Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A stage apparatus for moving and positioning a stage within an XY plane defined by mutually perpendicular X- and Y-axes that are perpendicular to a Z-axis, the stage apparatus comprising: multiple stationary Y-axis guides that are parallel to each other and that extend in a Y-axis direction;  a respective Y-axis slider engaged with each stationary Y-axis guide, each Y-axis slider being configured to slide in the Y-axis direction relative to the respective stationary Y-axis guide;  a movable X-axis guide extending in an X-axis direction between the Y-axis sliders and connecting the Y-axis sliders together;  an X-axis stage mounted to the movable X-axis guide and configured to slide in the X-axis direction along the movable X-axis guide;  multiple stationary X-axis guides that are parallel to each other and that extend in the X-axis direction;  a respective X-axis slider engaged with each stationary X-axis guide, each X-axis slider being configured to slide in the X-axis direction relative to the respective stationary X-axis guide;  a movable Y-axis guide extending in a Y-axis direction between the X-axis sliders and connecting the X-axis sliders together; and  a Y-axis stage mounted to the movable Y-axis guide and configured to slide in the Y-axis direction along the movable Y-axis guide, wherein the X-axis stage and the Y-axis stage are connected together by at least one flexure that allows limited rotation, and thus provides a tolerance in orthogonality, of the X-axis stage and Y-axis stage relative to each other within a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis. 2. The stage apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the X-axis sliders and each of the Y-axis sliders comprises a respective linear motor configured to impart motion of the X-axis and Y-axis stages in the XY plane. claim 1 3. A microlithography apparatus, comprising the stage apparatus of  claim 1 . claim 1 4. The stage apparatus of clam  1 , further comprising a frame attached to and displaceable relative to one of the X-axis and Y-axis stages. 5. The stage apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is connected to the one of the X-axis and Y-axis stages by at least one actuator situated and configured to rotate the frame relative to the one of the X-axis and Y-axis stages. claim 4 6. The stage apparatus of  4 , further comprising a table mounted to the frame, wherein the table is displaceable relative to the X-axis and Y-axis stages. 7. The stage apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one actuator extending between the frame and the table, the actuator providing the table with at least one degree of freedom of displaceability relative to the frame. claim 6 8. The stage apparatus of  6 , wherein the table is displaceable relative to the frame in at least three degrees of freedom of motion. 9. The stage apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the table is displaceable in a xcex8 X -direction, a xcex8 Y -direction, and a Z-direction relative to the frame. claim 8 10. The stage apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an object-holding device mounted to the table. claim 6 11. The stage apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the object-holding device is a wafer table. claim 10 12. The stage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a table attached to and displaceable relative to one of the X-axis and Y-axis stages. claim 1 13. The stage apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the table is displaceable in a xcex8 X -direction, a xcex8 X -direction, and a Z-direction relative to one of the X-axis and Y-axis stages. claim 12 14. The stage apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a frame attached to and displaceable relative to the table in a xcex8 Z -direction. claim 12 15. The stage apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising an object-holding device mounted to the frame. claim 14 16. The stage apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the object-holding device is a wafer stage. claim 15