Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/KR20110128930A/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-25 09:40:24
Document Index: 202518304

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 22', 'art 44', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 170', 'art 72', 'art 170', 'art 72', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170', 'art 170']

KR20110128930A - Stage device, exposure device, and method of producing device - Google Patents
Stage device, exposure device, and method of producing device Download PDF
KR20110128930A
KR20110128930A KR1020117024304A KR20117024304A KR20110128930A KR 20110128930 A KR20110128930 A KR 20110128930A KR 1020117024304 A KR1020117024304 A KR 1020117024304A KR 20117024304 A KR20117024304 A KR 20117024304A KR 20110128930 A KR20110128930 A KR 20110128930A
KR1020117024304A
2003-04-01 Priority to JPJP-P-2003-098464 priority
2004-03-31 Application filed by 가부시키가이샤 니콘 filed Critical 가부시키가이샤 니콘
2011-11-30 Publication of KR20110128930A publication Critical patent/KR20110128930A/en
By the drive device DA having a plurality of movable members 44A to 44F connected to the stage WST1 and a plurality of stators 46A to 46F arranged along a predetermined axial direction, the stage is provided on a two-dimensional surface. A parallel driving force is applied to drive the stage in the two-dimensional in-plane direction and in the inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane. As a result, the stage can be moved in the two-dimensional in-plane direction and in the inclined direction without adopting a structure having a two-dimensional moving stage and a table movable in the inclined direction on the stage as in the related art. It can be composed of a simple one-piece. Therefore, there is no fear that the position controllability of the stage may be deteriorated by the same factors as the deterioration of the position controllability of the table due to the combination of the two-dimensional moving stage and the table.
Stage apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method {STAGE DEVICE, EXPOSURE DEVICE, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING DEVICE}
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stage apparatus and an exposure apparatus, and more particularly, a stage apparatus having a stage for holding and moving an object, an exposure apparatus having the stage apparatus, and a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus. It is about.
In a lithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, a photosensitive object such as a wafer or glass plate coated with a resist or the like on a pattern formed on a mask or a reticle (hereinafter collectively referred to as a "reticle") through a projection optical system (hereinafter, A reduced projection exposure apparatus (so-called stepper) of a step-and-repeat method that is transferred onto a "wafer" generically, or a scanning projection exposure apparatus (so-called scanning / stepper) of a step-and-scan method in which the stepper is improved. Mainly used.
In projection exposure apparatuses, such as a stepper, the stage apparatus provided with the table which hold | maintains the wafer which is a to-be-exposed object, the stage which hold | maintains this table, and move two-dimensionally, and the drive mechanism which drives this stage are used. In recent years, the stage apparatus of the linear motor system which uses a linear motor as a drive source has become mainstream as a stage apparatus. In this linear motor type stage apparatus, a first axis linear motor for driving a stage in a first axis direction, the first axis linear motor and a stage are integrally and in a second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis. A stage device of a two-axis drive linear motor system having a pair of second axis linear motors to drive is relatively used.
In this type of stage apparatus, as disclosed in, for example, International Publication No. 02/080185 pamphlet or the like, the table has a micromechanism such as three voice coil motors or three EI cores for the stage. It is connected via the micro-movement mechanism, and the table can be microscopically moved in the rotational direction around the first axis, the rotational direction around the second axis, and the third axis direction orthogonal to each of the first and second axes on the stage. It is supposed to. The drive in the six degrees of freedom of the table is realized by these fine movement mechanisms and the linear motor.
In the stage apparatus described in the above-mentioned International Publication No. 02/080185 pamphlet, since the stage is supported in a non-contact manner with respect to the movement reference plane, an air pad is provided which forms a predetermined clearance between the stage and the movement reference plane. However, since this air pad is highly rigid, as shown in FIG. 11A, the stage ST may incline (pitch oscillate) in accordance with the unevenness | corrugation of the moving reference plane BS, and in such a case, it is inclined to the inclination of a stage. Due to this, there was a fear that the table TB would slide (shift oscillation).
In addition, when engaging between the table TB and the stage ST with a leaf spring, since the engaging part by a leaf spring is high rigidity, as shown in FIG. 11B, there exists a possibility that a shift vibration may arise in a table. There was.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 11C, in the leveling control of a table using a voice coil motor, an EI core, or the like, shift disturbance may occur in the table.
The shift vibration, shift disturbance, etc. of the said table are considered to be a result which the influence of natural frequency, rigidity, etc. resulting from the table being plate-shaped was shown as a bad influence on the control of a stage.
The present invention has been made under the above-described circumstances, and in view of the first aspect, a stage capable of holding an object and moving in at least a two-dimensional in-plane direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity and an inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional surface; And a plurality of movers connected to the stage, and a plurality of stators arranged along a predetermined one axial direction in the two-dimensional plane, for driving the stage by a driving force in a direction parallel to the two-dimensional plane. It is a 1st stage apparatus provided with an apparatus.
According to this, by the drive apparatus which has a some mover connected to the stage, and the some stator arrange | positioned along the predetermined 1-axis direction, the driving force parallel to a two-dimensional surface is made to act on a stage, and a stage is moved in the gravity direction at least. It drives in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional surface orthogonal to, and the inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional surface. By doing in this way, even if a stage having a complicated structure having a movable body movable in a two-dimensional plane and a table movable in the inclined direction on the movable body is not employed, the stage, and further, the object held on the stage, It becomes possible to move in at least one degree of freedom direction in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional plane and in the inclination direction (one degree of freedom direction or two degree of freedom direction) with respect to the two-dimensional plane. In this case, since the stage can be manufactured integrally, the structure of the stage can be simplified, and the same as the above-described deterioration in position controllability of the table due to the combination of the two-dimensional moving stage and the table, which has been a problem in the past. There is no possibility that the position controllability of the stage may be caused by a factor. Therefore, with a simple structure, it becomes possible to realize high-precision position control of the object held by the stage.
In this case, the drive device may drive the stage also in the rotational direction in the two-dimensional plane. In this case, it becomes possible to drive the stage in the direction of up to five degrees of freedom.
In the 1st stage apparatus of this invention, the said drive apparatus can drive the said stage also to the said gravity direction.
In this case, the stator for driving the stage in the gravity direction may be disposed between a plurality of stators for driving the stage in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional surface.
In the first stage device of the present invention, the driving device includes the stage in three degrees of freedom in the two-dimensional plane, two degrees of freedom in the inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane, and six degrees of freedom in the gravity direction. It can be made to drive in the direction.
In the first stage device of the present invention, the stage may have a box shape. In such a case, high rigidity can be ensured compared with the plate-shaped stage.
In the first stage device of the present invention, there is provided a cylinder portion provided at the bottom of the stage, a piston portion inserted into the cylinder portion and capable of relative movement with respect to the cylinder portion, wherein the piston portion is elastically supported downward in the gravity direction. It is possible to further include a self-weight support mechanism for supporting the self-weight of the stage above a predetermined support surface by the positive pressure of the gas inside the cylinder portion.
In this case, it is possible to further include a position detecting device disposed in the vicinity of the self-weight supporting mechanism and detecting the position of the stage.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising: a stage capable of holding an object and moving in-plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity; And a positive pressure of the gas inside the cylinder portion having a cylinder portion provided in the stage and a piston portion inserted into the cylinder portion and capable of relative movement with respect to the cylinder portion, and elastically supporting the piston portion downward in a gravity direction. It is a 2nd stage apparatus provided with the self-weight support mechanism which supports the self-weight of the said stage above the predetermined support surface.
According to this, it has a cylinder part and the piston part inserted in the cylinder part, and the piston part which can move relative to the cylinder part in the stage which can hold | maintain an object and can move in-plane orthogonal to a gravity direction, and a piston part is located below gravity direction. A self-weight support mechanism for supporting the self-weight of the stage above a predetermined support surface is provided by the positive pressure of the gas inside the cylinder portion elastically supported. Therefore, the magnetic weight support mechanism supports the self weight of the stage by the positive pressure of the gas, so that the rigidity can be lowered as compared with the conventional air bearing. As a result, transmission of vibration and the like of the supporting member (stage base) having the support surface to the stage is suppressed as much as possible, and as a result, high precision position control of the stage and the object held on the stage can be realized. .
In each of the first and second stage devices of the present invention, the self-weight support mechanism may have a first bearing mechanism that forms a predetermined clearance between the support surfaces.
In this case, the said 1st bearing mechanism is formed in the surface of the side which opposes the said support surface of the said piston part, and is formed in the said piston part, and communicates the said gas blowing port and the positive pressure space inside the said cylinder part. It can be made to include the air supply passage to let.
In each of the first and second stage devices of the present invention, when the self-weight supporting mechanism has the first bearing mechanism, the second bearing mechanism forms a predetermined clearance between the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder portion and the outer circumferential surface of the piston portion. It can be made to have a further.
In this case, the second bearing mechanism may include a gas ejection opening formed on an outer circumferential surface of the piston portion, and an air supply passage formed in the piston portion and communicating the gas ejection opening with a positive pressure space inside the cylinder portion. Can be.
In each of the first and second stage devices of the present invention, the self-weight support mechanism can be provided at at least three points which are not in a straight line.
In each of the first and second stage devices of the present invention, the stage base on which the support surface is formed may be further provided.
In this case, the stage base can be configured to be movable in accordance with the law of conservation of momentum by the action of the reaction force of the driving force that generates the movement during the movement of the stage in the two-dimensional in-plane direction.
In this case, it is possible to further include a drive mechanism for driving the stage base in the two-dimensional plane.
In each of the first and second stage apparatuses of the present invention, a long side beam is irradiated to a reflecting surface formed on the stage, the reflected light of the long side beam is received, and the The optical wave interference measuring instrument which measures a position can be further provided.
The present invention, in a third aspect, includes: a plurality of stages each holding an object; And a driving system for individually driving the stages individually using a driving force in a direction parallel to the two-dimensional plane, at least in a two-dimensional in-plane direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity and an inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane. It is a three stage device.
According to this, the drive system utilizes a driving force in a direction parallel to the two-dimensional plane in a two-dimensional in-plane direction orthogonal to the two-dimensional plane orthogonal to at least the gravity direction of the plurality of stages each holding the object. In order to drive separately, it becomes possible to employ | adopt the stage which is an integral body as each stage. Therefore, as described above, it becomes possible to realize high-precision position control of the object held in each stage. In addition, since a plurality of stages are provided, improvement in throughput can also be expected by parallel processing using a plurality of stages.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an exposure apparatus which illuminates a mask with an energy beam and transfers a pattern formed on the mask to a photosensitive object is provided as at least one driving system of the mask and the photosensitive object. It is provided with any one of the 1st-3rd stage apparatus, It is an exposure apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to this, since any one of the 1st-3rd stage apparatuses of this invention with high position controllability is provided as at least one drive system of the said mask and the said photosensitive object, the pattern formed in the mask is highly precisely provided to the photosensitive object. It becomes possible to transfer.
In addition, in the lithography step, by exposing using the exposure apparatus of the present invention, a pattern can be formed on the photosensitive object with good precision, whereby a higher density microdevice can be manufactured with high yield. Therefore, from another further viewpoint of this invention, it can also be called the device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus of this invention.
The stage apparatus of this invention is suitable for the positioning stage of an object. Moreover, the exposure apparatus of this invention is suitable for transferring a pattern on a photosensitive object. Moreover, the device manufacturing method of this invention is suitable for manufacture of a microdevice.
1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the stage apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
3: A is a perspective view which isolates and shows the wafer stage WST1 and a drive apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view which isolates and shows the wafer stage WST1.
4: A is a perspective view which shows the state which looked at the wafer stage from the lower surface side, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the plane mirror of FIG. 4A.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a self-weight canceller.
6 is a perspective view showing the self-weight canceller in a longitudinal section.
7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the self-weight canceller.
8 is a diagram for explaining a Z-axis interferometer.
9 is a diagram for explaining a modification.
It is a figure which shows an example in the case of employ | adopting the stage apparatus of this invention as a reticle drive system.
11A to 11C are views for explaining the background art.
One Embodiment of this invention is described based on FIGS. In FIG. 1, the exposure apparatus 10 of one Embodiment is shown schematically.
This exposure apparatus 10 sets the reticle R as a mask and the wafer W1 (or W2) as an object (and a photosensitive object) in one-dimensional direction (here, the Y-axis direction in the left and right directions in the paper in FIG. 1). Step-and-scan scanning exposure apparatus that transfers the circuit pattern formed on the reticle R to the plurality of shot regions on the wafer W1 (or W2) via the projection optical system PL while moving synchronously to It is a so-called scanning stepper.
The exposure apparatus 10 emits from the illumination system 12 that illuminates the reticle R by the illumination light IL as the energy beam, the reticle stage RST as the mask stage on which the reticle R is mounted, and the reticle R. And a projection optical system PL for projecting the illumination light IL to be applied onto the wafer W1 (or W2), a stage device 20 on which the wafer W1 (or W2) is mounted, and a control system thereof. .
The illumination system 12 includes a light source and an illumination optical system, and illuminates the light IL in a rectangular or arc-shaped illumination region IAR defined by a field stop (also called a masking blade or a reticle blind) disposed therein. Is irradiated, and the reticle R in which the circuit pattern was formed is illuminated with uniform illuminance. The illumination system similar to the illumination system 12 is disclosed, for example in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 6-349701, US Pat. No. 5,534,970, etc. which correspond to this. The disclosures in the above publications and corresponding US patents are incorporated herein by reference as long as the national legislation of the designated or designated selected countries specified in this international application allows.
Here, the illumination light (IL) is, KrF excimer laser light (wavelength 248㎚), ArF excimer laser light (wavelength 193㎚) such as the atomic infrared light, or ultraviolet light such as F 2 vacuum laser light (wavelength 157㎚), etc. Used. As illumination light IL, it is also possible to use the ultraviolet ray (g line | wire, i line | wire, etc.) of the ultraviolet range from an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp.
On the reticle stage RST, the reticle R is fixed by vacuum adsorption, for example. The reticle stage RST is an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction in an XY plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the illumination system 12 (corresponding to the optical axis AX of the projection optical system PL) by the reticle stage driver 22. And micro-driving in the θz direction (rotational direction around the Z-axis), and at a scanning speed specified in a predetermined scanning direction (Y-axis direction) along an upper surface of a reticle stage base (not shown). In addition, although the reticle stage drive part 22 is a mechanism which uses a linear motor, a voice coil motor, etc. as a drive source, it is shown in FIG. 1 as a simple block for convenience of illustration. The reticle stage RST includes a coarse motion stage for driving one-dimensionally in the Y-axis direction and at least three degrees of freedom in the reticle R with respect to the coarse motion stage (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and θz). It is, of course, also possible to employ a stage having a fine-grained structure having a fine-driving stage capable of micro-driving in the direction.
The position (including θz rotation) in the XY plane of the reticle stage RST is half formed (or installed) at the end of the reticle stage RST by a reticle laser interferometer (hereinafter referred to as a “reticle interferometer”). Through the slope, it is always detected with a resolution of about 0.5-1 nm, for example. The positional information (including rotation information such as? Z rotation amount (yaw amount)) of the reticle stage RST from the reticle interferometer 16 is supplied to the main controller 50. In the main control device 50, the drive control of the reticle stage RST is carried out via the reticle stage driver 22 based on the positional information of the reticle stage RST.
As the projection optical system PL, a reduction system in which both the object plane side (reticle side) and the image plane side (wafer side) are telecentric and its projection magnification is 1/4 (or 1/5) is used. For this reason, when illumination light (ultraviolet pulse light IL) is irradiated to the reticle R from the illumination system 12, the imaging light beam from the part illuminated by the ultraviolet pulse light in the circuit pattern area formed on the reticle R is projected. An image of the circuit pattern (partial inverted image) in the irradiation area of the illumination light IL (illumination area IAR described above) that is incident on the optical system PL, and the image of the projection optical system PL at each pulse irradiation of the ultraviolet pulsed light. In the center of the visual field on the surface side, an image is restricted to an elongated slit shape (or rectangular shape (polygonal shape)) in the X-axis direction. As a result, the partially inverted image of the projected circuit pattern is reduced and transferred to the resist layer on the surface of one of the shot regions of the plurality of shot regions on the wafer W1 or W2 arranged on the imaging surface of the projection optical system PL.
As the projection optical system PL, in the case of using KrF excimer laser light, ArF excimer laser light, or the like as the illumination light IL, a refraction system composed mainly of a refractive optical element (lens element) is mainly used, but as the illumination light IL, F 2 is used. In the case of using a laser beam, refractive optical elements and reflective optical elements (such as a concave mirror or a beam splitter), as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H3-282527 and US Pat. No. 5,220,454 corresponding thereto. A so-called catadioptric system (reflected refractometer) or a reflectometer composed of only a reflective optical element is mainly used. In addition, as long as the national law of the designated country or selected selected country specified in this international application permits, the said publication and the indication in the US patent corresponding to it are used as a part of description of this specification. However, in the case of using the F 2 laser light, it is possible to use a refractometer.
The stage apparatus 20 is disposed below the projection optical system PL in FIG. 1, and the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 as stages for holding the wafers W1 and W2, respectively, and the wafer stages WST1 and WST2. ), The X axis (first axis) direction, the Y axis (second axis) direction, the Z axis (third axis) direction, and the rotation directions (θx, θy, θz directions around the X, Y, and Z axes). It is equipped with the drive system which drives individually in 6 degrees of freedom direction.
Each wafer stage WST1, WST2 is driven by a predetermined stroke in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the drive system, and is micro-driven in the other direction.
Hereinafter, each structure part of the stage apparatus 20 is demonstrated centering on FIG. 2 which shows the stage apparatus 20 in a perspective view, referring suitably other drawing.
As shown in FIG. 2, the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are substantially horizontal through a plurality of (eg, three) dustproof units (not shown) on the floor surface F of the clean room. It is arrange | positioned above the supported stage base SB.
The plurality of dustproof units insulate microscopic vibrations (dark vibrations) transmitted from the floor surface F to the stage base SB at a micro G level. In addition, as a plurality of dustproof units, a so-called active vibration isolator which actively vibrates the stage base SB, respectively, based on the output of a vibration sensor such as a semiconductor accelerometer fixed to a predetermined point of the stage base SB, is used. Of course it is possible.
The one wafer stage WST1 is a lightweight and high rigid material such as MMC (metal-based composite material: a composite of metal and ceramics (aluminum alloy or metal silicon as a matrix material), in which various ceramic reinforcing materials are combined. Material)) and has a roughly box-shaped shape.
On the upper surface (+ Z side) of the wafer stage WST1, an X-moving mirror MX1 extending in the Y-axis direction is provided at one end in the X-axis direction (the end on the + X side) in FIG. 2, and one end in the Y-axis direction. The Y moving mirror MY1 extending in the X axis direction is provided at the portion (the end portion on the -Y side). As shown in Fig. 2, interferometer beams (side beams) from the interferometers of the respective longitudinal axes constituting the interferometer system described later are projected onto the respective reflecting surfaces of the moving mirrors MX1 and MY1, and the reflected light is reflected on each interferometer. By receiving light, the displacement from the reference position of each moving mirror reflecting surface (generally, the fixed mirror is arranged on the side of the projection optical system and the side of the alignment system, and the side is referred to as the reference surface), thereby measuring the wafer stage. The two-dimensional position of the WST1 is measured. In addition, the wafer W1 is fixed to the upper surface of the wafer stage WST1 by electrostatic adsorption or vacuum adsorption through the wafer holder H1. 1, only the moving mirror MY1 is shown as a moving mirror on the wafer stage WST1 side.
The wafer stage WST1 is driven by the drive device DA in a predetermined stroke in the X-axis direction, and is minutely driven in the remaining five degrees of freedom. In other words, the wafer stage WST1 is driven in the six degrees of freedom direction by the drive device DA. The drive device DA is driven by a pair of Y-axis linear motors LY1 and LY2 in a long stroke integrally with the wafer stage WST1 in the Y-axis direction.
Here, the drive device DA will be described in detail.
3: A is a perspective view which isolates and shows the wafer stage WST1 and the drive apparatus DA, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view which isolates and shows the movable part containing the wafer stage WST1.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the drive device DA includes five movers 44A to 44E fixed to both sides of the Y-axis direction of the wafer stage WST1 and one mover embedded in the wafer stage WST1. Stator having the X axis direction as the longitudinal direction inserted into the six movable members 44A to 44F of the 44F and the interior (hollow part) of each of these movable members 44A to 44F as shown in FIG. 3A. 46A to 46F. The stators 46A to 46F are fixed to the Y-axis movers 48A and 48B (which will be described later) whose cross sections are substantially T-shaped at both ends in the longitudinal direction, thereby stator 46A to 46F. 46F) The positional relationship between each other is maintained at a predetermined positional relationship.
As shown in Fig. 3B, the movable member 44A has a yoke 52 having a rectangular YZ cross section and having a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a predetermined direction along the X axis direction on the upper and lower facing surfaces inside the yoke 52. It has a plurality of field magnets 54 arranged at intervals, respectively. In this case, the field magnets 54 adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction and the field magnets 54 facing each other in the Z-axis direction are opposite to each other. For this reason, the alternating magnetic field is formed in the internal space of the yoke 52 with respect to the X-axis direction.
On the other hand, the stator 46A in the state inserted into the movable member 44A is disposed at a predetermined interval along the X axis direction in the case body in which the inside is hollow with the X axis direction in the longitudinal direction, and in the case body. It is comprised by the armature unit containing the some armature coil not shown.
That is, the Lorentz force generated by the electron interaction between the current flowing through the armature coil constituting the stator 46A and the magnetic field (alternative magnetic field) in which the field magnet constituting the mover 44A is generated. As a result, a driving force in the X axis direction acts on the mover 44A, and the mover 44A is driven along the stator 46A in the X axis direction. That is, in this embodiment, the stator 46A and the movable member 44A comprise the 1st X-axis linear motor LX1 which consists of a linear magnet of a moving magnet type (refer FIG. 3A).
The movable member 44B is provided on the lower side (-Z side) of the movable member 44A described above. This mover 44B has the same structure as the mover 44A. In addition, the stator 46B in a state inserted into the inside (hollow part) of the movable member 44B has the same configuration as that of the stator 46A. For this reason, due to the Lorentz force generated by the electron interaction between the current flowing through the armature coil constituting the stator 46B and the magnetic field (alternative magnetic field) generated by the field magnet constituting the mover 44B, The driving force in the X-axis direction acts on the mover 44B, and the mover 44B is driven along the stator 46B in the X-axis direction. That is, in this embodiment, the stator 46B and the movable member 44B comprise the 2nd X-axis linear motor LX2 which consists of a linear magnet of a moving magnet type (refer FIG. 3A).
The mover 44C is fixed to the central portion in the Z axis direction of the + Y side of the wafer stage WST1, and has a size that is the same as that of the movers 44A and 44B described above. Moreover, the stator 46C in the state inserted into the inside (hollow part) of the movable member 44C is the same structure as the said stator 46A, 46B. For this reason, by the Lorentz force generated by the electromagnetic interaction between the electric current which flows through the armature coil which comprises the stator 46C, and the magnetic field (alternative magnetic field) which the field magnet which comprises the movable body 44C produces, The driving force in the X-axis direction acts on the mover 44C, and is driven along the stator 46C in the X-axis direction. That is, in this embodiment, the 3rd X-axis linear motor LX3 which consists of a moving magnet type linear motor is comprised by the stator 46C and the movable member 44C (refer FIG. 3A). The third X-axis linear motor LX3 is a linear motor that is larger than the first and second X-axis linear motors LX1 and LX2, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The linear motor LX3 is capable of generating twice the thrust as compared to the first and second X-axis linear motors LX1 and LX2. Moreover, the plate-shaped members 81A and 81B which consist of nonmagnetic bodies are adhere | attached on the upper and lower surfaces of the movable body 44C (refer FIG. 3B).
According to the said 1st-3rd X axis linear motors LX1-LX3, the thrust M is applied to each of the 1st, 2nd X axis linear motors LX1, LX2 to the 3rd X axis linear motor LX3. The magnitude, direction, and the like of the current supplied to the armature coil in the stator (armature unit) constituting each linear motor are controlled by the main controller 50 of FIG. It is possible to drive WST1) in the X axis direction. In addition, each linear motor is controlled by the main controller 50 so that the total thrust generated by the first and second X axis linear motors LX1 and LX2 and the generated thrust of the third X axis linear motor LX3 are slightly different. By controlling the current supplied to the armature coils in the armature unit constituting the X, it is possible to micro drive the wafer stage WST1 in the rotational direction (θz direction) around the Z axis. Further, the main thruster 50 makes the armature coils in the armature unit constituting these linear motors so that the generating thrust of the first X-axis linear motor LX1 and the generating thrust of the second X-axis linear motor LX2 are slightly different. By controlling the current supplied, it is possible to micro drive the wafer stage WST1 in the rotational direction (θy direction) around the Y axis. That is, it is possible to control the yaw of the wafer stage WST1 by the first to third X-axis linear motors LX1 to LX3, and the wafer stage by the first and second X-axis linear motors LX1 and LX2. It is possible to control the rolling of the WST1.
The movable member 44D is provided on the upper side (+ Z side) of the movable member 44C constituting the third X-axis linear motor LX3 with the plate member 81A interposed therebetween. The movable member 44D is a pair of frame members 56 each formed of a magnetic body having a YZ cross section of a rectangular shape, and a pair of opposing surfaces (upper and lower surfaces) provided inside the frame member 56, respectively. Permanent magnets 58A, 58B extending in the X-axis direction are elongated. The permanent magnets 58A and the permanent magnets 58B are reverse polarized with each other. Therefore, a magnetic field is generated between the permanent magnet 58A and the permanent magnet 58B in the direction of the magnetic flux in the + Z direction (or -Z direction). In addition, the stator 46D in the state inserted into the space formed by the permanent magnets 58A and 58B and the frame-shaped member 56 is placed inside the case body and the case body, for example, the movable body 44D. One or more armature coils are arranged in an arrangement capable of allowing a current to flow only in the + X direction or the -X direction among the magnetic fields in the Z-axis direction formed in the cavity). In this case, as the armature coil, for example, a pair of rectangular coils extending in the X-axis direction arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y-axis direction can be used.
In this embodiment, the magnitude | size and direction of the electric current supplied to the armature coil which comprises this stator 46D are controlled by main controller 50, and this moves the mover 44D to a Y-axis direction. The magnitude and direction of the driving force (Lorentz force) to drive are arbitrarily controlled. That is, the movable Y 44D and the stator 46D constitute a first Y-axis fine motor VY1 for micro-driving the wafer stage WST1 in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 3A).
The mover 44E is provided below the mover 44C constituting the third X-axis linear motor LX3 with the plate member 81B interposed therebetween. This mover 44E is arranged in a substantially vertical symmetry with the mover 44D described above with respect to the mover 44C. The mover 44E has the same configuration as the mover 44D, and a magnetic field in the + Z direction (or -Z direction) is generated inside the mover 44E. Moreover, as shown to FIG. 3A, the stator 46E is inserted in the hollow part of the movable member 44E. This stator 46E has the same structure as the stator 46D.
In the present embodiment, the magnitude and direction of the current supplied to the armature coil constituting the stator 46E are controlled by the main controller 50, whereby the mover 44E is connected to the stator 46E. The magnitude and direction of the driving force (Lorentz force) for driving in the Y-axis direction are arbitrarily controlled. That is, by the movable member 44E and the stator 46E, a second Y-axis micromotor (VY2) for minutely driving the wafer stage WST1 in the Y-axis direction is configured (see FIG. 3A).
Therefore, according to the 1st, 2nd Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2, the wafer stage WST1 can be micro-dried by generating the same thrust to each Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2. In addition, it is possible to micro drive the wafer stage WST1 in the rotational direction (θx direction) around the X axis by varying the generated thrust of each of the Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2. In other words, the pitching of the wafer stage WST1 can be controlled by the first and second Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2.
The movable member 44F is embedded in a state substantially penetrating the wafer stage WST1 in the X-axis direction at a substantially center portion of the wafer stage WST1. This movable member 44F is formed on a frame member 60 made of a magnetic body having a rectangular YZ cross section, and X formed on a pair of opposing surfaces (surfaces on the ± Y side) inside the frame member 60, respectively. A pair of permanent magnets 62A and 62B extend in the axial direction. The permanent magnets 62A and the permanent magnets 62B are reverse polarized with each other. Therefore, a magnetic field is generated between the permanent magnet 62A and the permanent magnet 62B in the direction of the magnetic flux in the + Y direction (or the -Y direction). The stator 46F in a state inserted into the space formed by these permanent magnets 62A and 62B and the frame-shaped member 60 includes a case body having the X-axis direction in the longitudinal direction and inside the case body. For example, in the magnetic field of the Y-axis direction formed in the movable body 44F, the armature coil is provided with the armature coil arrange | positioned by the arrangement | positioning which can flow an electric current only in + X direction or -X direction. In this case, as the armature coil, for example, a pair of rectangular coils extending in the X-axis direction arranged at predetermined intervals in the Z-axis direction can be used.
In this embodiment, the magnitude | size and direction of the electric current supplied to the armature coil which comprises the stator 46F are controlled by the main control device 50, and this moves the movable part 44F to the stator 46F. The magnitude and direction of the driving force (Lorentz force) for driving in the Z-axis direction are arbitrarily controlled. That is, the movable shaft 44F and the stator 46F constitute a Z-axis fine motor VZ for micro-driving the wafer stage WST1 in the Z-axis direction (see FIG. 3A).
Thus, according to the drive apparatus DA, the wafer stage WST1 is driven by the 1st-3rd X-axis linear motors LX1-LX3, and the rotation direction ((theta) z direction about the Z-axis direction) ) Is finely moved in the rotational direction (θy direction) around the Y axis, and finely moved in the Y-direction and the rotational direction (θx direction) around the X axis by the first and second Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2. The fine movement is performed in the Z axis direction by the Z axis fine motor (VZ).
Next, a pair of Y-axis linear motors LY1 and LY2 for driving the wafer stage WST1 together with the drive device DA in a long stroke in the Y-axis direction will be described.
The one Y-axis linear motor LY1 is used for the electronic interaction between the stator 64A extended along the Y-axis direction at the + X side edge part of the stage base SB shown in FIG. 2, and the stator 64A. By the movable element 48A driven in the Y-axis direction.
The stator 64A has a yoke having a U-shaped cross section and a plurality of field magnets arranged at predetermined intervals along the Y axis direction on a pair of opposing surfaces (upper and lower facing surfaces) of the yoke. In this case, field magnets adjacent in the Y-axis direction and field magnets facing in the Z-axis direction are reverse polarity. For this reason, an alternating magnetic field is formed in the inner space of the yoke in the Y axis direction. In the present embodiment, the stator 64A is supported substantially horizontally with a predetermined distance between the upper surface of the stage base SB by a supporting member (not shown) actually formed on the floor surface F. FIG. .
The movable element 48A is provided at one end of the stators 46A to 46F constituting the above-described drive device DA (see FIG. 3A), and has an XZ cross-sectional T-shaped case body in which the inside is hollow; It is comprised by the some armature coil not shown arrange | positioned at the predetermined space | interval along the Y-axis direction in the case body.
In this case, due to the Lorentz force generated by the electron interaction between the current flowing through the armature coil constituting the mover 48A and the magnetic field (alternative magnetic field) in which the field magnet constituting the stator 64A is generated, The mover 48A is driven along the stator 64A in the Y axis direction. The magnitude and direction of the current flowing through the armature coil constituting the movable element 48A are controlled by the main controller 50.
The other Y-axis linear motor LY2 is also configured in the same manner, although symmetrical in the Y-axis linear motor LY1 from the Y-axis direction. That is, Y-axis linear motor LY2 is Y-axis direction by the electromagnetic interaction between the stator 64B extended in the Y-axis direction at the -X side edge part of the stage base SB, and the stator 64B. A mover 48B driven by the wheel is provided. The stator 64B is actually supported substantially horizontally at predetermined intervals with the upper surface of the stage base SB by the support member which is not shown in figure on the floor surface F. As shown in FIG.
Also in this case, the magnitude and direction of the current flowing through the armature coil constituting the mover 48B is controlled by the main controller 50, and the magnetic field in which the current and the field magnet constituting the stator 64B are generated (alternatively). By the Lorentz force generated by the electromagnetic interaction with the magnetic field), the movable element 48B is driven along the stator 64B in the Y axis direction.
The wafer stage WST1 is driven by the long stroke in the Y-axis direction together with the drive device DA by the pair of Y-axis linear motors LY1 and LY2 configured as described above. Although the reaction force of the driving force acts on the stator 64A, 64B at the time of the drive of the wafer stage WST1 in the Y axis direction, the reaction force is raised through a supporting member (not shown) that supports the stator 64A, 64B, respectively. It is intended to be delivered to the surface F.
In addition, as can be seen from the description so far, the wafer stage WST1 has the first and second Y-axis fine motors VY1 constituting the drive device DA with respect to the Y-axis direction which is the scanning direction (scan direction). And micro-driven by VY2, a pair of Y-axis linear motors LY1 and LY2 are driven to a predetermined stroke range.
The other wafer stage WST2 is comprised similarly to the wafer stage WST1 mentioned above. That is, the wafer stage WST2 is formed of a lightweight, high-rigidity member such as MMC, for example, has a substantially box-shaped shape, and has an upper surface (+ Z side surface) in the X-axis direction in FIG. 2. An X-moving mirror MX2 extending in the Y-axis direction is provided at one end (end on the + X side), and a Y-moving mirror MY2 extending in the X-axis direction is provided at one end in the Y-axis direction (end on the + Y side). It is installed. The interferometer beams from the interferometers of the respective longitudinal axes constituting the interferometer system described later are projected on each of the reflecting surfaces of the moving mirrors MX2 and MY2, and the two-dimensional positions of the wafer stage WST2 are aligned with the wafer stage WST1. It is measured similarly. 1, only the moving mirror MY2 is shown.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the wafer W2 is fixed to the upper surface of the wafer stage WST2 by electrostatic adsorption or vacuum adsorption through the wafer holder H2. The wafer stage WST2 is driven in a predetermined stroke in the X-axis direction by the drive device DB configured in the same manner as the drive device DA described above, and is finely driven in the remaining five degrees of freedom. In addition, a pair of movers 48C and 48D are respectively provided at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the stator of each motor constituting the drive device DB, and these movers 48C and 48D are respectively provided. And the pair of stators 64A and 64B described above constitute a pair of Y-axis linear motors LY3 and LY4. By these Y-axis linear motors LY3 and LY4, the drive device DB is driven with a long stroke in the Y-axis direction integrally with the wafer stage WST2. The magnitude and direction of the current supplied to each motor constituting the drive device DB and each armature coil of the Y-axis linear motors LY3 and LY4 are controlled by the main controller 50.
As can be seen from the description so far, in the present embodiment, the stator 64A is common to the Y-axis linear motor LY1 and the Y-axis linear motor LY3, and the Y-axis linear motor LY2 and the Y-axis linear are common. The stator 64B is common to the motor LY4. However, it is possible to install each stator separately.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the drive devices DA and DB and the Y-axis linear motors LY1 to LY4 are included, and the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are individually driven in six degrees of freedom. The drive system is comprised.
In FIG. 4A, the movable part on the wafer stage WST1 side of FIG. 3B is shown upside down and shown as a perspective view. In FIG. 4B, the planar mirror MZ1 mounted on the bottom surface of the wafer stage WST1 of FIG. The state which removed is shown as a perspective view. As can be seen from FIG. 4B, the inside of the wafer stage WST1 is partially removed from the bottom surface side thereof, and in the empty space formed therein, the self-weight cancellers 70A, 70B, and 70C as three self-weight supporting mechanisms are provided. It is arranged.
Hereinafter, the self-weight canceler 70A which is one of three self-weight cancelers 70A-70C is demonstrated in detail based on FIG.
FIG. 5: is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows 70 A of self-weight cancelers, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view which cross-sections the vicinity of the lower end part of self-weight canceller 70A.
As shown in FIG. 5, the self-weight canceller 70A has a cylindrical cylinder portion 170A in which a lower end portion (−Z side end portion) is opened, and an upper end portion (+ Z side end portion) is closed, and the cylinder portion 170A. A piston portion 170B is inserted into the cylinder through the opening and is movable relative to the cylinder portion. The ceiling wall (upper wall) of the cylinder part 170A is formed slightly larger than the other part in the outer diameter. In this case, although the cylinder part 170A is integrally molded, you may shape | mold the said ceiling wall part separately from the remaining part, and may fix both.
In the cylinder portion 170A, an annular first annular convex portion 72a is formed near the lower end portion (-Z side end portion) over the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface thereof. Moreover, the 2nd annular convex part 72b is formed in the lower side (-Z side) of the 1st annular convex part 72a at predetermined intervals. And the cylinder part 170A is in the inner bottom surface of the annular recessed groove 72d of predetermined depth formed between the 1st annular convex part 72a of the cylinder part 170A, and the 2nd annular convex part 72b. Through holes 72c for communicating the internal space and the outside of the cavities are formed at a plurality of points at predetermined intervals.
The piston portion 170B is inserted into the cylinder portion 170A in a state where a predetermined clearance is formed between the outer circumferential surface and the first and second annular convex portions 72a and 72b.
The piston portion 170B is a cylinder having a stage formed of a cylindrical portion having a first diameter and two portions of a disc portion having a second diameter (> first diameter) provided on the -Z side and concentric with the cylindrical portion. It has the shape of a shape. The piston part 170B is provided with the vent pipe 74a as an air supply pipe path in the Z-axis direction reaching from the center portion of the upper end surface to the bottom surface. The vent pipe 74a communicates with the groove 74b formed in the lower end surface (-Z side end surface) of the piston portion 170B, and in the vicinity of the lower end surface of the piston portion 170B, the narrower the narrower the closer the lower surface is, the closer it is. It is processed. That is, the lower end part of the vent pipe 74a is formed so that it may serve as a kind of nozzle (nozzle whose tip is thin). In addition, the groove 74b has a shape in which a circle and a cross are combined as shown in FIG. 4A.
In addition, in the vicinity of the circumferential edge of the upper end surface of the piston portion 170B, four vent pipes 76a to 76d as the air supply pipe passages at intervals of 90 ° of the center angle (however, the vent pipes 76a and 76c in Fig. 5, Fig. 5). In Fig. 6, only the vent pipes 76a to 76c are shown, and the vent pipe 76d is not shown in the state in which the piston portion 170B is dug up to a position slightly above the height direction central portion. In the vicinity of the lower end of these vent pipes 76a to 76d, an aperture hole 78 serving as a gas blowing port communicated with the outside of the outer circumferential surface of the piston portion 170B is formed.
In this case, an almost airtight space 80 is formed above the piston portion 170B inside the cylinder portion 170A. One end of the air supply pipe is connected to the space 80 through an opening (not shown) formed in a part of the cylinder portion 170A, and the other end of the air supply pipe is connected to a gas supply device (not shown). From the gas supply device, for example, rare gas such as helium or nitrogen is supplied into the space 80 through the air supply pipe, and the space 80 becomes a positive pressure space having a higher air pressure than the outside of the cylinder 170A. have. Therefore, below, the space 80 is also called "positive pressure space 80".
In FIG. 7, the schematic diagram for demonstrating the action | action of the said self-weight canceller 70A is shown.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the self-weight canceler 70A, the space 80 becomes a positive pressure space, so that the gas flow indicated by arrow A 1 in the vent pipe 74a (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “flow (A 1 )). (Also referred to as ","). The gas flow is indicated by (A 1), is ejected from the thin portion of the tip to the bottom of the above-mentioned vent pipe (74a) nozzles, the gas flows shown in the groove (74b) by an arrow A 2 is generated. This gas spreads widely throughout the groove 74b and is blown from the whole groove toward the support surface SBa (the upper surface of the stage base SB here). Thereby, between the bottom surface of the piston part 170B and the support surface SBa of the stage base SB by the static pressure (in-gap pressure) of the gas between the bottom surface of the piston part 170B, and a support surface. The predetermined clearance ΔL 1 is formed. That is, a kind of gas static pressure bearing is substantially formed in the bottom surface of the piston part 170B, and the piston part 170B is supported by floating in the non-contact state above the support surface SBa. Hereinafter, this gas static pressure bearing is also called "thrust bearing."
Similarly to the vent pipe 74a, the gas flow indicated by the arrow B 1 is also generated in the vent pipes 76a to 76d, and accompanying this, the diaphragm hole 78 is directed from the inside of the piston portion 170B to the outside. The flow of the gas indicated by arrow B 2 occurs, and the gas ejected from the aperture hole 78 is injected to the second annular convex portion 72b. At this time, the outer circumferential surface of the piston portion 170B and the first and second annular convex portions (by the positive pressure of the gas between the second annular convex portion 72b and the outer peripheral surface of the piston portion 170B) A predetermined clearance ΔL 2 is formed between 72a and 72b. That is, the gas static pressure bearing is substantially formed in the circumferential wall of the piston part 170B, and the piston part 170B and the cylinder part 170A are non-contact. Hereinafter, this gas static pressure bearing is also called "radial bearing".
Further, a plurality of through holes (72c) in the annular groove (72d) formed at predetermined intervals in the cylinder part (170A) has a flow of gas indicated by arrows C 1 is generated, Thus, the second annular projection is such that the gas is discharged to the outside in the sub-gas or the like within the gas, and a positive pressure space 80 is injected to (72b), the clearance (△ L 2).
The other self-weight cancelers 70B and 70C are configured similarly to the self-weight canceller 70A described above.
According to these self-weight cancelers 70A-70C, when supporting the wafer stage WST1 at the upper end part, the self-weight is supported by the positive pressure of the positive pressure space 80, and the upper surface of the stage base SB , that is, between the support surface (SBa), it is under the action of the thrust bearing so that it is possible to always maintain the clearance (△ L 1). In addition, even when a force is applied to the wafer stage WST1 in the inclination directions (θx, θy directions), the clearance ΔL 2 is maintained by the action of the radial bearing, so that the wafer stage WST1 The slope is absorbed. Therefore, the self-weight cancellers 70A to 70C support the wafer stage WST1 in a low rigidity by positive pressure, and absorb the inclination of the wafer stage WST1.
As can be seen from the description so far, the thrust bearing as the first bearing mechanism is formed by the groove 74b and the vent pipe 74a, and the second bearing is formed by the aperture hole 78 and the vent pipe 76a through 76d. The radial bearing as a mechanism is comprised.
As described above, the planar mirror MZ1 is attached to the bottom surface (-Z side surface) of the wafer stage WST1 over the entire region except for the portion where the self-weight cancellers 70A to 70C are disposed (FIG. 4A). Reference). In the case where the bottom surface of the wafer stage WST1 is flat, the bottom surface of the wafer stage WST1 may be mirror-finished instead of the planar mirror MZ1.
8, the side view which shows the wafer stage WST1 typically is shown. As can be seen from FIG. 8, in the stage base SB, a Z-axis interferometer 150 serving as a light-wave interference type measuring instrument is provided in a passage SBb formed in the stage base SB, and from the Z-axis interferometer 150. A beam splitter 83A comprising a prism for branching the side beam of the beam in the -X direction and the + Y direction, and the -X side of the beam splitter 83A, and reflecting the side beam passing through the beam splitter 83A. The prism 83B etc. which bend in a + Z direction are provided. In addition, the side beams reflected by the beam splitter 83A are branched again by a beam splitter (not shown), and each branched light beam (side beam) is reflected toward the + Z direction by a separate prism or the like.
That is, with this structure, the side beam from the Z-axis interferometer 150 is irradiated with respect to three points of the plane mirror MZ1 provided in the bottom surface of the wafer stage WST1. Then, the return light of each side beam reflected by the planar mirror MZ1 is returned to the inside of the Z-axis interferometer 150 in the same path, branched inside, respectively, and coaxially synthesized with the reference beam, respectively, and the interfering light beam By receiving light by this other detector, the position and inclination (rotation amount in (theta) x, (theta) y direction) of the Z-axis direction of the wafer stage WST1 are measured. That is, the position detection apparatus is comprised by the optical system containing the Z-axis interferometer 150, the beam splitter 83A, the prism 83B, etc. Of course, three Z-axis interferometers may be provided and the Z position of only one point of the plane mirror MZ1 may be measured by a Z-axis interferometer. The measured value of the Z-axis interferometer 150 is supplied to the main controller 50.
In this case, in order to suppress the self-weight canceller 70A-70C from obstructing irradiation of the side beam from the Z-axis interferometer 150 to the planar mirror MZ1, the wafer stage WST1 carries out self-weight canceller. You may employ | adopt the structure which has only one.
Here, in the arrangement of the Z-axis interferometer 150, the beam splitter 83A, the prism 83B, and the like, the position and the rotation in the height direction of the wafer stage WST1 are always measured within the movement range of the wafer stage WST1. It is preferable to employ | adopt the arrangement which can be done.
In addition, in the other wafer stage WST2, three self-weighted cancelers identical to the self-weighted cancellers 70A to 70C provided in the wafer stage WST1 are provided, and these three self-weighted cancelers provide the wafer stage ( It is possible to support the WST2 in a low rigidity by positive pressure and to absorb the inclination of the wafer stage WST2.
In addition, a planar mirror is also attached to the bottom surface (surface on the -Z side) of the wafer stage WST2 over the entire area except the portion where the self-weight canceller is arranged, and the stage base is provided for at least three points of the planar mirror. The side beams from the Z-axis interferometer are irradiated through a beam splitter, a prism, or the like provided in the SB, and the position and the inclination directions (θ x and θ y directions) of the wafer stage WST2 in the same manner as described above. It is possible to measure the amount of rotation.
Thus, in this embodiment, the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are floated and supported above the support surface SBa by each of three self-weight cancellers 70A-70C, and also the Z position and inclination (theta) x , the amount of rotation in the θy direction) is measured by a Z-axis interferometer. For this reason, since the upper surface SBa of the stage base SB does not need to be a moving reference plane of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2, it is not necessary to make the flatness high like the conventional stage plate, and the processing is In addition to ease of use, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
1, a pair of alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2 serving as off-axis mark detection systems having the same function are provided on both sides of the projection optical system PL in the X axis direction. They are provided at positions separated from each other by the same distance from the optical axis AX of PL (approximately coincides with the projection center of the reticle pattern image).
As the alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2, in the present embodiment, an alignment sensor of a field image alignment (FIA) system in which the image processing method is a kind of an imaging alignment sensor is used. These alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2 are configured to include a light source (for example, a halogen lamp) and an imaging optical system, an indicator plate on which an indicator mark serving as a detection criterion is formed, an imaging device (CCD), and the like. In these alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2, the mark to be detected is illuminated by the broadband (broadband) light from the light source, and the reflected light from the vicinity of the mark is received by the CCD through the imaging optical system and the indicator. At this time, the image of the mark is imaged on the imaging surface of the CCD together with the image of the indicator. Then, by performing predetermined signal processing on the image signal (imaging signal) from the CCD, the position of the mark with reference to the center of the index mark as the detection reference point is measured. FIA-based alignment sensors such as alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2 are particularly effective for detecting asymmetric marks on aluminum layers or wafer surfaces.
