Patent ID: 9256142
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G03F

Claim Text:
1. A pellicle mounting method, comprising: aligning a mounting apparatus with a top surface of a pellicle frame, the mounting apparatus having a continuous duct extending therethrough and a plurality of contact pins projecting from the mounting apparatus and engaging the top surface of the pellicle frame; introducing a pressurizing fluid into the continuous duct that causes each of the plurality of contact pins to engage the top surface of the pellicle frame with a substantially equal force, a combined force of the plurality of contact pins urging a bottom surface of the pellicle frame against a top surface of a photomask, the combined force being adjustable based on a pressure within the continuous duct; and adjusting the pressure within the continuous duct until the pressure is approximately equal to a pre-determined optimal pressure, the pressure causing the plurality of contact pins to urge the bottom surface of the pellicle frame against the top surface of the photomask with an optimal mounting force; wherein the adjusting the pressure includes detecting a force exerted by the bottom surface of the pellicle frame against the top surface of the photomask and adjusting the pressure in response to the detecting so that the force exerted by the bottom surface of the pellicle frame against the top surface of the photomask is approximately equal to the optimal mounting force.