Patent ID: 7104535
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. An alignment device adapted to laterally urge a substrate supported on a support stage so as to cause the substrate to slide relative to the support stage, comprising: a first pusher adapted to contact an edge of a substrate supported on the support stage and to laterally translate along a first path of translation; a second pusher adapted to contact the edge of the substrate and to laterally translate along a second path of translation, the second path of translation being at an angle to the first path of translation and intersecting the first path at a path intersection; a frame to which the first and second pushers are movably coupled, the frame adapted to maintain the first and second pushers at an elevation of the edge of the substrate supported on the support stage; a first biasing element coupled between the first pusher and the frame and adapted to bias the first pusher against the edge of the substrate; a second biasing element coupled between the second pusher and the frame and adapted to bias the second pusher against the edge of the substrate independent of the biasing of the first pusher; and a pusher retraction device adapted to cause at least one of the first and second pushers to move away from the support stage.