In the present embodiment, the alignment system ALG1 measures the position of the alignment mark on the wafer held on the wafer stage WST1 and the reference mark formed on a reference mark plate (not shown) fixed on the wafer stage WST1. Used. The alignment system ALG2 is used for measuring the position of the alignment mark on the wafer held on the wafer stage WST2 and the reference mark formed on a reference mark plate (not shown) fixed on the wafer stage WST2.
The image signals from the alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2 are A / D-converted by an alignment control device (not shown), and arithmetic processing of the digitalized waveform signal is performed to detect the position of the mark relative to the index center. The information of this mark position is sent to the main controller 50 from the alignment control apparatus which is not shown in figure.
Next, the said interferometer system which measures the two-dimensional position of each wafer stage is demonstrated, referring FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, on the reflective surface of the moving mirror MY1 on the wafer stage WST1, the Y-axis interferometer 116 is along the Y axis passing through the optical axis of the projection optical system PL and the optical axis of the alignment system ALG1. The interferometer beam indicated by the side axis BI1Y from the side is irradiated. Similarly, on the reflective surface of the Y moving mirror MY2 on the wafer stage WST2, the side from the Y axis interferometer 118 along the Y axis passing through the optical axis of the projection optical system PL and the optical axis of the alignment system ALG2. The interferometer beam represented by the long axis BI2Y is irradiated. The Y-axis interferometers 116 and 118 receive the reflected light from the moving mirrors MY1 and MY2, respectively, thereby measuring the relative displacement from the reference position of the reflecting surface of each moving mirror, so that the Y of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are measured. The axial position is measured. Here, the Y-axis interferometers 116 and 118 are three-axis interferometers each having three optical axes, and pitching (rotation around the X-axis (θx rotation)) in addition to the measurement in the Y-axis direction of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2. And yawing (rotation in the θz direction) can be measured. The output value of each optical axis can be measured independently. However, the pitching measurement of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 is possible by the above-described Z axis interferometer, so that the pitch measurement is not necessarily possible for the Y axis interferometers 116 and 118.
In addition, the interferometer beams of the side axis BI1Y and the side axis BI2Y are always in contact with the moving mirrors MY1 and MY2 in the whole range of the movement range of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2, and thus the Y axis direction For any of the exposures using the projection optical system PL and the alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2, the position of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 is determined by the measured values of the longitudinal axis BI1Y and the longitudinal axis BI2Y. Are managed based on this.
Further, in the present embodiment, the X-axis interferometer 146 having the longitudinal axis BI2X perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis BI1Y, BI2Y in the optical axis of the projection optical system PL, and the alignment system ALG1, ALG2 X-axis interferometers 144 and 148 are formed, respectively, having side axes BI1X and BI3X that vertically intersect the side axes BI1Y and BI2Y in the optical axis.
In the case of this embodiment, the X-axis interferometer which has a side axis BI2X which passes the optical axis of the projection optical system PL for X-direction position measurement of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 at the time of exposure using the projection optical system PL. The measurement value of 146 is used, and in the X-direction position measurement of the wafer stage WST1 such as when the alignment system ALG1 is used, the X-axis interferometer having a side axis BI1X passing through the optical axis of the alignment system ALG1 ( The measurement value of 144 is used, and the X-axis interferometer 148 having the longitudinal axis BI3X passing through the optical axis of the alignment system ALG2 is used for the X-direction position measurement of the wafer stage WST2 when the alignment system ALG2 is used. ) Is used.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the XY two-dimensional coordinate positions of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are managed by five interferometers of the Y axis interferometers 116 and 118 and the X axis interferometers 144, 146 and 148. A wafer interferometer system is constructed.
In the present embodiment, since the distance between the side beams of the X axis interferometers 144, 146, 148 is larger than the length in the longitudinal direction of the moving mirrors MX1, MX2, in some cases, the side axis of the X axis interferometer is a wafer stage ( The reflection surfaces of WST1 and WST2 are deviated. That is, when moving from an alignment position to an exposure position, or moving from an exposure position to a wafer exchange position, the state which the interferometer beam of an X-axis direction does not touch the moving mirrors of the wafer stages WST1, WST2 arises, In other words, switching of the interferometer used for control becomes essential. In consideration of this point, a linear encoder (not shown) for measuring the position in the X axis direction of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 is provided.
That is, in the present embodiment, when the main controller 50 moves from the alignment position of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 to the exposure position, or from the exposure position to the wafer exchange position, the Y-axis interferometer Y position and X position of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 based on the Y position information of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 measured by the linear encoder and the X position information of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 measured by the linear encoder. To control the movement.
Of course, in the main controller 50, when the interferometer beam from the X-axis interferometer of the long axis, which has not been used for control until then, reaches the moving mirrors of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2, the X-axis interferometer is reset (or After that, the movement of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 is controlled based only on the measured values of the X-axis interferometer and the Y-axis interferometer constituting the interferometer system.
The X-axis interferometers 144, 146, and 148 are biaxial interferometers each having two optical axes. In addition to the measurement of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 in the X-axis direction, rolling (rotation around the Y-axis (θy Rotation)) can be measured. In addition, the output value of each optical axis can be measured independently. In this case as well, rolling measurement may not necessarily be possible for the same reasons as described above. However, in the case where the measurement beam from the Z-axis interferometer does not radiate to at least one of the three points, rolling measurement is performed. It is desirable to be able to. This point also applies to the above-described pitching measurement.
The measured values of each interferometer constituting the interferometer system configured as described above are sent to the main controller 50. In the main controller 50, the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are independently controlled through the above-described drive devices DA and DB and the Y-axis linear motors LY1 to LY4 based on the output values of the interferometers.
In addition, in this embodiment, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the reticle mark on the reticle R and the reference mark plate which is not shown on the wafer stage WST1, WST2 above the reticle R via the projection optical system PL. A reticle alignment system of TTR (Through The Reticle) method using an exposure wavelength for observing an image mark at the same time is formed. The detection signals of these reticle alignment systems are supplied to the main controller 50 via an alignment control device (not shown). In addition, the structure of a reticle alignment system is disclosed in detail, for example in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 7-176468, US Pat. No. 5,646,413 etc. corresponding to this. As long as the national legislation of the designated country or selected country specified in this international application permits, the disclosure in the above publication and the corresponding US patent is hereby incorporated by reference as part of the description herein.
In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the autofocus / auto leveling measuring mechanism for irradiating a focal point position to projection optical system PL and alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2, respectively (hereinafter, "AF / AL system"). Are installed respectively. Thus, the structure of the exposure apparatus which provided the AF / AL system in each of the projection optical system PL and the pair of alignment systems ALG1 and ALG2 is, for example, Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 10-214783 and its correspondence. US Patent No. 6,341,007 and the like are described in detail, and the disclosure of the above-described US Patent is incorporated herein by reference as long as the national law of the designated country or selected country specified in the present international application permits.
In the exposure apparatus 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above, while the wafer stage WST1 is performing the exposure operation directly under the projection optical system PL, the wafer stage WST2 side is equipped with a wafer exchange and alignment system. The wafer alignment operation is performed just below (ALG2) (states of Figs. 1 and 2). Similarly, while the wafer stage WST2 is performing the exposure operation directly under the projection optical system PL, the wafer replacement operation is performed on the wafer stage WST1 side just below the alignment system ALG1. That is, in the exposure apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the throughput is improved by performing the parallel processing operation on the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 in this way.
At the time of the exposure operation, the position of the wafer in the Z-axis direction is measured via the Z-axis interferometer 150, and according to the measurement result, the main controller 50 performs the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2). It drives through the drive apparatus DA (or DB). In the case where the lengthwise beam from the Z-axis interferometer 150 does not touch the planar mirror or the like, the AF / AL system may be used to measure the position in the Z direction of the wafer. It is also possible to simultaneously measure the Z position of the wafer by the Z axis interferometer 150 and the AF / AL system, and to control the Z axis direction position of the wafer stage based on both measurement results.
In the above-mentioned wafer exchange, the unloaded wafer and the loading of a new wafer are performed by the wafer loader which is not shown in figure, on the wafer stage WST1 (or wafer stage WST2).
Further, in wafer alignment operation, for example, using an alignment system (ALG1 or ALG2), for example, EGA (Enhanced Global Alignment) method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-44429 and US Pat. No. 4,780,617 and the like. Wafer alignment is performed. As long as the national legislation of the designated country or selected country specified in this international application permits, the disclosure in the above publication and the corresponding US patent is hereby incorporated by reference as part of the description herein.
After completion of such wafer alignment, an inter-short stepping operation for moving the wafer stage WST1 (or wafer stage WST2) to an acceleration start position for exposure of each shot region on the wafer W1 (or wafer W2). And the exposure operation of the step-and-scan method which repeats the exposure operation which transfers the pattern of the reticle R to the shot area | region of the exposure target by the above-mentioned scanning exposure. In addition, since this exposure operation is performed by the same method as a normal scanning stepper, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the exposure operation, the main controller 50 uses the pair of Y-axis linear motors LY1, LY2 (or LY3, LY4) in the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2) in the Y-axis direction (scan direction). While driving with a long stroke, the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2) is minutely driven in the six degrees of freedom direction through the drive device DA (or DB). In particular, in the scanning direction, the wafer stage can be minutely driven by the Y-axis fine motors VY1 and VY2 so as to absorb the synchronization error with the reticle stage RST of the wafer stage by driving a pair of Y-axis linear motors. have.
