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
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 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 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 interfering lithography projector which has a capability of printing a plurality of patterns. SOLUTION: The lithography projector comprises a lighting system, a replaceable upper optical module, and a lower optical module 208. The lighting system emits radiation beams 106A, 106B. The replaceable upper optical module includes a beam splitter 104 which receives a beam and splits the beam into a plurality of portions, an aperture plate 206, and a plurality of reflection surfaces. The lower optical module 208 receives the plurality of portions of the beam from respective reflection surfaces, and directs the portions of the beam toward the surface of a board. As a result, interference fringes or contact hole patterns are formed on the board using the portions of the beam. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT