Patent ID: 6510755
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: F16C,G03F,H01J,H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A stage mechanism used in vacuum, comprising:slide shafts respectively disposed so as to penetrate through a vacuum chamber; an X stage base plate connected to said slide shafts in the interior portion of said vacuum chamber; air slide bearings respectively disposed outside said vacuum chamber but in the vicinity of the penetration portions of said vacuum chamber through which said slide shafts penetrate, said air slide bearings serving as guides for said slide shafts; bellows for covering the penetration portions of said vacuum chamber for penetration of said slide shafts and the end faces of said air slide bearings opposed to said penetration portions of said vacuum chamber for penetration of said slide shafts to thereby prevent said gas from flowing into said vacuum chamber; and, an actuator disposed outside said vacuum chamber, wherein said actuator drives said X stage base plate through said slide shafts; and wherein said air slide bearings include: air pads respectively disposed on the slide surface of each of said air slide bearings for floating up said slide shaft using gas, and exhaust grooves respectively formed in each of said air slide bearings slide surfaces for exhausting said gas from said air pads.