image of each beam onto the substrate using substantially only a lens array.

186. The method of embodiment 168 or 185, wherein

Each radiation source comprises a laser diode.

187. The embodiment of 186, wherein

Each laser diode is configured to emit radiation having a wavelength of about 405 nm.

188. A flat panel display manufactured according to the method of any one of embodiments 168-187.

189. An integrated circuit device manufactured according to the method of any one of embodiments 168-187.

190. A radiation system,

A plurality of movable radiation arrays, each radiation array comprising a plurality of individually controllable radiation sources configured to provide a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern; And

A motor configured to move each radiation array

Including, radiation system.

191. The body of embodiment 190, wherein

The motor is configured to rotate each radiation array about an axis substantially parallel to the propagation direction of the plurality of beams.

192. The method of embodiment 190 or 191, wherein

Wherein the motor is configured to translate each radiation array in a direction transverse to the direction of propagation of the plurality of beams.

193. The method as in any one of embodiments 190-192, wherein

And a beam deflector configured to move the plurality of beams.

194. The method of embodiment 193,

And the beam deflector is selected from the group consisting of mirrors, prisms, or acoustic-optic modulators.

195. The method of embodiment 193, wherein

And the beam deflector comprises a polygon.

196. The method of embodiment 193, wherein

And the beam deflector is configured to vibrate.

197. The method of embodiment 193, wherein

And the beam deflector is configured to rotate.

198. The method as in any one of embodiments 190-197, wherein

And the plurality of radiation sources of each radiation array are movable together.

199. The method as in any one of embodiments 190-198, wherein

And the plurality of radiation sources of each radiation array are arranged in a circle.

200. The method of any one of embodiments 190-199, wherein

And a plurality of radiation sources of each radiation array are arranged spaced apart from each other on a plate.

201. The method as in any one of embodiments 190-200,

And a lens array associated with each radiation array.

202. The embodiment of 201, wherein

Wherein each of the plurality of radiation sources of each radiation array is associated with a lens of a lens array associated with the radiation array.

203. The method according to any one of embodiments 190-202, wherein

Wherein each of the plurality of radiation sources of each radiation array comprises a laser diode.

204. The method of embodiment 203,

Each laser diode is configured to emit radiation having a wavelength of about 405 nm.

205. A lithographic apparatus for exposing a substrate to radiation, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising a programmable patterning device having between 100 and 25,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

206. The method of embodiment 205,

A lithographic apparatus comprising at least 400 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

207. The embodiment of 205, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising at least 1,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

208. The method according to any one of embodiments 205 to 207,

A lithographic apparatus comprising less than 10,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

209. The method according to any one of embodiments 205 to 207,

A lithographic apparatus comprising less than 5,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

210. The method according to any one of embodiments 205 to 209,

An individually addressable self-emissive element is a laser diode.

211. The method according to any one of embodiments 205 to 209,

The individually addressable self-emissive element is configured to have a spot size on a substrate selected in the range of 0.1 to 3 microns.

212. The method according to any one of embodiments 205 to 209,

The individually addressable self-emissive element is configured to have a spot size on a substrate of about 1 micron.

213. A lithographic apparatus for exposing a substrate to radiation, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising a programmable patterning device having 100 to 25,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements when normalized to an exposure field length of 10 cm.

214. The process of embodiment 213,

A lithographic apparatus comprising at least 400 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

215. The embodiment of 213, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising at least 1,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

216. The method of any of embodiments 213-215, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising less than 10,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

217. The method of any of embodiments 213-215, wherein

A lithographic apparatus comprising less than 5,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

218. The method as in any one of embodiments 213-27,

An individually addressable self-emissive element is a laser diode.

219. The method according to any one of embodiments 213 to 217,

The individually addressable self-emissive element is configured to have a spot size on a substrate selected in the range of 0.1 to 3 microns.

220. The method according to any one of embodiments 213 to 217,

The individually addressable self-emissive element is configured to have a spot size on a substrate of about 1 micron.

221. A programmable patterning device comprising a rotatable disk,

And the disk has between 100 and 25,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

222. The method of embodiment 221,

And the disk comprises at least 400 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

223. The method of embodiment 221, wherein

And the disk comprises at least 1,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

224. The method as in any one of embodiments 221-223, wherein

And the disk comprises less than 10,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

225. The method as in any one of embodiments 221-223, wherein

And the disk comprises less than 5,000 individually addressable self-emissive elements.

226. The method as in any one of embodiments 221-225 wherein

And the individually addressable self-emissive element is a laser diode.

227. Use of one or more of the present inventions in the manufacture of flat panel displays.

228. Use of one or more of the present inventions in integrated circuit packaging.

229. A lithographic method comprising exposing a substrate to radiation using a programmable patterning device having a self-luminescent element,

During exposure, the power consumption of the programmable patterning device for operating the self-emissive element is less than 10 kW.

230. The method of embodiment 229, wherein

Wherein said power consumption is less than 5 kW.

231. The method as in 229 or 230,

Wherein said power consumption is at least 100 mW.

232. The method of any one of embodiments 229-231, wherein

Wherein said self-emissive element is a laser diode.

233. The embodiment of 232 wherein

The laser diode is a blue violet laser diode.

234. A lithographic method comprising exposing a substrate to radiation using a programmable patterning device having self-emitting elements,

In use, the lithographic method, wherein the light output per light emitting element is at least 1 mW.

235. The method of embodiment 234, wherein

And the light output is at least 10 mW.

236. The embodiment of 234, wherein

And the light output is at least 50 mW.

237. The method of any of embodiments 234-236, wherein

Wherein the light output is less than 200 mW.

238. The method of any of embodiments 234-237, wherein

Wherein said self-emissive element is a laser diode.

239. The method of embodiment 238, wherein

The laser diode is a blue violet laser diode.

240. The method of embodiment 234, wherein

The lithographic method, wherein the light output is greater than 5 mW but less than 20 mW.

241. The embodiment of 234, wherein

The lithographic method, wherein the light output is greater than 5 mW but less than 30 mW.

242. The embodiment of 234, wherein

The lithographic method, wherein the light output is greater than 5 mW but less than 40 mW.

243. The method of any of embodiments 234-242, wherein

And the self-emissive element operates in a single mode.

244. A lithographic apparatus,

A programmable patterning device having self-emissive elements; And

Rotatable frame with optical element for receiving radiation from self-emissive element

And the optical element is a refractive optical element.

245. A lithographic apparatus,

A programmable patterning device having self-emissive elements; And

Rotatable frame with optical element for receiving radiation from self-emissive element

/ RTI >

The rotatable frame has no reflective optical element for receiving radiation from any or all of the self-emissive elements.

246. A lithographic apparatus,

A programmable patterning device; And

Rotatable frame comprising a plate with an optical element

/ RTI >

Lithographic apparatus, wherein the plate surface with the optical element is flat.

247. Use of one or more of the present inventions in the manufacture of flat panel displays.

248. Use of one or more of the present inventions in integrated circuit packaging.

249. A flat panel display made according to any of the above methods.

250. An integrated circuit device manufactured according to any of the above methods.

251. A lithographic apparatus,

An optical column for projecting a beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the optical column including a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion;

An actuator for moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof with respect to the substrate; And

A window between the moving part of the optical column and the target part of the substrate and / or between the moving part of the optical column and the fixing part of the optical column

Including,

And the window is configured and arranged in the lithographic apparatus to reduce or minimize movement of the window.

252. The method of embodiment 251, wherein

And a substantially closed compartment substantially surrounding the moving portion of the optical column.

253. The embodiment of 252, wherein

And a pump for controlling the pressure in the compartment to a level of less than 1 bar, less than 100 mbar, less than 30 mbar, or less than 10 mbar.

254. The embodiment of 252 or 253, wherein

A lithographic apparatus further comprising a medium source for providing a medium other than air to the compartment.

255. The embodiment of 254 wherein

The medium is helium.

256. The method of any one of embodiments 252 through 255,

The window is provided in the compartment, wherein a portion of the compartment other than the window is flexibly connected to the window.

257. The method of any of embodiments 252 to 256, wherein

A portion of the compartment other than the window is movable with respect to the window.

258. The embodiment of 257, wherein

And the window is mounted with an O-ring or a flexible glue to a portion of the compartment other than the window.

259. The method according to any one of embodiments 252 to 258,

And the compartment is provided with a substantially circular bottom plate and the window is mounted to the substantially circular bottom plate radially outward from the center of the substantially circular bottom plate.

260. The method according to any one of embodiments 251 to 259,

And wherein the moving part of the optical column comprises a lens, the beam passes through the lens and the window, and the distance between the lens and the window is less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 5 mm or less than 2 mm.

261. The method according to any one of embodiments 251 to 260,

Wherein said movement is rotational movement in excess of 500 RPM, above 1000 RPM, above 2000 RPM or above 4000 RPM.

262. The method as in any one of embodiments 251 to 261, wherein

And the window comprises quartz.

263. The method of any of embodiments 251-262, wherein

And the optical column comprises a self-emissive contrast device.

264. In the embodiment 263,

The self-emissive contrast device comprises a laser diode.

265. The method according to any one of embodiments 251 to 264,

And the window is flexibly connected to a portion of the lithographic apparatus and is fixedly connected to another portion of the lithographic apparatus.

266. A device manufacturing method comprising projecting a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate;

Projecting a beam onto a substrate using a projection system of an optical column, thereby creating a pattern on a target portion of the substrate using the optical column;

Allowing the beam to pass through a window; And

Moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof relative to the substrate while reducing or minimizing movement of the window

Device manufacturing method comprising a.

267. The method of embodiment 266, wherein

The optical column or at least a portion thereof is within a compartment comprising the window, and reducing or minimizing movement by the window includes allowing movement between the window and a portion of the compartment other than the window. Manufacturing method.

Although specifically described herein using lithographic apparatus for the manufacture of particular devices or structures (eg, integrated circuits or flat panel displays), it is understood that the lithographic apparatus and lithographic methods described herein may have other applications. You have to understand. Such applications include integrated circuits, integrated optical systems, induction and detection patterns for magnetic domain memories, flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), OLED displays, thin film magnetic heads, micromechanical systems (MEMS), microphotovoltaic systems (MOEMS). , DNA chips, packaging (e.g. flip chips, redistributions, etc.), flexible displays or electronics (wrapable and bendable like paper, defect free, consistent, robust, thin, and And / or manufacture of lightweight displays or electronic devices such as flexible plastic displays). Also in flat panel displays, for example, the present apparatus and method can be used to contribute to the creation of various layers, such as thin film transistor layers and / or color filter layers. For those skilled in the art, with respect to this alternative application, the use of any term such as "wafer" or "die" as used herein is synonymous with the more general term such as "substrate" or "target portion", respectively. It will be appreciated that it may be considered. The substrate referred to herein may be processed before or after exposure, for example in a track (apparatus that typically applies a layer of resist to the substrate and develops the exposed resist), a metrology tool, and / or an inspection tool. To the extent applicable, the disclosure herein may be applied to the substrate processing apparatus and other substrate processing apparatuses. In addition, the substrate may be processed multiple times, for example, to produce a multi-layer IC, so the term substrate as used herein may also refer to a substrate that already contains multiple processed layers.

The flat panel display substrate may be rectangular in shape. Lithographic apparatus designed to expose this type of substrate may provide an exposure area that covers the entire width of the rectangular substrate or covers a portion of the width (eg, half of the width). While the substrate is scanned below the exposure area, the patterning device can be scanned simultaneously through the patterned beam or the patterning device can provide a variable pattern. In this way, all or part of the desired pattern is transferred to the substrate. If the exposure area covers the entire width of the substrate, the exposure can be completed in a single scan. If the exposure area covers, for example, one half of the substrate width, the substrate may be laterally moved after the first scan so that additional scans may normally be performed to expose the rest of the substrate.

The term "patterning device" as used herein should be broadly interpreted to refer to any device that can be used to modulate the cross section of a radiation beam, such as to create a pattern on a portion of a substrate. It should be noted that the pattern imparted to the radiation beam may not correspond exactly to the desired pattern at the target portion of the substrate, for example if the pattern includes phase-inverting features or so-called assist features. Likewise, the pattern finally generated on the substrate may not correspond to the pattern formed at any one moment on the array of individually controllable elements. This may be the case in configurations where the final pattern formed in each portion of the substrate is formed over a given period or given number of exposures, wherein the pattern and / or substrate on the array of individually controllable elements during this given period or given number of exposures This is because the relative position of is changed. In general, a pattern generated on a target portion of a substrate may be a device formed on the target portion, for example, a specific functional layer of an integrated circuit or a flat panel display (eg, a color filter layer of a flat panel display or a thin film transistor layer of a flat panel display). Will respond. Examples of such patterning devices include, for example, reticles, programmable mirror arrays, laser diode arrays, light emitting diode arrays, grating light valves, and LCD arrays. Including an electronically programmable patterning device having a plurality of programmable elements that modulate the phase of the portion of the radiation beam with respect to adjacent portions of the radiation beam to impart a pattern to the radiation beam. A patterning device capable of programming a pattern using, for example, a patterning device comprising a plurality of programmable elements each capable of modulating the intensity of a portion of the radiation beam (e.g., all of the above mentioned sentences except reticles Devices) are collectively referred to herein as "contrast devices." In one embodiment, the patterning device comprises at least 10 programmable elements, such as at least 100, at least 1,000, at least 10,000, at least 100,000, at least 1,000,000, or at least 10,000,000 programmable elements. Embodiments of some of these devices are discussed in more detail below.

A programmable mirror array. The programmable mirror array can include a matrix-addressable surface having a viscoelastic control layer and a reflective surface. According to the basic principle of such a device, for example, an addressed area of the reflective surface reflects incident radiation as diffracted radiation, while an unaddressed area reflects incident radiation as un diffracted radiation. Using an appropriate spatial filter, the non-diffracted radiation can be filtered out of the reflected beam, leaving only the diffracted radiation to reach the substrate. In this way, the beam is patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable surface. Alternatively, the filter may filter the diffracted radiation, leaving un diffracted radiation to reach the substrate. Arrays of diffractive optical MEMS devices can also be used in a corresponding manner. The diffractive optical MEMS device can include a plurality of reflective ribbons, which can be modified relative to each other to form a grating that reflects incident radiation into diffracted radiation. A further embodiment of the programmable mirror array uses a matrix arrangement of small mirrors, each of which can be individually tilted about an axis by applying a suitable local electric field or by using piezoelectric actuation means. The degree of tilt defines the state of each mirror. Such a mirror is controllable by appropriate control signals from the controller when the element is free of defects. Each defect element is controllable to employ any of a series of states to adjust the intensity of the corresponding pixel in the projected radiation pattern. Once again, the mirror is matrix-addressable such that the addressed mirror reflects the incident radiation beam in a different direction than the unaddressed mirror; In this way, the reflected beam can be patterned according to the addressing pattern of the matrix-addressable mirror. The required matrix addressing can be performed using suitable electronic means. More information regarding the mirror arrays referred to herein can be obtained, for example, from US Pat. Nos. 5,296,891 and 5,523,193, and PCT Patent Application Publications WO 98/38597 and WO 98/33096, which documents are incorporated by reference. It is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

-Programmable LCD array. Examples of such configurations are provided in US Pat. No. 5,229,872, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The lithographic apparatus may comprise one or more patterning devices, for example one or more contrast devices. For example, such an apparatus may have a plurality of arrays of individually controllable elements, each controlled independently of one another. In such a configuration, some or all of the arrays of individually controllable elements may have a common lighting system (or part of the lighting system), a common support structure for the array of individually controllable elements and / or a common projection system (or Part of the projection system).

When pre-biasing of features, optical proximity effect correction features, phase shift techniques and / or multiple exposure techniques are used, for example, patterns "displayed" on an array of individually controllable elements. It should be appreciated that the silver may be substantially different from the pattern that is ultimately transferred to or on the layer of the substrate. Similarly, the pattern finally generated on the substrate may not correspond to the pattern formed at any one moment on the array of individually controllable elements. The final pattern formed in each portion of the substrate may be such that in a configuration in which it is formed over a given time period or a given number of exposures, the pattern on the array of individually controllable elements and / or the substrate on such a given time period or a given number of exposures. This is because the position changes.

Projection systems and / or illumination systems may be of various types of optical components, such as refractive, reflective, magnetic, electromagnetic, electrostatic or other types, for guiding, shaping, or controlling the radiation beam. Optical elements, or any combination thereof.

The lithographic apparatus may be of a type having two (eg, dual stage) or more substrate tables (and / or two or more patterning device tables). In such "multiple stage" devices it is possible to use additional tables in parallel, or to use one or more other tables for exposure while performing a preliminary process on one or more tables.

The lithographic apparatus may also be of the type “immersion liquid”, in which at least a portion of the substrate has a relatively high refractive index, for example, in which the space between the projection system and the substrate is covered with water. Immersion liquids may also be added to other spaces in the lithographic apparatus, for example, between the patterning device and the projection system. Immersion techniques are used to increase the NA of the projection system. As used herein, the term "immersion" does not mean that a structure, such as a substrate, must be submerged in liquid, but rather means that liquid is located between the projection system and the substrate during exposure.

The apparatus may also include a fluid treatment cell to allow interaction between the fluid and the irradiated portion of the substrate (eg, to selectively attach chemicals to the substrate or to selectively modify the surface structure of the substrate). Can be.

In one embodiment, the substrate may have a substantially circular shape and optionally have notches and / or planarized edges along some of the periphery. In one embodiment, the substrate has a polygonal shape, for example a rectangular shape. Embodiments in which the substrate has a substantially circular shape, wherein the diameter of the substrate is at least 25 mm, for example at least 50 mm, at least 75 mm, at least 100 mm, at least 125 mm, at least 150 mm, at least 175 mm, at least 200 mm, at least 250 mm, or at least 300 mm. Examples are included. In one embodiment, the diameter of the substrate is 500 mm or less, 400 mm or less, 350 mm or less, 300 mm or less, 250 mm or less, 200 mm or less, 150 mm or less, 100 mm or less, or 75 mm or less. Embodiments in which the substrate is polygonal, for example rectangular, have at least one side, for example at least two sides, or at least three sides in length of at least 5 cm, for example at least 25 cm, at least 50 cm, at least 100 cm, at least 150 cm, Embodiments that are at least 200 cm, or at least 250 cm. In one embodiment, the length of at least one side of the substrate is 1,000 cm or less, such as 750 cm or less, 500 cm or less, 350 cm or less, 250 cm or less, 150 cm or less, or 75 cm or less. In one embodiment, the substrate is a rectangular substrate having a length of about 250-350 cm and a width of about 250-300 cm. The thickness of the substrate may vary and may depend, for example, to some extent on the substrate material and / or substrate dimensions. In one embodiment, the thickness is at least 50 microns, such as at least 100 microns, at least 200 microns, at least 300 microns, at least 400 microns, at least 500 microns, or at least 600 microns. In one embodiment, the thickness of the substrate is 5,000 μm or less, such as 3,500 μm or less, 2,500 μm or less, 1,750 μm or less, 1,250 μm or less, 1,000 μm or less, 800 μm or less, 600 μm or less, 500 μm or less, 400 μm or less, Or 300 µm or less. The substrate referred to herein may be processed before or after exposure, for example in a track (apparatus that typically applies a layer of resist to the substrate and develops the exposed resist). The properties of the substrate can be measured before and after exposure, such as with a metrology tool and / or inspection tool.

In one embodiment, a resist layer is provided on the substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a wafer, for example a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the wafer material is selected from the group consisting of Si, SiGe, SiGeC, SiC, Ge, GaAs, InP and InAs. In one embodiment, the wafer is a III / V compound semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the wafer is a silicon wafer. In one embodiment, the substrate is a ceramic substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is a glass substrate. Glass substrates may be useful, for example, in the manufacture of flat panel displays and liquid crystal display panels. In one embodiment, the substrate is a plastic substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is transparent (to the naked eye). In one embodiment, the substrate is colored. In one embodiment, the substrate is colorless.

In one embodiment, the patterning device 104 is described and / or depicted as being above the substrate 114, but may alternatively or additionally be located below the substrate 114. Also in one embodiment, the patterning device 104 and the substrate 114 can be positioned side by side, for example, the patterning device 104 and the substrate 114 extend vertically and the pattern is projected horizontally. In one embodiment, patterning device 104 is provided to expose at least two opposite sides of substrate 114. For example, to expose this side, at least two patterning devices 104 may be provided, at least on each opposite side of the substrate 114. In one embodiment, a single patterning device 104 for projecting one side of the substrate 114 and suitable optics for projecting a pattern from this single patterning device 104 onto the other side of the substrate 114 ( For example, a beam guide mirror may be provided.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described. For example, an embodiment of the invention may be a computer program comprising one or more sequences of machine readable instructions describing a method as disclosed above, or a data storage medium having such a computer program stored therein (e.g., Semiconductor memory, magnetic or optical disk).

Furthermore, while the invention has been disclosed in the context of specific embodiments and illustrations, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is capable of other alternative embodiments and / or use of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments. Will be understood. In addition, while numerous variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications that fall within the scope of the invention based on the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it will be appreciated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments, even if made, are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form various modes of the disclosed invention. For example, in one embodiment, the movable individually controllable elements of FIG. 5 may be combined with a non-movable array of individually controllable elements, for example to provide or have a backup system.

As such, while various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (17)

A lithographic apparatus comprising:
An optical column for projecting a beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the optical column including a projection system configured to project the beam onto the target portion;
An actuator for moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof with respect to the substrate; And
A window between a moving part of the optical column and a target part of the substrate and / or between a moving part of the optical column and a non-moving part of the optical column
Including,
And the window is configured and arranged in the lithographic apparatus to reduce or minimize movement of the window. The method of claim 1,
And a substantially closed compartment substantially surrounding the moving portion of the optical column. The method of claim 2,
And a pump for controlling the pressure in the compartment to a level of less than 1 bar, less than 100 mbar, less than 30 mbar, or less than 10 mbar. The method according to claim 2 or 3,
A lithographic apparatus further comprising a medium source for providing a medium other than air to the compartment. 5. The method of claim 4,
The medium is helium. 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The window is provided in the compartment, wherein a portion of the compartment other than the window is flexibly connected to the window. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
A portion of the compartment other than the window is movable with respect to the window. The method of claim 7, wherein
And the window is mounted with an O-ring or a flexible glue to a portion of the compartment other than the window. 9. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
And the compartment is provided with a substantially circular bottom plate and the window is mounted to the substantially circular bottom plate radially outward from the center of the substantially circular bottom plate. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
And wherein the moving part of the optical column comprises a lens, the beam passes through the lens and the window, and the distance between the lens and the window is less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 5 mm or less than 2 mm. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Wherein said movement is a rotational movement above 500 RPM, above 1000 RPM, above 2000 RPM or above 4000 RPM. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
And the window comprises quartz. 13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
And the optical column comprises a self-emissive contrast device. The method of claim 13,
The self-emissive contrast device comprises a laser diode. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
And the window is flexibly connected to a portion of the lithographic apparatus and is fixedly connected to another portion of the lithographic apparatus. A device manufacturing method comprising projecting a patterned beam of radiation onto a substrate, the method comprising:
Projecting a beam onto a substrate using a projection system of an optical column, thereby creating a pattern on a target portion of the substrate using the optical column;
Allowing the beam to pass through a window; And
Moving the optical column or at least a portion thereof relative to the substrate while reducing or minimizing movement of the window
Device manufacturing method comprising a. 17. The method of claim 16,
The optical column or at least a portion thereof is within a compartment comprising the window, and reducing or minimizing movement by the window includes allowing movement between the window and a portion of the compartment other than the window. Manufacturing method.

Images