Patent ID: 8860927
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A dual-stage exchange system for a lithographic apparatus, the system comprising a first stage ( 13 ) operating at an exposure workstation ( 3 ) and a second stage ( 14 ) operating at a pre-processing workstation ( 4 ), the two wafer stages being disposed on a same rectangular base ( 1 ) with long sides in X direction and short sides in Y direction, the two wafer stages being over a top surface ( 2 ) of the base, characterized in that: disposed at the two long sides of the base are a stator ( 5 a ) of a first Y linear motor, a stator ( 5 b ) of a second Y linear motor, a stator ( 6 a ) of a third Y linear motor and a stator ( 6 b ) of a fourth Y linear motor respectively, the second 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 8 ) uses the stator ( 5 a ) of the first Y linear motor, the first main driving unit ( 11 ) uses the stator ( 5 b ) of the second Y linear motor, the second main driving unit ( 12 ) uses the stator ( 6 a ) of the third Y linear motor, the first 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 7 ) uses the stator ( 6 b ) of the fourth Y linear motor; the first Y-direction guide rail ( 15 ) passes through the first stage ( 13 ) and the second Y-direction guide rail ( 16 ) passes through the second stage ( 14 ); the first Y-direction guide rail ( 15 ) has one end connected with the first main driving unit ( 11 ) and the other end butt-jointed with the first 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 7 ), the first 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 7 ) and the first Y-direction guide rail ( 15 ) are in separate structure by which they are disconnected upon position exchange of the two wafer stages; the second Y-direction guide rail ( 16 ) has one end connected with the second main driving unit ( 12 ) and the other end butt-jointed with the second 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 8 ), the second 1-DOF auxiliary driving unit ( 8 ) and the second Y-direction guide rail ( 16 ) are in separate structure by which they are disconnected upon position exchange of the two wafer stages; when the two wafer stages exchange their positions, first of all, the first stage (