Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid supply system for hooking a liquid meniscus at a predetermined position in a space between the final element and the substrate of a projection system. SOLUTION: Disclosed is a liquid immersion system used for a liquid immersion lithography in which a liquid meniscus between the liquid immersion system and its substrate is substantially hooked at a predetermined position by meniscus hook formation. The meniscus hook formation has a plurality of discrete outlets arranged in polygonal shape. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography device which is properly protected against negative effect from ultraviolet radiation and/or immersion liquid, for example. SOLUTION: A lithography device having a detachable sticky film with coating on at least part thereof is disclosed. A liquid supply system with a liquid confinement structure extended along at least part of a boundary of a space between a projection system and a substrate support is disclosed. A film with coating exists on at least part of the liquid confinement structure. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position control system for a lithographic device in which an accuracy of positioning a target portion with respect to a lens column or a projection system may be improved. SOLUTION: The position control system for a substrate support of a lithographic device includes a position measurement system constructed to specify a position of a sensor or a sensor target on the substrate support, a controller constructed to provide a control signal based on a desired position of a target portion of the substrate and the specified position, and one or more actuators constructed to act on the substrate support. The position control system includes a stiffness compensation model of the substrate support, which includes a relation between a difference in a change in a position of the target portion and a change in position of the sensor or sensor target, as a result of a force exerted on the substrate support. The position control system is constructed to substantially correct the position of the target portion using the stiffness compensation model at least during projection of a patterned radiation beam on the target portion. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To vary fluid pressure by accelerating a substrate table and accelerating regulating fluid in a supplying device, in a removing device and/or in the substrate table. SOLUTION: A lithography apparatus comprises the substrate table WT which is formed for holding a substrate W and retains the regulating fluid and a regulation system 100 for regulating the substrate table. The regulation system 100 comprises a pressure damper 104 which is communicated with the regulation system 100 through fluid and controls pressure change of the system 100. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variable gain controller lower in sensitivity of noise amplification. SOLUTION: A controller for positioning device is constructed and arranged to: receive a position signal indicative of a position of a positioning device; compare the position signal to a set-point signal indicative of a desired position of the positioning device to obtain an error signal; selectively modify the error signal based on the amplitude and the frequency content of the error signal to obtain a modified error signal; and generate a control signal for controlling the positioning device on the basis of the modified error signal. The controller may be applied to control a positioning device in a lithographic apparatus. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus in which a barrier member is combined with a shutter member so as to keep a final element of the projection system wet during substrate swap. SOLUTION: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a fluid confinement system configured to confine fluid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. The fluid confinement system includes a fluid inlet to supply fluid, the fluid inlet connected to an inlet port and an outlet port. The immersion lithographic apparatus further includes a fluid supply system configured to control fluid flow through the fluid inlet by varying the flow rate of fluid provided to the inlet port and the flow rate of fluid removed from the outlet port. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved controlling system for a lithographic apparatus and the lithographic apparatus having the same. SOLUTION: A controlling system for controlling a position parameter of a stage in a lithographic apparatus has a stage controller for controlling at least a position parameter of a stage at least in a first direction. The controlling system has a disturbance torque estimator for estimating a disturbance torque on a stage around an axis line extended in a second direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The controlling system has a correcting signal calculator to which the estimated disturbance torque and a signal which represents a position of a stage extended in a third direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first and second directions are provided. The correcting signal calculator determines a feed forward correcting signal for correcting a position error of the stage extended in the first direction caused by the disturbance torque. The feed forward correcting signal is provided to the stage. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: an apparatus which can remove droplets and/or a thin film from the surface of a substrate more effectively, and a gas knife device improved in performance. SOLUTION: In an immersion lithographic apparatus, for instance, a droplet removing device uses an inclined gas flow from a gas knife during exposure to remove droplets from the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic device improving a dynamic characteristic of a stage. SOLUTION: The lithographic device includes the stage system, which in turn includes a moving stage and a stage control system controlling the position of the stage in response to a setting signal. The stage control system has a feedback control loop used for controlling a position by a feedback method, and including set value input, and acceleration feedforward generating a feedforward signal to be delivered to the feedback control loop on the front side. The feedforward signal is derived from the setting signal. The stage control system is structured such that a position setting signal is changed to a changed position setting signal, the set value input of the feedback control loop receives the changed position setting signal, and the changed position setting signal takes a nonrigid behavior of the stage into account. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT