Patent ID: 8259285

Claim:
A method of producing optimized setpoint data for controlling actuation of elements of an array of individually controllable elements configured to modulate a radiation beam in a maskless lithography system, the maskless lithography system having an illumination system configured to condition the radiation beam and a projection system configured to project the modulated radiation beam onto a substrate, the method comprising: a) obtaining starting setpoint data representing an ideal device structure; b) estimating the device structure that would result from applying the starting setpoint data to the array of individually controllable elements configured to modulate a radiation beam, wherein estimating further comprises: b1) estimating the radiation dose pattern that would be exposed onto the substrate as a result of applying the setpoint data to the array of individually controllable elements; b2) estimating the device structure that would result from a post-exposure processing of the substrate after exposure to the estimated radiation dose pattern; c) comparing the device structure estimated in step (b) with a target device structure to be formed on a substrate to determine a device structure error; d) modifying the setpoint data and repeating steps (b) and (c) using the modified setpoint data instead of the starting setpoint data until the device structure error falls below a predetermined threshold; and e) outputting the modified setpoint data for which the device structure error is below the predetermined threshold as the optimized setpoint data, whereby the array of individually controllable elements is actuated based on the modified setpoint data.