Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To moderate a defect induced by an immersion liquid in an immersion lithography projection apparatus where a liquid removal system surrounds a liquid supply system for providing liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. SOLUTION: The liquid removal system 100 is moveable relative to the liquid supply system (partially shown as a barrier member 12) and is controlled to have substantially zero velocity relative to the moving substrate table. The gap between the liquid supply system (partially shown as the barrier member 12) and the liquid removal system 100 may be covered and the atmosphere between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system above the substrate table may be maintained so that the vapor pressure of liquid is relatively high. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the presence of air bubbles in an immersion liquid to cause an adverse effect on the quality of a pattern image in an immersion lithography apparatus. SOLUTION: In the immersion lithography apparatus, the formation of air bubbles in the immersion liquid can be minimized or prevented by reducing the size of a gap or a gap region between an object and a substrate table and/or providing a cover plate covering the gap. The immersion lithography apparatus may further include an actuator which laterally moves the object in a hole of the support table to reduce a gap between an end of the object and a side of the hole when the object is in contact with a liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method for expanding the position control bandwidth of a substrate support so as to position a large-mass substrate support of a lithographic apparatus with high accuracy. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus has an illumination system for conditioning a radiation beam, and a patterning device support for supporting a patterning device. Furthermore, the lithographic apparatus has: a substrate support for supporting a substrate; a machine frame for supporting the substrate support; a projection system for projecting a patterned beam onto a target part of the substrate; and a substrate support drive for moving the substrate support at least in one direction. The lithographic apparatus can have a reaction mass, a balance mass, and a base frame, and the substrate support drive is formed so as to generate a force, at least in one direction between the substrate support and the reaction mass, the balance mass, or a support frame. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate handler, a lithographic apparatus, and a device manufacturing method. SOLUTION: This invention relates to a substrate handler for handling a substrate including a conditioning device for conditioning the substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate handler includes a displacing device configured to displace the substrate in a direction substantially parallel to the support surface wherein the displacing device is configured to displace the substrate during a conditioning process from one conditioning position to one or more other conditioning positions. According to the other embodiment, the substrate handler includes a float device for providing an air bed above a support surface of the substrate handler, the substrate handler is configured to support the substrate on an air bed during conditioning of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an immersion lithography projection apparatus in which a liquid removal system surrounds a liquid supply system that supplies a liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. SOLUTION: The liquid removal system is capable of moving with respect to the liquid supply system and is controlled so that is has substantially a relative velocity of zero with respect to a moving substrate table. A gap between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system can be covered and the atmosphere on the substrate table can be maintained so that the liquid vapor pressure becomes relatively high between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the presence of air bubbles in an immersion liquid to cause an adverse effect on the quality of a pattern image in an immersion lithography. SOLUTION: In the immersion lithography, the formation of air bubbles in the immersion liquid can be minimized or prevented by reducing the size of a gap or a gap region between an object and a substrate table and/or providing a cover plate covering the gap. The immersion lithography may further comprise an actuator which laterally moves the object in a hole of the support table to reduce a gap between an end of the object and a side of the hole when the object is in contact with a liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a support means simple in structure, low in cost and usable in a vacuum to support a balance mass for nullifying vibration caused by reaction force when moving a substrate table in a lithographic projection apparatus. SOLUTION: The balance mass of the lithographic projection apparatus is supported on a base frame by at least one flexible support element mechanically mounted to the balance mass and the base frame and having at least two pivot points. Since the support element has at least two pivot points, the support means hardly shows resistance to the horizontal motion of the balance mass BM to allow the balance mass BM to freely move in a horizontal direction, and is usable in the vacuum because of not using an air bearing. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate handler which can function more efficiently. SOLUTION: A substrate handler 12 for moving a substrate 8 relative to a substrate table 6 of a lithographic apparatus is adapted to load a substrate 8 the substrate table and to unload the substrate 8 from the substrate table 6 before and after exposure, and comprises at least one support surface or a platform 14 adapted to carry a plurality of the independent substrates 8, 8 simultaneously. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid immersion lithographic apparatus which reduces bubbles in an immersion liquid to prevent an adverse effect on pattern image quality. SOLUTION: The liquid immersion lithographic apparatus is provided to minimize bubbles generated or to prevent bubbles from being generated in the immersion liquid by reducing sizes or volumes of gaps between a target object and a substrate support table, and their upper structures, in the liquid immersion lithographic apparatus, and/or preparing a cover plate covering the gaps. The liquid immersion lithographic apparatus may further include an actuator which laterally moves the target object in a hole of the substrate support table to reduce a gap between a peripheral end of the target object and an inner side of the hole when the target object is in contact with the immersion liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a table in which measures are taken to seal between the table and an edge of an object, in use, supported on the table. SOLUTION: In particular, a capillary passage is formed between the object on the table and the table itself. A meniscus pinning feature and/or the presence of an overpressure at the radially inward side of the capillary passage holds the liquid in the passage and helps prevent it from advancing further radially inwardly. The features to perform this function may be associated with or formed in a member surrounding the object. The member may be thermally decoupled from a part of the table. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT