Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus that reduces degradation of a seal between a cover and an object, such as a substrate, and/or a table, such as a substrate table.SOLUTION: Provided is a method and apparatus to clean a cover to seal a gap between an object located in a recess and the upper surface of a table outside of the recess. In-line and off-line arrangements are disclosed. Cleaning can be carried out using abrasion, UV radiation or flushing with a cleaning fluid, for example.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which reduces defects by improving stability of a meniscus of immersion exposure. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus includes a fluid handling structure configured such that a space adjoining a substrate table and/or an upper-part surface of a substrate arranged in a recess of the substrate table includes immersion fluid, a cover 25 including a plane-shaped body extending around the substrate from the upper-part surface to a peripheral part of an upper-part principal surface of the substrate so as to cover a gap between an edge of the recess and an edge of the substrate during use, and an immersion fluid film disrupter configured to destroy formation of an immersion fluid film between an edge 143 of the cover and the immersion fluid included in the fluid handling structure during a period of movement of the substrate table relative to the fluid handling structure. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus for reducing the possibility of, for example, a leak of drops from an immersion space or generation of air bubbles into the immersion space. SOLUTION: An immersion lithography apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has: a fluid handling system for supplying an immersion fluid between a projection system final component and a surface having a characteristic portion in a cross section thereof; and an adjustment fluid source for locally changing the composition of the immersion fluid such that at least surface tension of the immersion fluid locally decreases when the meniscus of the immersion fluid contacts the characteristic portion. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adjustment system capable of performing accurate and stable measurement by properly controlling gas-pressure-temperature conditions in a space in which beams propagate, in an interferometer system that measures a table position. SOLUTION: The adjustment system is configured so that the system is provided with a fluid discharge passage that supplies an adjusted fluid to a beam space, at least a part of the space can be moved in the beam space and/or the outside of the beam space, and the discharge of an adjusted fluid is adjusted from the fluid discharge passage in accordance with the positions of the table. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus, comprising at least a first gas shower (1) which is configured to supply a first gas flow (g 1 ) to an interior space of the apparatus, and at least a second gas shower (2) which is configured to supply a second gas flow (g 2 ) to the interior space of the apparatus, wherein the gas showers are configured to direct the first gas flow and the second gas flow at least partly towards each other. Also provided is a method for conditioning an interior space of a device manufacturing apparatus, wherein a first conditioned gas flow and a second conditioned gas flow are being supplied to the interior space, such that the first conditioned gas flow and the second conditioned gas flow are at least partly directed to each other.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus, comprising at least a first gas shower (1) which is configured to supply a first gas flow (g 1 ) to an interior space of the apparatus, and at least a second gas shower (2) which is configured to supply a second gas flow (g 2 ) to the interior space of the apparatus, wherein the gas showers are configured to direct the first gas flow and the second gas flow at least partly towards each other. Also provided is a method for conditioning an interior space of a device manufacturing apparatus, wherein a first conditioned gas flow and a second conditioned gas flow are being supplied to the interior space, such that the first conditioned gas flow and the second conditioned gas flow are at least partly directed to each other.
Abstract:
A gas shower to condition at least one optical path in an optical apparatus, wherein the gas shower includes a gas distribution chamber having a shower outlet side to supply gas to the optical path, the gas distribution chamber being configured to distribute the gas to the optical path, wherein the gas distribution chamber includes a substantially sharp tapered tip.