Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus in which the possibility of containing bubbles is reduced at least partially, and/or the thermal load due to vaporization is reduced at least partially.SOLUTION: A fluid handling structure is configured to supply an immersion liquid to a space defined between a projection system and a counter surface facing the fluid handling structure. The fluid handling structure comprises a main body having a lower surface, a movable member which is movable for the main body, and a self-adjustment mechanism for maintaining a clearance of a specific size between the bottom surface of the movable member and the counter surface, regardless of the size of the clearance between the lower surface and the counter surface.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus which can position a substrate onto a substrate table with a small stress.SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus comprises a substrate table to hold a substrate, and a gripper to position the substrate onto the substrate table. The gripper includes an electrostatic clamp to clamp the substrate at a top side thereof. The electrostatic clamp is arranged so as to clamp at least part of a circumferential outer zone of a top surface of the substrate. The invention provides a substrate handling method including positioning for the substrate by means of the gripper onto the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. The substrate is clamped at the top side thereof by using the electrostatic clamp of the gripper.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positioning device for positioning an object within a lithographic apparatus.SOLUTION: Each of short-stroke units 12, 13 includes a short-stroke actuator system 22, 23 configured to independently provide at least one actuation force between the short-stroke unit and a long-stroke unit 15, and the long-stroke unit includes a long-stroke actuator system 16 configured to provide at least one actuation force between the long-stroke unit and a reference structure of the lithographic apparatus.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate holder, a lithographic apparatus, a device manufacturing method, and a method of manufacturing the substrate holder.SOLUTION: A method of manufacturing a substrate holder for use in a lithographic apparatus includes: providing a main body having a surface, and a plurality of burls projecting from the surface and having end surfaces to support a substrate; providing a carrier surface adjacent to the main body surface; and forming a conductive layer on at least a part of the main body surface and an integral part on at least a part of the carrier surface.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable accurate measurement without degrading throughput of an alignment sensor.SOLUTION: A measurement optical system comprises an illumination subsystem for illuminating a mark 202 with a radiation spot and a detecting subsystem 580 for detecting radiation diffracted by the mark. A substrate and the measurement optical system move relatively to each other at a first velocity (v) so as to scan the mark while synchronously moving the radiation spot relatively to the reference frame of the measurement optical system at a second velocity (v). The spot scans the mark at a third velocity (v) which is lower than the first velocity to allow more time for accurate position measurements to be acquired. An objective lens 524 remains fixed in relation to the reference frame while a moving optical element 562 imparts the movement of the radiation spot relative to the reference frame.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an immersion lithographic apparatus that improves a stability of meniscus to control pattern defects caused by bubbles in an immersion liquid or the like.SOLUTION: In the apparatus, a cover 25 includes a substrate table having a substantially planar upper surface, in which a recess 22 that is configured to receive a substrate W so that the substrate W is supported by the recess 22, is formed. The cover 25 includes a substantially planar body that, in use, extends around the substrate from the upper surface to a peripheral part of an upper major face of the substrate in order to cover a gap between an edge of the recess 22 and an edge of the substrate. The cover includes relatively flexible part that, in use, extends around the substrate in order to be configured to have a rigidity lower than that of the rest part of the cover.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography projection apparatus which is constructed so as to project patterns from a patterning device to a substrate. SOLUTION: The device includes a clamp including a support constructed to support the patterning device or the substrate and a temperature control unit constructed to control the temperature of the patterning device or the substrate. The clamp is constructed so that the temperature control unit is isolated from the support by a flexible connector to assure that the vibration, contraction and expansion of the temperature control unit do not affect the patterning device and/or the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a displacement measuring system of high accuracy in a lithography device.SOLUTION: A displacement measuring system comprises at least one retroreflector, and a diffraction grating. The displacement measuring system is configured to measure displacement by providing a first radiation beam to a measuring system, and the diffraction grating diffracts the first radiation beam first time to form plural diffracted beams. At least one retroreflector sequentially turns the diffracted beams in a direction to diffract the beams on the diffraction grating second time. At least one reflector turns the diffracted beams on the diffraction grating at least third time before the diffracted beams are re-coupled to form a second beam. Then, a displacement system is provided with a sensor configured to receive the second beam and determine displacement according to a strength of the second beam.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate table or substrate holder on which one or more electronic components, such as one or more thin-film components, are to be formed.SOLUTION: A substrate holder for a lithographic apparatus has a planarization layer provided on a surface thereof. The planarization layer provides a smooth surface for formation of a thin film stack forming an electronic component. The planarization layer is of substantially uniform thickness, and/or its outer surface has a peak-to-valley distance of less than 10 μm. The planarization layer may be formed by applying two solutions of different concentration. A surface treatment may be applied to burls to repel a solution of material of the planarization layer.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate holder capable of securely forming one or more electronic components such as one or more thin film components.SOLUTION: A substrate holder for a lithographic apparatus has a planarization layer provided on a surface thereof. The planarization layer provides a smooth surface for the formation of an electronic component such as a thin film electronic component. The planarization layer may be provided in multiple sub layers. The planarization layer may smooth over roughness caused by removal of material from a blank to form burls on the substrate holder.