Patent ID: 8779635

Claim:
A reticle positioning apparatus for actinic EUV reticle inspection comprising: a sealed inspection chamber containing: a reticle stage for holding a reticle, said reticle stage having an upper stage with a long travel in a y direction and a lower stage with a long travel in an x direction; and a cable entry chamber isolated from the inspection chamber by a cable chamber wall, said cable entry chamber having a cable stage movable in the y direction, and a tube connected at a reticle stage end to the reticle stage and within the cable stage chamber to the cable stage, said tube passing from the cable stage through the inspection chamber through a seal in the chamber wall and opening into the cable stage chamber for entry of cables and hoses within the cable stage chamber, which cables and hoses pass through the tube to the reticle stage, said cable stage being slaved to the reticle stage such that movement of the upper stage in the y direction, at the location of the tube, is detected and provided to signal the cable stage to move the distance of movement of the upper stage in the y direction.