Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the throughput of an exposure apparatus by increasing scanning speed in an immersion exposure apparatus. SOLUTION: A liquid supply system for supplying liquid between a projection system PL and a substrate is provided with a barrier member 12 for sealing the liquid, however, the relative speed between the barrier member 12 and the substrate can be reduced, thereby to increase the speed of the substrate relative to the projection system PL by forming the barrier member 12 so that the barrier member can move relatively to the projection system PL and independently of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of preventing liquid for immersion lithography from relatively deeply entering under a substrate. SOLUTION: A method of helping to prevent liquid reaching under a substrate is disclosed. The method includes steps of: introducing a gas at a bottom edge of the substrate so that a buffer is created at the edge of the substrate; and helping to keep immersion liquid that is present at the top and edge of the substrate away from the lower surface of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of preventing immersion exposure liquid from relatively deeply entering under a substrate. SOLUTION: There are provided a projection system for projecting radiation beam, to which a pattern is given, on a target portion of a substrate W; a substrate holding part WH for holding the substrate W; a discharge port 24 for reducing a pressure of a space between the substrate W and the substrate holding part WH; a liquid supply system for supplying liquid 11 to the space between the projection system and the substrate holding part WH; and a gas supply port 22 provided so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the lower surface of a substrate edge when the substrate W is held by the substrate holding part WH, wherein the gas supply port 22 supplies gas to the space between the substrate W and the substrate holding part WH so that the supplied liquid 11 does not substantially enter under the substrate W. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid immersion lithographic apparatus that prevents an adverse effect on pattern image quality due to existence of bubbles in immersion liquid. SOLUTION: The liquid immersion lithographic exposure apparatus minimizes or prevents generation of bubbles in the immersion liquid by reducing a size or a volume of a gap between an object and the top of a substrate table and/or preparing a cover plate covering the gap. Additionally, an actuator for laterally moving the object in a hole in order to reduce the gap between an edge of the object and a side of the hole of the support table when the object and the table are in contact with the liquid, may be prepared. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the throughput of immersion lithography. SOLUTION: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. In the immersion lithographic apparatus, at least a part of the liquid supply system which provides liquid between a projection system and a substrate is moveable in a plane substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate during scanning. The part is moved to reduce the relative velocity between the part and the substrate, so that the velocity at which the substrate is moved relative to the projection system is increased. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the presence of air bubbles in an immersion liquid to cause an adverse effect on the quality of a pattern image in an immersion lithography apparatus. SOLUTION: In the immersion lithography apparatus, the formation of air bubbles in the immersion liquid can be minimized or prevented by reducing the size of a gap or a gap region between an object and a substrate table and/or providing a cover plate covering the gap. The immersion lithography apparatus may further include an actuator which laterally moves the object in a hole of the support table to reduce a gap between an end of the object and a side of the hole when the object is in contact with a liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the presence of air bubbles in an immersion liquid to cause an adverse effect on the quality of a pattern image in an immersion lithography. SOLUTION: In the immersion lithography, the formation of air bubbles in the immersion liquid can be minimized or prevented by reducing the size of a gap or a gap region between an object and a substrate table and/or providing a cover plate covering the gap. The immersion lithography may further comprise an actuator which laterally moves the object in a hole of the support table to reduce a gap between an end of the object and a side of the hole when the object is in contact with a liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve throughput in immersion lithography.SOLUTION: There is disclosed an immersion photolithographic apparatus, in which at least a part of a liquid supply system which provides liquid between a projection system and a substrate is moveable in a plane substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate during scanning. The part is moved to reduce the relative velocity between the part and the substrate so that the speed at which the substrate may be moved relative to the projection system may be increased.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid immersion lithographic apparatus which reduces bubbles in an immersion liquid to prevent an adverse effect on pattern image quality. SOLUTION: The liquid immersion lithographic apparatus is provided to minimize bubbles generated or to prevent bubbles from being generated in the immersion liquid by reducing sizes or volumes of gaps between a target object and a substrate support table, and their upper structures, in the liquid immersion lithographic apparatus, and/or preparing a cover plate covering the gaps. The liquid immersion lithographic apparatus may further include an actuator which laterally moves the target object in a hole of the substrate support table to reduce a gap between a peripheral end of the target object and an inner side of the hole when the target object is in contact with the immersion liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve throughput in liquid immersion lithography. SOLUTION: A liquid immersion exposure apparatus is disclosed. At least a part of a liquid supply system to supply a liquid between a projection system and a substrate is moveable in a plane substantially parallel to a top face of the substrate during scanning. The part is moved to reduce the relative speed between that part and the substrate, so that the speed of the substrate relative to the projection system may be increased. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT