Patent ID: 7053982

Claim:
An alignment apparatus comprising: a first support member having a reference surface which movably supports an object; a driving unit which moves the object in at least one direction on the reference surface and aligns the object at a predetermined position, said driving unit comprising: (i) a first driving unit which moves the object in a first direction, and (ii) a second driving unit which moves the object in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a second support member which is provided separately from said first support member and supports a heating unit of said driving unit, through a bearing, wherein said first support member supports the object so as to allow the object to move in the first and second directions, and said second support member supports the first and second driving units, the first driving unit has a first movable element which moves the object in the first direction and a first stator which applies a driving force to the first movable element, the second driving unit has a second movable element which moves the object in the second direction and a second stator which applies a driving force to the second movable element, and the bearing has a hydrostatic bearing, and the first and second stators are supported on said second support member through the hydrostatic bearing.