Patent ID: 8711331

Claim:
An optical module comprising: a first holding device with an inner circumference, which extends in a first circumferential direction, at least one first supporting device configured to support a first optical element, said at least one first supporting device being fixed at said inner circumference of said first holding device, a first assembly space being defined by a first shell formed if said at least one first supporting device were displaced through 360° about a central axis and along said first circumferential direction; and at least one second supporting device configured to support a second optical element, said at least one second supporting device being fixed at said inner circumference of said first holding device, a second assembly space being defined by a second shell formed if said at least one second supporting device were displaced through 360° along said first circumferential direction, and wherein: said first shell has an outer surface having a first end located at said inner circumference of said first holding device at a first level along said central axis and a second end located adjacent said first optical element at a second level along said central axis, said second end of said first shell being opposite said first end of said first shell and said second level being spaced from said first level along said central axis; said second shell has an outer surface having a first end located at said inner circumference of said first holding device and a second end adjacent said second optical element, said second end of said second shell being opposite said first end of said second shell; said outer surface of said first shell intersects said outer surface of said second shell so that said first assembly space intersects said second assembly space, said at least one first supporting device does not contact said at least one second supporting device, said first optical element is separate from said second optical element; said first optical element is non-contiguous with said second optical element; and said optical module is configured to be used in a microlithography objective.