Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control fuel droplets by a method reducing potential contamination on other surfaces in a radiation source and other parts of a lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: The radiation source is configured to generate extreme ultraviolet rays. The radiation source comprises a laser which is configured to generate a radiation beam to be guided to a plasma generation part for plasma generation when the radiation beam interacts with fuel, an optical component comprising a surface which is configured and positioned to be hit with droplets of the fuel, and a temperature conditioner configured to raise the temperature of the surface. A coating may be so provided on the surface as to change at least one nature of the surface. The energy source may be configured so that the droplets of fuel solidify before they hit the surface or to prevent the droplets of fuel from vaporizing. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for alleviating the problem concerning the presence of a dipping liquid in a lithographic projection apparatus. SOLUTION: In the lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supplying system supplies the dipping liquid between the last element of the projection apparatus and a substrate. An active drying station is provided to actively remove the remained dipping liquid from the exposed substrate W or other objects. The active drying station is equipped with a gas stream forming means or a dipping liquid dissolving liquid supplying means for dissolving the dipping liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system reducing lithography errors arising from the immersion liquid. SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus includes: an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern to its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a final element of the projection system and the substrate with liquid; a seal member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space between the final element of the projection system and the substrate; and elements to control and/or compensate for evaporation of immersion liquid from the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus improved in the accuracy and/or the throughput of imaging. SOLUTION: This lithographic apparatus includes a projection system to project a patterned radiation beam to a substrate, and a damping system to damp the vibration of at least part of the projection system, the damping system including an interface damping mass and an active damping sub-system to damp the vibration of at least part of the interface damping mass, the interface damping mass connected to the projection system, and the active damping sub-system connected to the interface damping mass, the active damping sub-system including a sensor to measure a positional quantity of the interface damping mass and an actuator to exert a force on the interface damping mass based on a signal provided by the sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic device provided with a projection column having a gas-regulated environment that is hardly affected by the fluctuation of an ambient atmosphere. SOLUTION: The lithographic device is disclosed. The lithographic device includes a projection system configured to project a patternized radiation beam on the target portion of a substrate. The projection system includes a housing and a plurality of optical elements disposed in the housing. In addition, the lithographic device includes an inlet for supplying a regulated gas to the housing and a gas discharge section for discharging the regulated gas from the housing to create the gas-regulated environment. At least one gate for making the gas-regulated environment communicate with the ambient atmosphere is disposed. The gate is disposed to perform the predetermined leakage of the regulated gas to the ambient atmosphere. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which can reduce the absorption of a radiation beam in a lithographic projection device. SOLUTION: In the lithographic device using exposure radiation having a relatively short wavelength of 157 nm or 126 nm, an N 2 laminar flow which crosses the inside of the operating section of the device and part of a beam passage adjoining the operating section is supplied. Since the speed of the laminar flow is higher than the maximum speed of the operating section and the diffusing speed of air, contamination of the N 2 of the flow caused when the laminar flow is mixed with the air is minimized. Laminar flow may be maintained, by providing a partition wall which divides the beam passage into separated spaces and an aerodynamic member, and by covering the rough or non-flat surface of an element above or adjoining the laminar flow. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus, in which a liquid supply system maintains a liquid in a space between a final element of a projection system and a substrate with a liquid confinement system. SOLUTION: A liquid supply system 180 further comprises a de-mineralizing unit 130, a distillation unit 120 and a UV radiating source 145 for the purification of an immersion liquid. Chemicals can be added to the immersion liquid for the inhibition of organism growth and components of the liquid supply system may be made of a material which is non-transparent to visible light such that growth of organisms is reduced. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent local variation and deformation of refractive indexes of optical elements owing to uneven heating of them by a radiation beam resulting in prevention of deformation of air images projected on a resist layer. SOLUTION: A lithographic equipment including an optical arrangement with an array of optical elements arranged in a plane perpendicular to the radiation beam is disclosed. Each optical element comprises an electrical heating device to change an optical path length of the radiation beam. By selectively operating the heating devices, a position dependent change in optical path length can be achieved in order to correct irradiation-induced optical path length errors. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus and a method of manufacturing a device. SOLUTION: A lithogrophic projection apparatus for use with an immersion liquid placed between the final element of a projection system and a substrate W is disclosed. A plurality of methods for protecting the components of the projection system, a substrate table, and a liquid confinement system are disclosed. These methods include a step of applying a protective coating on the final element 20 of the projection system and a step of providing sacrificial bodies to an upstream side of the components. Further, a final optical element composed of two components made from CaF 2 is disclosed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination system preparing an improved substrate illumination. SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus, a device manufacturing method, and a device thus manufactured. The lithographic apparatus is a scanning type in which a target portion of a substrate is scanned through a patterned radiation beam. Inhomogeneities in the radiation beam may become visible in the form of stripes on the substrate. During scanning, the overall homogeneity of the illumination may be improved by smearing out the inhomogeneities like this in such a way that additional movement is applied to a substrate table of the apparatus and a patterning device selected optionally in a direction at an angle with the scanning movement. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI