Patent ID: 7009753

Claim:
An apparatus for creating a pattern on a workpiece sensitive to light radiation, comprising: a light source for emitting light flashes in the wavelength range from EUV to IR, a spatial light modulator (SLM) having a multitude of modulating elements (pixels), adapted to be illuminated by said radiation, a projection system creating an image of the modulator on the workpiece, an electronic data processing and delivery system receiving a digital description of the pattern to be written, converting said pattern to modulator signals, and feeding said signals to the modulator, a precision mechanical system for positioning said workpiece and/or projection system relative to each other, and an electronic control system controlling the position of the workpiece, the feeding of the signals to the modulator and the intensity of the radiation, so that said pattern is printed on the workpiece, wherein said electronic control system is further arranged to control a trigger signal to the light source for emitting the light flashes so that a trigger signal timing is varied to compensate for flash-to-flash time jitter in said light source, and at least partially correct for pattern placement errors.