Patent ID: 6366342
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A drive apparatus for driving an object within a two dimensional plane including a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the drive apparatus comprising:a first stage on which the object is placed; a micromotion mechanism that slightly drives the first stage in a direction of the second axis and in a rotation direction about a third axis orthogonal to the two-dimensional plane; a second stage that holds the first stage without physically contacting the first stage; a non-contact holding mechanism disposed between the first stage and the second stage to hold the first stage to the second stage in a non-contact manner while allowing for micromotion of the first stage in the second axis direction and in the rotation direction relative to the second stage; a macromotion mechanism that drives the second stage in a direction of the first axis; and wherein the second stage, the non-contact holding mechanism, the micromotion mechanism, and the macromotion mechanism all are disposed on one side of the first stage relative to the third axis.