As described above in detail, according to the stage apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the movable members 44A to 44F formed on the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2) and the stators 46A to 44 arranged along the X axis direction. A drive force parallel to the XY plane is applied to the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2) by the drive device DA (or DB) having 46F to move the wafer stage WST1 (or WST2) in the gravity direction Z. It drives in the direction (X-axis, Y-axis, and (theta) z direction) in the two-dimensional plane (XY plane) orthogonal to an axial direction, the inclination direction ((theta) x, (theta) y direction) with respect to XY plane, and a Z-axis direction. By doing so, the wafer stage, even the wafer held on the wafer stage, is not used, even if a stage having a complicated structure having a movable body movable in the two-dimensional plane and a table movable in the oblique direction on the movable body is not employed as in the prior art. It is possible to move in the six degrees of freedom. In this case, since the wafer stage can be manufactured in one piece, the structure of the wafer stage can be simplified, and the above-described deterioration in position controllability of the table due to the combination of the two-dimensional moving stage and the table, which has been a problem in the past, has occurred. There is no fear of deterioration of position controllability of the stage due to the same factor as. Therefore, with a simple structure, high precision position control of the wafer held by the wafer stage can be realized.
In addition, in the stage apparatus 20 of this embodiment, since the wafer stage has a box-shaped shape, high rigidity of the wafer stage can be realized, whereby the wafer stage can be driven stably. In other words, it becomes possible to realize high-precision positioning of the wafer.
In addition, a cylinder portion 170A and a piston portion inserted into the cylinder portion 170A and capable of relative movement with respect to the cylinder portion are provided in the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 capable of holding the wafer and moving in the XY plane. Self-weight canceller 70A to 170B, which support the self-weight of the wafer stage above the stage base SB by the positive pressure of the gas inside the cylinder portion that elastically supports the piston 170B in the gravity direction downward. Since 70C) is provided, the rigidity of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 is supported by the positive pressure of the gas, so that the rigidity can be lowered as compared with the air bearing structure that has conventionally supported the wafer stage in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, since transmission of the vibration of the stage base SB, etc. to the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 can be suppressed as much as possible, high precision position control of a stage can also be realized from this point of view.
In addition, in this embodiment, since the Z-axis interferometer which measures the Z-axis direction position of the wafer stage WST1, WST2 is formed, the position of the height direction of the wafer stage WST1, WST2 can be detected at all times. In this case, when the airflow system outlet of the downflow is formed above the wafer stage in order to improve the exposure accuracy, the Z-axis interferometer is arranged in a space where the gas environment below the wafer stage is stable, so that fluctuations in the interferometer beam, etc. occur. This is suppressed as much as possible, and the position of the height direction of a wafer stage can be detected with high precision.
In addition, since the self-weight cancelers 70A to 70C have a thrust bearing which forms a predetermined clearance between the upper surface (supporting surface) of the stage base SB, the self-weight canceller 70A to 70C is in a non-contact state with respect to the stage base SB. It is possible to support the wafer stages WST1 and WST2.
Moreover, the thrust bearing is formed in the groove | channel 74b (gas blowing port) formed in the surface of the side which opposes the upper surface of the stage base SB of the piston part 170B, and the piston part 170B, and the groove | channel 74b and Since the air supply passage 74a communicates the positive pressure space inside the cylinder 170A, a non-contact between the self-weighted canceller and the stage base can be realized without separately installing a bearing mechanism requiring piping. have.
And since the self-weight canceller 70A-70C is equipped with the radial bearing which forms a predetermined clearance between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder part 170A, and the outer peripheral surface of the piston part 170B, it can absorb the inclination of a wafer stage. This can suppress vibration of the wafer stage. Also in this case, the radial bearing is formed in the gas ejection opening 78 (aperture hole) formed in the outer peripheral surface of the piston part 170B, and the piston part 170B, and the gas ejection opening 78 (aperture hole) and the cylinder 170A. By including the air supply passage (ventilating channel: 76a to 76d) for communicating the positive pressure space therein, it is not necessary to install a bearing mechanism requiring piping, etc., so that there is no fear of the piping being pulled out with high accuracy. Drive control of the wafer stage is possible.
In addition, since the self-weight canceller is formed at three points which are not in a straight line, it is possible to stably support the wafer stage with respect to the Z axis direction.
Moreover, according to the exposure apparatus 10 of this embodiment, since the stage apparatus 20 which can perform highly accurate position control is provided, it is possible to transfer the pattern formed in the reticle on a wafer with high precision. In the present embodiment, since the two wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are provided, the exposure operation, the alignment operation, and the like can be processed in parallel on the two wafer stages, so that the throughput can be improved.
In the above embodiment, the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are driven in the six degrees of freedom, but the present invention is not limited thereto, but in the stage apparatus of the present invention, the stage apparatus is further maintained in the stage. The object may be driven in at least one degree of freedom in the two-dimensional plane direction and in the inclination direction (one degree of freedom direction or two degree of freedom direction) with respect to the two-dimensional plane.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the wafer stage of this invention was employ | adopted for the twin stage type stage apparatus provided with two wafer stages was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this, One wafer stage is mentioned. It can also be employ | adopted for the single stage type wafer stage apparatus provided. It is also possible to employ a multi-type wafer stage device having three or more wafer stages.
If the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are detachable from the stator, and the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 are interchanged with each other to form a switching type twin stage, the alignment system can be one.
In addition, in the said embodiment, although the position of the Z-axis direction of a wafer stage was measured using a Z-axis interferometer, this invention is not limited to this, A wafer is used using an AF mechanism, without forming a Z-axis interferometer. The Z axis direction position of the stage may be measured.
In addition, in the said embodiment, although the wafer stage was demonstrated as box shape, this invention is not limited to this, The movable body of each motor mentioned above corresponding to the some stator arrange | positioned along the predetermined 1-axis direction is a wafer. The wafer stage may have any shape as long as it can be provided on the stage side.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the stage base SB was supported substantially horizontally on the floor surface through the dustproof unit which is not shown in figure was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the stator 64A of the Y-axis linear motors LY1 and LY3 and the stator 64B of the Y-axis linear motors LY2 and LY4 are fixed to the stage base SB. The plurality of air pads AP are provided on the bottom surface of the stage base SB, and the above-described stages above the stage base SB are provided above these other stage bases 45 by the air pads AP. Each component may be floated and supported in a non-contact state. If such a configuration is adopted and the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 move in the XY plane, the reaction force of the driving force that generates the movement acts on the stator 64A, 64B, thereby reacting according to the law of conservation of momentum. The stage base SB moves in the direction of canceling. Therefore, the generation of vibration due to the movement in the XY plane of the wafer stages WST1 and WST2 can be prevented almost surely, and the movement of the center position of the system including the stage base SB also does not occur. Because of this, uneven load can be prevented. In this case, since the mass (weight) of the stage base SB necessarily increases, it is not necessary to secure the movement stroke of the stage base SB so much. Moreover, you may be provided with the drive mechanism (trim motor) which can drive the stage base SB in XY plane. In this case, the position of the stage base SB can be returned to the predetermined position by the trim motor when the exposure is not affected.
In addition, in the said embodiment, although the wafer stage employ | adopted the structure which has a self-weight canceller, this invention is not limited to this, The Z axis fine motion motor VZ which generate | occur | produces the driving force in a Z-axis direction is mentioned. You may employ | adopt the structure etc. which support the weight of a wafer stage.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the stage apparatus of this invention was applied to the drive system of a wafer was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this, It is also possible to apply the stage apparatus of this invention as a drive system of a reticle. 10 shows an example in which the stage apparatus of the present invention is applied to a drive system for a reticle.
The stage apparatus 101 on the side of the reticle shown in FIG. 10 has a long stroke in the Y axis direction of the reticle stage RST 'as a substantially flat plate-shaped stage holding the reticle R and the reticle stage RST'. In addition to driving in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and the drive device which micro-drives in (theta) x, (theta) y, (theta) z direction is provided.
The drive device includes a Y-axis linear motor 103 1 to 10 4 4 which exerts a driving force in the Y-axis direction on the reticle stage RST ', and an X which exerts a driving force in the X-axis direction on the reticle stage RST'. The shaft fine motion motor 105 and the Z axis micro drive motors 107 1 and 107 2 which apply a driving force in the Z axis direction to the reticle stage RST 'are provided.
The Y-axis linear motor 103 1 includes a magnetic pole unit 113A in a state of being embedded in a reticle stage RST ', and an armature unit 113B disposed to face the magnetic pole unit 113A. The driving force in the Y-axis direction is generated by the electromagnetic interaction between the alternating magnetic field in the Y-axis direction formed by the magnetic pole unit 113A and the current flowing through the plurality of armature coils provided in the armature unit 113B. The same configuration is applied to the other Y-axis linear motors 103 2 to 103 4 .
The X-axis fine motor 105 is constituted by a voice coil motor, and has a permanent magnet 115A having a Y-axis direction provided at the -X side end portion of the reticle stage RST 'as a longitudinal direction, and a surface plate 99. The Y-axis direction provided by the mounting member 97 on the longitudinal direction is provided, and the armature unit 115B whose XZ cross section is U-shaped is provided. In the armature unit 115B, an armature coil is provided so that an electric current flows in the Y-axis direction in the magnetic field formed by the permanent magnet 115A, and in the Z-axis direction by the current in the Y-axis direction and the permanent magnet. By the electromagnetic interaction with the magnetic field, a driving force in the X axis direction acting on the reticle stage RST 'is generated.
The Z-axis drive motors 107 1 , 107 2 are also constituted by a voice coil motor in the same manner as the X-axis fine motor 105, and are provided with permanent magnets provided on the lower surface of the reticle stage RST 'and a surface plate ( A magnetic pole unit having a U-shaped cross section provided on 99) is provided. As a result, the driving force in the Z axis direction acts on the reticle stage RST '.
According to the drive device configured as described above, the reticle stage RST 'is driven not only in the X, Y, and Z axis directions, but also in the Y-axis linear motors 103 1 to 10 3 4 . It is possible to drive the reticle stage RST 'in the rotational direction (pitching direction) around the X axis by differently driving the driving force of the 103 1 and 103 3 and the linear motors 103 2 and 103 4 located below. And the driving force of the linear motors 103 1 and 103 2 located on the -X side of the reticle R and the linear motors 103 3 and 103 4 located on the + X side of the reticle R are different. It is possible to micro drive the stage RST 'in the rotation direction (yaw direction) around the Z axis. In addition, by varying the driving force of the two Z-axis drive motors 107 1 , 107 2 , it is possible to micro drive the reticle stage RST 'in the rotational direction (rolling direction) around the Y axis.
Thus, by employing the above-described configuration as the stage apparatus on the reticle side, it is possible to drive the reticle stage RST 'in six degrees of freedom without employing the reticle stage having a fine-grained structure. High precision position control of the reticle is enabled, and the reticle stage can be reduced in size and weight.
In addition, in the structure of FIG. 10, you may employ | adopt a pair of X-axis fine motors arrange | positioned in two stages up and down instead of the X-axis fine motors 105. As shown in FIG. In this way, the reticle stage RST 'can be minutely driven in the rotational direction (rolling direction) around the Y-axis by varying the driving force in the X-axis direction generated by each of the pair of X-axis fine motors.
Therefore, the effect equivalent to the exposure apparatus 10 of the said embodiment is replaced by substituting each stage component of the reticle side containing the reticle stage RST of FIG. In addition to the above, the exposure accuracy can be improved by improving the position controllability of the reticle R and further improving the synchronization accuracy between the reticle and the wafer.
Of course, you may apply the stage apparatus of this invention only to the drive system of a reticle.
In addition, in the structure of FIG. 10, the stator of the Y-axis linear motor which drives the reticle stage RST 'to the Y-axis direction is fixed to the rectangular frame-shaped member floated and supported on the surface 99 in the state surrounding the reticle stage. You may do it. This makes it possible to cancel the reaction force because the frame member moves in the Y-axis direction by reaction force caused by the drive of the reticle stage. Also in this case, you may form the trim motor which drives a rectangular frame-shaped member.
In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where this invention was applied to scanning type exposure apparatuses, such as a step-and-scan system, of course, the application range of this invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be suitably applied to a projection exposure apparatus of a step and repeat method, a projection exposure apparatus of a step and stitch method, and the like.
Further, in the above embodiment, as the illumination light IL, ultraviolet rays such as KrF excimer laser light, vacuum ultraviolet light such as F 2 laser, ArF excimer laser, or ultraviolet rays from an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp (g line, i line) Etc.), but not limited to this, other vacuum ultraviolet light such as an Ar 2 laser light (wavelength 126 nm) may be used. Further, for example, not limited to laser light output from the respective light sources as vacuum ultraviolet light, infrared light emitted from a DFB semiconductor laser or a fiber laser, or a visible light single wavelength laser light, for example, erbium ( Er (or both of erbium and ytterium (Yb)) may be used by amplifying a doped fiber amplifier and using harmonics wavelength-converted into ultraviolet light using a nonlinear optical crystal.
Moreover, the exposure apparatus which uses EUV light, X-rays, or charged particle beams, such as an electron beam or an ion beam, as an illumination light IL, the exposure apparatus of a proximity system which does not use a projection optical system, for example, a mirror projection ear The present invention may also be applied to a liner and a liquid immersion type exposure apparatus in which a liquid is filled between a projection optical system PL and a wafer, for example, disclosed in International Publication WO 99/49504 and the like. The liquid immersion exposure apparatus may be a scanning exposure method using a reflection-optical projection optical system, or may be a static exposure method using a projection optical system having a projection magnification of 1/8. In the latter liquid immersion type exposure apparatus, in order to form a large pattern on an object such as a wafer, it is preferable to employ the above-described step and stitch method.
In addition, an optical optical system and a projection optical system composed of a plurality of lenses are mounted on the exposure apparatus main body for optical adjustment, and a reticle stage or wafer stage composed of a plurality of mechanical components is mounted on the exposure apparatus main body to connect wiring and piping. By further comprehensive adjustment (electrical adjustment, operation check, etc.), the exposure apparatus of the above embodiment can be manufactured. In addition, it is preferable to perform manufacture of exposure apparatus in the clean room where temperature, a clean degree, etc. were managed.
Moreover, this invention is not limited to the exposure apparatus for semiconductor manufacture, The exposure apparatus which transfers a device pattern on a glass plate used for manufacture of a display containing a liquid crystal display element etc. is used for manufacture of a thin film magnetic head. The present invention can also be applied to an exposure apparatus for transferring a device pattern onto a ceramic wafer, and an exposure apparatus used for manufacturing an imaging device (such as a CCD), a micromachine, an organic EL, a DNA chip, and the like. In addition, in order to manufacture reticles or masks used in photoexposure devices, EUV exposure devices, X-ray exposure devices, electron beam exposure devices and the like, as well as microdevices such as semiconductor devices, a circuit pattern is transferred to a glass substrate or silicon wafer or the like. The present invention can also be applied to an exposure apparatus. Here, in the exposure apparatus using DUV (ultraviolet) light, VUV (vacuum ultraviolet) light, etc., a transmission type reticle is generally used, and as a reticle substrate, quartz glass, fluorine-doped quartz glass, fluorite, magnesium fluoride, or quartz is used. Etc. are used. In addition, in a proximity X-ray exposure apparatus, an electron beam exposure apparatus, a transmission type mask (stencil mask, a membrane mask) is used, and a silicon wafer etc. are used as a mask substrate.
The semiconductor device comprises the steps of designing the function and performance of the device, fabricating a reticle based on the designing step, fabricating a wafer from silicon material, using the exposure apparatus of the embodiment described above by the method described above. Is manufactured through a step (exposure step), a device assembly step (including a dicing step, a bonding step, a package step), an inspection step and the like. In this case, since the exposure apparatus and the exposure method of the above embodiment are used in the exposure step, the pattern of the reticle can be transferred onto the wafer with high accuracy, and as a result, the productivity (including yield) of the high integration device It becomes possible to improve.
A stage holding the object and movable in at least a two-dimensional in-plane direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity and in an oblique direction with respect to the two-dimensional surface; And
A drive apparatus which has a plurality of movable parts connected to the said stage, the some stator arrange | positioned along the predetermined 1-axis direction in the said two-dimensional plane, and drives the said stage by the drive force of the direction parallel to the said two-dimensional plane. A stage device having a.
And the drive device also drives the stage in a rotational direction within the two-dimensional plane.
And the drive device drives the stage in the direction of gravity as well.
A stator for driving the stage in the gravity direction is disposed between a plurality of stators for driving the stage in the in-plane direction of the two-dimensional surface.
And the driving device drives the stage in three degrees of freedom in the two-dimensional plane, two degrees of freedom in the inclination direction with respect to the two-dimensional plane, and six degrees of freedom in the gravity direction. Device.
The stage has a box shape, characterized in that the stage device.
And a light-wave interference type measuring instrument that irradiates a side beam formed on the stage, receives a reflected light from the reflection surface of the side beam, and measures a position in the direction of gravity of the stage. , Stage device.
A plurality of stages each holding an object; And
A stage having a drive system for individually driving the stages individually using a driving force in a direction parallel to the two-dimensional plane, at least in a two-dimensional in-plane direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity; Device.
The drive system is formed in correspondence with the respective stages separately, and the corresponding stage is a two-dimensional in-plane direction and the two-dimensional surface orthogonal to at least the gravity direction, using a driving force in a direction parallel to the two-dimensional surface. And a plurality of driving devices for driving in an inclined direction with respect to the stage device.
And each of the drive devices includes a plurality of stators arranged along a predetermined one axis direction in the two-dimensional plane, and a plurality of movers connected to the stage and corresponding to the stators.
Each said drive device drives the stage also in the direction of rotation in the two-dimensional plane.
Each said drive device drives the said stage also in the said gravity direction.
An exposure apparatus for illuminating a mask with an energy beam and transferring a pattern formed on the mask to a photosensitive object,
An exposure apparatus comprising the stage apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, as at least one drive system among the mask and the photosensitive object.
In the lithography step, the pattern formed on the mask is transferred to a photosensitive object using the exposure apparatus according to claim 13.
KR1020117024304A 2003-04-01 2004-03-31 Stage device, exposure device, and method of producing device KR20110128930A (en)
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JP5246243B2 (en) 2013-07-24 Stage apparatus, exposure apparatus, stage apparatus drive method, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
JPWO2008029917A1 (en) 2010-01-21 Mask, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
US20160209764A1 (en) 2016-07-21 Measuring method, stage apparatus, and exposure apparatus
2012-11-13 J201 Request for trial against refusal decision
2013-01-04 B601 Maintenance of original decision after re-examination before a trial
2013-01-04 E801 Decision on dismissal of amendment
2014-03-20 J301 Trial decision
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