Patent ID: 11940738
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A photolithography system, comprising:
a droplet generator configured to output a stream of droplets;
a droplet receiver positioned to receive and collect the droplets;
a laser configured to irradiate the droplets at an irradiation location between the droplet generator and the droplet receiver;
a collector configured to receive extreme ultraviolet radiation from the droplets and to reflect the extreme ultraviolet radiation for use in photolithography;
a charge electrode positioned between the irradiation location and the droplet receiver;
a counter electrode positioned within the droplet receiver downstream from the charge electrode with respect to a direction of travel of the droplets;
a droplet sensor positioned within the droplet receiver and configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a speed of the droplets within the droplet sensor; and
a control system configured to receive the sensor signals, to apply a first voltage to the charge electrode, and to apply a second voltage to the counter electrode, the first voltage being selected to impart a net electric charge to the droplets as the droplets pass adjacent to the charge electrode, the second voltage being selected to reduce a speed of the droplets within the droplet receiver, wherein the control system is configured to adjust one or both of the first and second voltages responsive to the sensor signals.