Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8053937?dq=6,219,045
Timestamp: 2014-08-22 06:45:51
Document Index: 421777489

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 73', 'arts 74', 'arts 74', 'arts 74', 'arts 74', 'arts 74', 'arts 74', 'art 73', 'Application No. 2006']

Patent US8053937 - Linear motor, stage apparatus and exposure apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA linear motor is equipped with a coil body (62), and a yoke (71) that supports a magnetism generating body (72) and that moves relative to the coil body (62). The yoke (71) has a first portion (73) that is formed from a magnetic material and disposed based on the saturation state of the magnetic field,...http://www.google.com/patents/US8053937?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8053937 - Linear motor, stage apparatus and exposure apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8053937 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/795,518Publication dateNov 8, 2011Filing dateJan 20, 2006Priority dateJan 21, 2005Also published asEP1850464A1, US20080265688, WO2006077958A1Publication number11795518, 795518, US 8053937 B2, US 8053937B2, US-B2-8053937, US8053937 B2, US8053937B2InventorsKatsushi Nakano, Shigeru Morimoto, Shigeki KageyamaOriginal AssigneeNikon CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (19), Non-Patent Citations (3), Classifications (10), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLinear motor, stage apparatus and exposure apparatusUS 8053937 B2Abstract A linear motor is equipped with a coil body (62), and a yoke (71) that supports a magnetism generating body (72) and that moves relative to the coil body (62). The yoke (71) has a first portion (73) that is formed from a magnetic material and disposed based on the saturation state of the magnetic field, which is generated by the magnetism generating body (72), in the yoke (71).
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a linear motor, a stage apparatus that comprises the linear motor, which serves as a drive apparatus, and an exposure apparatus that uses the stage that is driven by the linear motor to expose a substrate with a pattern of a mask.
BACKGROUND ART In exposure apparatuses that are used in the manufacturing of, for example, semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, many linear motors, which are capable of noncontactual drive, are used as drive apparatuses of, for example, reticle stages on which masks (reticles and the like) are mounted and wafer stages on which photosensitive substrates (wafers, glass plates, and the like) are mounted.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Nevertheless, the related art discussed above has the following types of problems.
Means for Solving the Problem A linear motor of the present invention comprises: a coil body; and a yoke that supports a magnetism generating body and that moves relative to the coil body; wherein, the yoke comprises a first portion that is formed from a magnetic material and disposed based on the saturation state of the magnetic field, which is generated by the magnetism generating body, in the yoke.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION With the present invention, it is possible to efficiently suppress, for example, eddy currents, which arise due to the lack of magnetic saturation, as well as to suppress hysteresis heat generation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram that shows one embodiment of an exposure apparatus that comprises linear motors of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following explains a linear motor, a stage apparatus, and an exposure apparatus of the present invention, referencing the drawings.
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram that shows one embodiment of an exposure apparatus that comprises linear motors, which serve as drive apparatuses, of the present invention. Here, an exposure apparatus EX of the present embodiment is a so-called scanning stepper that transfers a pattern, which is provided in a mask M, to a photosensitive substrate P via a projection optical system PL while moving the mask M and the photosensitive substrate P synchronously. In the following explanation, the directions that coincide with an optical axis AX of the projection optical system PL are the Z axial directions, the directions of synchronous movement (scanning directions) within the plane that is perpendicular to the Z axial directions are the Y axial directions, and the directions (non-scanning directions) that are perpendicular to the Z axial directions and the Y axial directions are the X axial directions. Furthermore, the rotational directions around the X, Y, and Z axes are the θX, θY, and θZ directions, respectively. Furthermore, �photosensitive substrate� herein includes a semiconductor wafer that is coated with a photoresist, and �mask� includes a reticle wherein a device pattern, which is to be reduction projected onto the photosensitive substrate, is formed.
The magnetic parts 73 of each of the yokes 71 are disposed: in regions H (in FIG. 4, the annular regions that are enclosed by a chain double-dashed line), which are in the vicinity of the outer perimetric part of each of the main poles 72A and are in a substantially magnetically saturated state due to the magnetic field acting on the corresponding permanent magnet 72; at locations where it is possible to maintain the strength needed to support the permanent magnets 72 without deforming�even if the permanent magnets 72 exert a large force; and in areas that surround holes 75 through which fastening members (not shown) are inserted when the yoke 71 is fastened and fixed to the support member 60.
The nonmagnetic parts 74 a of each yoke 71 are formed by eliminating portions of the outer perimeter thereof�with the exception of the portions surrounding the holes 75. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the nonmagnetic parts 74 b is surrounded by a corresponding saturation region H and is formed as a through hole, wherein magnetic saturation does not occur, at a position that opposes the corresponding main pole 72A. The nonmagnetic parts 74 c are areas that lie between adjacent saturation regions H, and each of the nonmagnetic parts 74 c is formed as a through hole, wherein magnetic saturation does not occur, at a position that opposes the corresponding auxiliary pole 72B. Namely, these nonmagnetic parts 74 a, 74 b, 74 c are nonmagnetic areas that are formed by the presence of air, which is a nonmagnetic material and an insulator, in missing rectangular (in a plan view) portions of the soft iron, which is a magnetic material, (in other words, they are formed by substituting parts of the soft iron with air). In addition, the nonmagnetic parts 74 b, 74 c are each formed in a slit shape in the short side directions of the yoke 71.
Second Embodiment Continuing, a second embodiment of the linear motor according to the present invention will now be explained, referencing FIG. 7.
Third Embodiment The following explains a third embodiment of the linear motor, referencing FIGS. 9A and 9B. Furthermore, constituent elements in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 that are identical to those in Figures are assigned identical symbols, and the explanations thereof are omitted.
Fourth Embodiment The following explains a fourth embodiment of the linear motor, referencing FIG. 10.
Fifth Embodiment The following explains a fifth embodiment of the linear motor, referencing FIG. 11.
The yoke 71 shown in FIG. 11 comprises nonmagnetic parts (second portions) 74 c�one on each side in the width directions�that include holes 75, are formed from a nonmagnetic metal (e.g., nonmagnetic stainless steel), and are integrally fixed to the magnetic part 73, which is formed from a magnetic material such as soft iron, by, for example, welding.
Sixth Embodiment The following explains the sixth embodiment of the linear motor, referencing FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.
Seventh Embodiment The following explains a seventh embodiment of the linear motor.
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