Patent ID: 6192100
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A pellicle member for protection of an X-ray exposure area absorber pattern that is positioned on and that extends a distance from a surface of a circular X-ray mask having an outside diameter and a support ring with a shoulder extending beyond said outside diameter, comprising in combination:a subassembly of a circular membrane member on a washer shaped spacer member,said spacer member having,first and second essentially parallel surfaces,a central opening through said spacer member having a diameter to accommodate said absorber pattern,an outside diameter in the vicinity of said outside diameter of said mask, and,a thickness dimension between said first and second essentially parallel surfaces greater than and in the vicinity of said distance said absorber pattern extends from said mask surface,said membrane member having,a thickness dimension that is small relative to said thickness dimension of said spacer member, and,in contact with all of said first surface of said spacer member, and,retention means adapted to retain said subassembly to said mask as an assembly, in which,said second surface of said spacer member is in contact with said mask surface from which said absorber pattern extends, and,said absorber pattern extends into said central opening in said spacer member.