Abstract:
PURPOSE: A system and a method for cleaning a lens in-situ in immersion lithography is provided to prevent the damages to final lens elements and to efficiently performing an in-situ cleaning process of final lens elements without removing the leans and repositioning the lens. CONSTITUTION: An apparatus for immersion lithography comprises: an energy source(110); a projection optical system(130); a stage(160) which a substrate(150) is arranged in and moves the substrate; a showerhead including an immersion liquid feed device and an immersion liquid discharge device; and a cleaning device which cleans a part of the projection optical system contacting immersed liquid(140) through cleaning gas. The cleaning device includes a UV source.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regenerate immersion fluid whose specified quality does not meet a specified threshold, and to make the regenerated immersion fluid recirculate. SOLUTION: A lithography apparatus includes a projection system, a fluid handling structure, a metrology device, and a recycle control device. The projection system projects a pattern projecting a radiation beam onto a target part of a substrate, and the substrate is supported on a substrate table. The fluid handling structure provides the immersion fluid to a space between the projection system and the substrate and/or the substrate table. The metrology device monitors a parameters of the immersion fluid. The recycle control device adjusts the routing of the immersion fluid so as to be reused or regenerated in the fluid handling structure, based on the quality of the immersion fluid indicated by the metrology device. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus with favorable liquid removing performance. SOLUTION: A new method is disclosed useful for immersion lithography, a new method for drying and/or wetting a surface, such as an upper surface of a substrate. The surface is positioned under a single phase extractor, and priming liquid is delivered between the single phase extractor and the surface. The single phase extractor operates only after the priming liquid is provided between the single phase extractor and the surface. The priming liquid is delivered to the single phase extractor throughout the process to dry and/or to wet. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus that is configured to image a small pattern while having high pattern-width control and uniformity. SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus is presented. The lithographic apparatus includes a beam splitter configured to split a radiation beam into a plurality of radiation beams, a substrate stage configured to support a substrate, a beam combiner adapted to redirect and combine at least a certain part of a plurality of the radiation beams so as to form an interference pattern on the substrate, and a control unit in communication with the substrate stage and a radiation source configured to output the radiation beam. The control unit is configured to synchronize a motion of the substrate stage with a repetition rate at which the radiation beam is outputted by the radiation source. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus having excellent performance in removing liquid. SOLUTION: There is disclosed a new method useful for immersion lithography and of drying and/or wetting a surface such as a top surface of a substrate or the like. The surface is arranged under a single phase extractor and priming liquid is sent out between the single phase extractor and the surface. The single phase extractor operates only after the priming liquid is provided between the single phase extractor and the surface. The priming liquid is sent out to the single phase extractor in an entire process of drying and/or wetting. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: an immersion lithographic apparatus having a projection system; a liquid supply system; and a recycling system. SOLUTION: The projection system is configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate supported by a substrate table. The liquid supply system is configured to provide an immersion liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate or the substrate table. The recycling system is configured to collect the immersion liquid from the liquid supply system and to supply the immersion liquid to the liquid supply system. The recycling system includes a fiber configured to remove organic contaminants from the immersion liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aberration control system for liquid immersion lithography and a method for compensating the heat effect of the exposure energy for a liquid immersion fluid over the entire exposure region. SOLUTION: The aberration control system includes an actuator for adjusting an optical element in a liquid immersion lithography system, and a fluid heat compensating module connected to the actuator. The fluid heat regulation module determines an actuator command for aberration correction of the optical element in the liquid immersion lithography system, based on the one or a plurality of change or changes in the amount of the fluid of a liquid immersion liquid, an exposure dose, and a reticule pattern image. In one embodiment, an interference sensor for preliminarily correcting the aberrations, according to the variation of the operational characteristics related to the liquid immersion fluid, is included. A method of regulating the actuator, by correcting the aberration and determining the actuator adjustment, when the operating characteristics change for regulating the aberration effect, is provided. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an immersion lithographic apparatus to be used with one or more immersion liquids from different sources. SOLUTION: A system for tuning the refractive index of immersion liquid in an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. Two or more immersion liquids of different refractive index are mixed together in order to achieve a desired refractive index. Further, the fluids may be conditioned and treated to maintain optical characteristics. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid handling device which is suitable to immersion fluid containing hydrocarbon with high refractive index of an immersion lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: The fluid handling device comprises: at least one body 12 with a surface facing a space for fluid; a plurality of openings 140 for the flow of fluid therethrough defined in the surface; at least one barrier 170 moveable relative to the plurality of openings 140 for selectively allowing or preventing the flow of fluid through selected openings 140 of the plurality of openings 140. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an environment control means for a buffer immersion device. SOLUTION: A system in which immersion fluid containing liquid is provided from the outside to isolate an environmental chamber of an immersion lithography device is disclosed. Furthermore, a system which uses a transducer which transmits and/or receives an acoustic signal to measure a flow rate and/or vapor concentration of gas is disclosed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT