Correction information is acquired for compensating for a measurement error of a second encoder system that occurs due to a displacement between four sections of a scale member of the second encoder system, based on measurement information of the second encoder system obtained in a fifth area in which four heads of the second encoder system that are provided on a second stage, which holds a substrate, respectively face the four sections of the scale member.

A lithographic apparatus having a substrate table, a projection system, an encoder system, a measurement frame and a measurement system. The substrate table has a holding surface for holding a substrate. The projection system is for projecting an image on the substrate. The encoder system is for providing a signal representative of a position of the substrate table. The measurement system is for measuring a property of the lithographic apparatus. The holding surface is along a plane. The projection system is at a first side of the plane. The measurement frame is arranged to support at least part of the encoder system and at least part of the measurement system at a second side of the plane different from the first side.

The present invention provides a control apparatus for performing synchronous control to synchronize driving of a second moving member so as to follow driving of a first moving member, including a feedforward control system that includes a calculator configured to obtain an input/output response of the second moving member and position deviations of the first moving member and the second moving member while driving the first moving member and the second moving member in synchronism with each other, and calculate a feedforward manipulated variable based on the input/output response of the second moving member and the synchronous error between the first moving member and the second moving member obtained from the position deviations of the first moving member and the second moving member.

The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to overlay optimization and methods of manufacture. The method includes performing, by a computing device, an exposure with a correction parameter to a first wafer; performing, by the computing device, a decorrection of the correction parameter; collecting, by the computing device, overlay data in response to the exposure and the decorrection; estimating, by the computing device, an optimal parameter from the overlay data; and applying, by the computing device, the optimal parameter to a second wafer to align an overlay in the second wafer.

A lithographic apparatus having a substrate table, a projection system, an encoder system, a measurement frame and a measurement system. The substrate table has a holding surface for holding a substrate. The projection system is for projecting an image on the substrate. The encoder system is for providing a signal representative of a position of the substrate table. The measurement system is for measuring a property of the lithographic apparatus. The holding surface is along a plane. The projection system is at a first side of the plane. The measurement frame is arranged to support at least part of the encoder system and at least part of the measurement system at a second side of the plane different from the first side.

The present disclosure generally relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to overlay optimization and methods of manufacture. The method includes performing, by a computing device, an exposure with a correction parameter to a first wafer; performing, by the computing device, a decorrection of the correction parameter; collecting, by the computing device, overlay data in response to the exposure and the decorrection; estimating, by the computing device, an optimal parameter from the overlay data; and applying, by the computing device, the optimal parameter to a second wafer to align an overlay in the second wafer.

The present invention provides a control apparatus for performing synchronous control to synchronize driving of a second moving member so as to follow driving of a first moving member, including a feedforward control system that includes a calculator configured to obtain an input/output response of the second moving member and position deviations of the first moving member and the second moving member while driving the first moving member and the second moving member in synchronism with each other, and calculate a feedforward manipulated variable based on the input/output response of the second moving member and the synchronous error between the first moving member and the second moving member obtained from the position deviations of the first moving member and the second moving member.

A substrate stage device that moves a substrate has: a noncontact holder that supports the substrate in a noncontact manner; a first drive section that moves the noncontact holder; scale plates that serve as a reference of movement of the noncontact holder; a first measurement section that has scale plates and Y heads, one of the scale plates and the Y heads being provided at the noncontact holder and the other of the scale plates and the Y heads being provided between the scale plates and the noncontact holder, and that measures position information of the Y heads; a second measurement section that measures position information of the other of the scale plates and the Y heads; and a position measurement system that obtains position information of the noncontact holder on the basis of the position information measured by the first and the second measurement sections.

An optical measurement device includes: a deformation measurement device for measuring magnitude of deformation of an optical detection platform frame, and a correction module for correcting the position of a substrate carrier and/or the position of an optical detection device according to the magnitude of deformation of the optical detection platform frame, so as to eliminate an error in measurement of mark positions due to deformation of the frame. An optical measurement method is also disclosed.

Optical control modules for integrated circuit device patterning and reticles and methods including the same. The methods include exposing, via a reticle, initial and subsequent reticle exposure fields on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The initial and subsequent reticle exposure fields pattern corresponding array regions and margin regions on the semiconductor substrate. The initial and subsequent reticle exposure fields partially overlap such that an initial optical control module (OCM), which is patterned during exposure of the initial reticle exposure field, and a subsequent OCM, which is patterned during exposure of the subsequent reticle exposure field, both are positioned within a single control module die. The reticles include reticles that can be utilized during the methods or that can form the integrated circuit devices. The integrated circuit devices include integrated circuit devices formed utilizing the methods or the reticles.