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 apparatus and an internal space adjustment method of device manufacturing apparatus. SOLUTION: The lithography apparatus comprises at least a first gas shower constituted so as to supply a first air current into an internal space of the lithography apparatus, and at least a second gas shower constituted so as to supply a second air current into the internal space of the lithography apparatus, wherein the first and second air currents are at least partially directed to one another by the gas shower. Further, there is provided a method of adjusting the internal space of a device manufacturing apparatus, wherein the first adjusted air current and the second adjusted air current are supplied to the internal space, so that they are at least partially directed to one another. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for removing liquid from an upper surface of a substrate table in immersion lithography. SOLUTION: An immersion lithography projection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate table for holding the substrate and a liquid feed system for feeding the liquid to the substrate. The device is constructed to allow a liquid flow flowing outside the substrate and traversing at least two outside end parts of an upper surface of the substrate table. The shape of the end part may be optimized in such a way as to reduce the thickness as a layer of the fluid on the upper surface in a static state. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus capable of preventing the thermal fluctuation in an optical path, for stabilizing measurement with an interferometer system. SOLUTION: A gas shower 1 of an optical device adjusts the optical path of at least one interferometer system IF. The gas shower 1 includes a gas distribution chamber 2 comprising a shower exit side that supplies gas to the optical path OP. The gas distribution chamber 2 is so configured as to spray the gas to the optical path OP. The gas distribution chamber 2 includes a substantially sharp tapered tip. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus having a system to remove a liquid from a substrate table top face.SOLUTION: A liquid immersion lithographic projection apparatus comprises: a substrate table WT, which allows a liquid to flow from a substrate W beyond an end of the top face of the substrate table WT, to hold the substrate W; and a groove 500 to recover the liquid below an end of the substrate table. Some configurations to improve the liquid recovery are disclosed.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which improves stability of a meniscus or reduces incompleteness of the meniscus, where the system is, for example, to reduce a possibility of generating a bubble or releasing a drop.SOLUTION: A cover for a substrate table in an immersion lithographic apparatus is provided to cover at least a gap between a substrate and a recess in the substrate table for receiving the substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus provided with a measurement system having highly reliable accuracy. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus is provided with a measurement system for measuring the position and/or movement of a substrate support relative to a reference frame. The measurement system is provided with a target mounted to any one of the substrate support and the reference frame, a radiation source mounted to the other one and a sensor configured to detect a pattern of radiation propagating from the target, indicating the position or movement of the substrate support. The substrate support is provided with one or more gas outlets configured so as to supply a flow of gas which encapsulates the volume of space through which the radiation beam propagates to the target. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus in which the likelihood of bubble inclusion is at least reduced.SOLUTION: A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus comprises at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: meniscus pinning features to resist passage of the immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; and a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array. The plurality of gas supply openings at least partly surround one or more of the meniscus pinning features, and are placed radially outside of the meniscus pinning features. The plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array are of a similar or the same size.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for removing liquid from an upper surface of a substrate table in immersion lithography.SOLUTION: An immersion lithography projection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substrate table for holding a substrate and a liquid feeding system for feeding liquid to the substrate. The apparatus is constructed to allow a liquid flowing outside the substrate and crossing at least two outside end parts of an upper surface of the substrate table. A shape of the end parts may be optimized in such a way as to reduce thickness of a liquid layer on the upper surface in a static state.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus having a system for removing liquid from an upper surface of a substrate table. SOLUTION: An immersion lithography projection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes the substrate table for holding a substrate. The substrate table allows a liquid flow flowing from the substrate and traversing an end part of the upper surface of the substrate table. The apparatus also includes a groove for collecting the liquid under the end part of the substrate table. Several constructions are disclosed to improve collecting of the liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT