Patent ID: 6504160
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: G03F,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
A stage apparatus comprising:a base; a stage which moves on said base in the two-dimensional directions of an X-direction and a Y-direction; a first X-actuator, having a stationary part, which drives said stage in the X-direction; a first Y-actuator, having a stationary part, which drives said stage in the Y-direction; two second X-actuators, having movable portions, which drive the stationary part of said first Y-actuator in the X-direction, wherein the stationary part of said first Y-actuator is provided between two movable parts of said two second X-actuators; and two second Y-actuators, having movable parts, which drive the stationary part of said first X-actuator in the Y direction, wherein the stationary part of said first X-actuator is provided between the movable parts of said two second Y-actuators, wherein at least one of (i) at least one of said two second X-actuators and (ii) at least one of said two second Y-actuators is capable of generating a larger thrust than that generated by said first X-actuator and said first Y-actuator, respectively.