Patent ID: 7687783

Claim:
A multi-beam deflector array device for use in a particle-beam exposure apparatus employing a beam of charged particles (lb), said multi-beam deflector array device having an overall plate-like shape with a membrane region, said membrane region comprising: a first side facing towards the incoming beam of particles (lb) and a second side opposite to the first side, an array of apertures, each aperture allowing passage of a corresponding beam element formed out of said beam of particles, a plurality of depressions, each depression being formed in one of the sides of the membrane region and associated with at least one of the apertures, and an array of electrodes, wherein each aperture is associated with at least one of said electrodes and each electrode is located in one of said depressions, said electrodes being configured to realize a non-deflecting state, wherein the particles that pass through the apertures are allowed to travel along a desired path, and a deflecting state, wherein the particles are deflected off the desired path.