摘要 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a stage apparatus which is modular and allows for reaction force cancellation are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a stage apparatus includes a table assembly and a first stage. The table assembly supports an object, e.g., a wafer or a reticle, which is to be moved. The first stage includes a counter mass arrangement, a plurality of carriages, and a plurality of linkages. The plurality of carriages is coupled to the table assembly through the plurality of linkages such that a first carriage and a second carriage are arranged to move in substantially opposite directions along a first axis to cause the table assembly to move along a second axis while reaction forces generated when the first carriage and the second carriage are substantially cancelled by the counter mass arrangement.
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