Patent ID: 7868303

Claim:
A patterning device handling apparatus for use in charged particle beam imaging, comprising: a gripper for holding a patterning device at different angles, said gripper comprising a first gripping member and a second gripping member, with said first gripping member for supporting said patterning device thereon and said second gripping member for fixing said patterning device in place through linear movement along a straight line track, wherein said first gripping member is equipped with a first plurality of positioning projections, and said second gripping member is equipped with a second plurality of positioning projections, wherein when said patterning device is held at one angle, said first plurality of positioning projections abut against one edge of said patterning device and said second plurality of positioning projections abut against the opposite edge of said patterning device, and when said patterning device is held at another angle, said first plurality of positioning projections abut against two neighboring edges of said patterning device, and said second plurality of positioning projections abut against the other two neighboring edges of said patterning device; and a gripping force provider connected to said second gripping member for providing a gripping force to said second gripping member thereby causing said linear movement of said second gripping member.