Patent ID: 6788385
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A switching-motion twin stage device having a first cantilevered stage and a second cantilevered stage, comprising:a first driving device having a first moving member and a first stationary member that drives the first cantilevered stage in a first direction; a second driving device having a second moving member and a second stationary member that drives the second cantilevered stage in the first direction; a first table disposed on the first cantilevered stage to hold a first sample; a second table disposed on the second cantilevered stage to hold a second sample; a first guide bar provided with the first stationary member that movably supports one side of the first cantilevered stage; a second guide bar provided with the second stationary member that movably supports one side of the second cantilevered stage, the second guide bar provided at a predetermined distance from the first guide bar in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a controller that performs a switching of a position of the first table and the second table without divorcing between the first table and the first cantilevered stage, and between the second table and the second cantilevered stage, the controller being coupled to the first and second driving devices to move the second cantilevered stage in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first cantilevered stage to perform the switching of the positions of the first and second tables.