Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate clamp system and a lithographic device capable of avoiding stress guided by particles and/or heat in a substrate and improving pattern transfer accuracy.SOLUTION: A lithographic device configured so as to transfer a pattern from a patterning device to a substrate W includes: a substrate table configured so as to hold the substrate; a first clamp system 40, 128 configured so as to clamp the substrate table to a substrate table support structure; and a second clamp system 40, 129 configured so as to clamp the substrate to the substrate table after the substrate table is clamped to the substrate table support structure.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the risk of forming bubbles in an immersion liquid through which a beam passes. SOLUTION: In an immersion lithographic apparatus, bubble formation in the immersion liquid is reduced or prevented by reducing a gap size or area on a substrate table. The gap size is reduced using an edge member which may be, for example, a ring known as a BES (Bubble Extraction System) ring. Information regarding the shape and/or cross-sectional dimension (e.g., diameter) of the substrate, or information regarding the gap size, is transmitted to a controller that controls the edge member in order for the edge member, for example, to be reduced to an appropriate size to reduce the gap as much as possible, desirably without compressing the edge of the substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the gap may be reduced by moving the substrate and/or the edge member adjacent the edge of a surface of the substrate table. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for calibrating an optimum take over height of a substrate in a lithographic apparatus between a substrate table and an ejector element movable to load and unload the substrate from the substrate table. SOLUTION: The method includes clamping the substrate on one of the substrate table and ejector element; moving the ejector element between an unloaded state wherein the substrate is supported by the substrate table and a loaded state wherein the substrate is at least partly supported by the ejector element; determining a reference height of the ejector element at the moment that the weight of the substrate is at least partly taken over between the substrate table and the ejector element; and determining the optimum take over height for the ejector element from the determined reference height. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce influence of a localized heat load when using immersion fluid in a lithographic apparatus.SOLUTION: A support table configured to support a substrate comprises a support section to support a substrate, and a regulation system to supply heat energy to and/or remove heat energy from the support section. The regulation system comprises a plurality of regulation units that are independently controllable.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sealing member that does not have a large couple of force or a time-related couple of force in particular between sections of an immersion lithography apparatus for forming a sealed gap. SOLUTION: The sealing member that prevents the entry of an immersion liquid into a gap between components is provided. The sealing member has a plastic or polymeric sealing section adhered to components for forming a sealed gap. The sealing member is structured to reduce a couple of force or a time-related couple of force in particular between sealed components. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus that can avoid stress guided by particles and heat in a substrate and can improve precision of pattern transcription. SOLUTION: This lithographic apparatus comprises a support structure MT connected with a primary positioner PM, which is configured to support a lighting system (illuminator) IL configured to adjust radiation beam B and a patterning device MA, and also to correctly position the patterning device according to a specific parameter; a substrate table WT that can connect with a secondary positioner PW, which is configured to correctly position the substrate W according to a specific parameter; and a projection system PS that is configured to project a pattern given to the radiation beam B by the patterning device MA to the target portion C of the substrate W. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce influence of a localized heat load when using immersion fluid in a lithographic apparatus.SOLUTION: A support table for a lithographic apparatus comprises: a support section and a regulation system. The support section and/or the regulation system are configured such that heat transfer due to operation of the conditioning system to or from a substrate supported on the support table is larger in a substrate region closer to the edge of the substrate than in a substrate region in the center of the substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the risk that bubbles are formed in an immersion liquid through which a beam passes.SOLUTION: In an immersion lithography apparatus, formation of bubbles in an immersion liquid is reduced or prevented by reducing the size or the region of a gap above a substrate table. The gap size is reduced using an edge member which may be a ring, well known as a BES (bubble extraction system) ring, for example. In order to reduce the gap as much as possible by reducing the edge member to have a proper size without compressing the edge of a substrate desirably, information about the shape and/or the section size (e.g. diameter) of the substrate, or information about the gap size is transmitted to a controller controlling the edge member. Alternatively or additionally, the gap can be reduced by moving the edge member contiguous to the edge of the substrate and/or the surface of the substrate table.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to suppress deterioration of removable members. SOLUTION: A member is provided to prevent immersion liquid ingress to a gap between components or to adhere to at least one component to provide a surface to a feature of an immersion system. The member has a plastic sealing portion that is adhered to the component(s). The plastic sealing portion is opaque to DUV radiation. The plastic sealing portion may be resistant to degradation through exposure to DUV radiation. The plastic sealing portion may have a liquid phobic coating or property. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus that prevents the slip occurring on a substrate table. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system IL configured to adjust a radiation beam B; a support MT constructed to support a patterning device MA, the patterning device imparting the radiation beam B with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a mirror block MB provided with the substrate table WT constructed to hold a substrate W; and a projection system PS configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate W, wherein the mirror block MB is constructed and arranged to reduce slip between the mirror block MB and the substrate table WT. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT