Patent ID: 11948824
Assignee: PHOTRONICS, INC.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  B  G  Y | IPC B  G  H

Claim 0:
1. A method of removing a pellicle from a photomask, comprising:
(A) placing the photomask in a stage of a pellicle removal tool that holds the photomask in a fixed position relative to the pellicle, the pellicle having side wells;
(B) independently positioning two or more arms of the pellicle removal tool to engage the pellicle side wells with the two or more arms, the step of independently positioning comprising:
(1) activating two or more first actuators of the pellicle removal tool to independently adjust position of a corresponding one of the two or more arms along a Y-axis and a Z-axis,
(2) activating two or more second actuators of the pellicle removal tool to independently adjust position of the two or more arms along an X-axis, wherein the X-axis and Y-axis are perpendicular to one another and extend parallel to a top surface of the pellicle and the Z-axis extends perpendicular to the top surface of the pellicle,

(C) activating the two or more first actuators to apply a sequence of lifting forces from one arm to the next arm around the pellicle with the stage holding the photomask in a fixed position to remove the pellicle from the photomask.