Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate table of an immersion lithographic apparatus configured to prevent contamination with immersion liquid. SOLUTION: The substrate table WT includes a drainage groove, i.e. a barrier 40 which surrounds an outer peripheral edge of the substrate W and a barrier 100 which surrounds another object 20 like a sensor present on substantially the same plane with a top surface of the substrate. The barriers 40 and 100 can collect any liquid which is spilt from the liquid supply system while the substrate W is exposed to reduce the risk of contamination of delicate components of the lithographic projection apparatus. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for cleaning the inside of a liquid immersion lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: A cleaning fluid is introduced into a space between the projection system and the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus using the liquid supply system of the lithographic apparatus. Additionally or replacing above, a cleaning device is installed on the substrate table, or an ultrasonic emitter is provided for generating an ultrasonic liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide immersion lithography equipment suitable for preventing or reducing generation of bubbles by preventing bubbles from leaking to a radiation beam passage through one or more gaps in a substrate table, or by extracting bubbles possibly generated in the gap. SOLUTION: The lithography equipment is configured to project a desired pattern image on a substrate W held on a substrate table WT through liquid; in the surface of the substrate table, a gap 22 exists between the substrate table and the outer edge of the substrate, or between the substrate table and other component which comes in contact with the liquid during normal use; and a bubble holding device configured to hold bubbles 24 possibly generated in the gap is provided in the gap. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic projection apparatus which minimizes a liquid loss from a supply system during the exposure of ends of a substrate, in liquid immersion exposure. SOLUTION: Liquid is limited by a middle plate 210 located between the liquid supply system and the substrate W. Spaces 222, 215 among the middle plate 210, a transmitted image sensor (TIS) 220, and the substrate W are also filled with the liquid 111. This procedure can be performed by two separated space liquid-supply systems via holes 230, 240, or can be performed by the same space liquid-supply system via the holes 230, 240. Therefore, both the space 215 between the substrate W and the middle plate 210, and the space 225 between the transmitted image sensor 220 and the middle plate 210 are filled with the liquid, so that both the substrate W and the transmitted image sensor can be illuminated under the same condition. A part 200 provides one or a plurality of support surfaces with the middle plate 210 which can be held at a predetermined position by a vacuum source. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus, having a liquid feed system configured to supply immersion liquid to spacing between the final element and substrate of the projection system, for which the improvement is made so that the liquid from the near-by area of the substrate can be removed efficiently. SOLUTION: This liquid feed system comprises a seal component for forming a sealing between the lower surface of the system and the substrate that virtually accommodates the liquid in the spacing. A concave section is formed on the lower surface, and the concave section is connected with a first pressure source and a second pressure source for extracting the liquid and/or gas. The first pressure source is set to be at a lower pressure level than that of the second pressure source so that the gas flow is produced, from the second pressure source to the first pressure source. The liquid and/or gas can be extracted due to this flow. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus capable of moving a substrate in a different direction without switching the direction of a liquid flowing between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and the substrate, in the lithography apparatus having a liquid supplying system. SOLUTION: This lithographic apparatus has an input port for supplying the liquid to a space between the projection system of the lithography apparatus and the substrate, and an output port for removing at least one part of the liquid. The lithographic apparatus has a liquid supplying system for rotating any one or both of the input port and output port around an axis line substantially perpendicular to an exposure plane of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus which includes an immersion liquid having a refractive index higher than that of water and has no possibility of agglomeration of contained particles during operation. SOLUTION: In a projection exposure type lithographic apparatus used as a stepper or a scanner, an aqueous solution of one or more alkali metal halides such as alkali metal fluoride, alkali metal chloride, and alkali metal bromide, is used as an immersion liquid having a refractive index higher than that of water. The refractive index is 1.5 or more. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus and a device manufacturing method. SOLUTION: The lithography projection apparatus, whose liquid supplying system supplies a dipping liquid between the last element of the projection apparatus and a substrate, is disclosed. An active dry station is located to remove the dipping liquid from the substrate W or the other object actively after dipping the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography device of which the settling behavior in the high precision positioning of an actuator is improved, and to provide a manufacturing method for the device. SOLUTION: The lithography device is equipped with a supporting structure MT which is so constituted that it holds a patterning device MA, a substrate table WT which is so constituted that the patterning device forms a pattern in a radiation beam and the substrate table WT holds a substrate, the actuator which is so constituted that it moves at least one of the supporting structure and the substrate, a controller which is so constituted that it inputs movement signal to the actuator, and a projection system which is so constituted that the movement signal controls the actuator to generate the movement of at least one of the supporting structure and the substrate table, the absolute value of at least one of derivatives for the movement position versus time of the 4th or more is restricted within a value less than a maximum limit, and the patterned beam is projected on a target portion of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a immersion-type lithography projection apparatus. SOLUTION: In the immersion-type lithography apparatus, an immersion liquid is confined between a final element of a projection system and a substrate. Both of hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers are used on various elements of the apparatus. The use of them helps to prevent air-bubble formation in the immersion liquid, and reduce residues remained on the elements after immersion in the immersion liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI