Patent ID: 9086912
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: B82Y,G03F,G05B,G06F,H01J

Abstract:
1. A clustered lithography system comprising one or more lithography elements, each lithography element arranged for independent exposure of substrates according to pattern data, and each lithography element comprising a plurality of lithography subsystems, the clustered lithography system further comprising: a control network arranged for communication of control information between the lithography subsystems and at least one element control unit, the element control unit arranged to transmit commands to the lithography subsystems and the lithography subsystems arranged to transmit responses to the element control unit; and a cluster front-end for interface to an operator or host system, the front-end arranged for issuing control information to the at least one element control unit to control operation of the one or more lithography subsystems for exposure of one or more wafers; wherein the front-end is arranged for issuing a process program to the element control unit, the process program comprising a set of predefined commands and associated parameters, each command corresponding to a predefined action or sequence of actions to be performed by one or more of the lithography subsystems, and the parameters further defining how the action or sequence of actions are to be performed, and wherein the element control unit is arranged to transmit a command of the process program to a lithography subsystem, regardless of an execution status of a preceding command transmitted to the lithography subsystem.