Patent ID: 6737659
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B82Y,H01J

Abstract:
In a microlithography apparatus for transferring a pattern onto a sensitive substrate using a charged particle beam, the apparatus including components of a charged-particle-beam (CPB) optical system as used for imaging the pattern at specified locations on the substrate, a temperature-control device, comprising:a respective temperature sensor associated with at least one component of the CPB optical system; a temperature-monitoring device to which the at least one temperature sensor is connected, the temperature-monitoring device being configured to receive the respective temperature-detection signals from the at least one temperature sensor, to ascertain whether the temperature-detection signals indicate existence of a temperature anomaly, and to produce respective temperature-control commands; and a controller to which the temperature-monitoring device is connected, the controller being configured to receive the temperature-control commands from the temperature-monitoring device and, if the temperature-control commands indicate existence of the temperature anomaly, to initiate at least one action selected from triggering an alarm, stopping exposure, and calibration of the microlithography system.