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 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 provide a lithographic apparatus capable of keeping the optical element of a projection system in wet condition during substrate replacement, and to provide a device manufacturing method. SOLUTION: For example, a closing member is used to receive liquid in a liquid confinement structure while the substrate is replaced on a substrate table in an immersion lithographic apparatus. For example, a closing member displacement mechanism using a combination of one or more leaf springs and one or more electromagnets, or a combination of one or more actuators and one or more pins, or a pressure source, is employed to move the closing member to or from the liquid confinement structure. An adjustment plate is used to compensate the varying thickness of the closing member in a closing member receptacle of varying depth on different substrates. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography equipment for efficiently sealing liquid between different substrate tables. SOLUTION: The substrate table includes a cover plate 100 on the upper plane of a substrate table body MB. The cover plate 100 includes a flat continuous upper plane, therefor applicable to a local region type liquid delivery system. The upper plane of the cover plate 100 includes almost the same plane with the upper plane of a substrate W, therefor a sealing protrusion member 200 is disposable to reduce or to prevent a liquid entering into a recess between a support SS and the substrate body MB. The sealing protrusion member 200 connects a bottom inner edge of the cover plate 100 and the upper plane of the substrate support SS. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a center of a sensor from moving relative to a substrate table, even if the substrate table thermally expands and contracts. SOLUTION: A circular sensor is mounted to a substrate table WT equipped with three leaf springs that are spaced evenly around a thermal axis of the sensor. The leaf springs are provided in two parts that are mutually attachable and detachable. Although the leaf springs are elastic and allow some movements of the sensor, relative to the substrate table WT on thermal expansion and contraction, the center of the sensor will not move relative to the substrate table. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus, a device manufacturing method, seal structure, a method of removing an object and a method of sealing. SOLUTION: A lithographic apparatus for immersion lithography is disclosed in which a seal between different parts of a substrate table is arranged to be easily applied and removed, and in an embodiment, reduces transmission of forces between the different parts. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide lithography equipment, a device manufacturing method, a seal structure, a method of removing object and a sealing method. SOLUTION: In the lithography equipment for oil immersion lithography, a seal is easily applied between different parts of substrate table, and can be removed. A transmission of capacity can be easily performed between the different parts. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus capable of keeping the optical element of a projection system in wet condition during substrate replacement, and to provide a device manufacturing method. SOLUTION: For example, a closing member 30 is used to receive liquid in a liquid confinement structure 12 while the substrate is replaced on a substrate table WT2 in an immersion lithographic apparatus. For example, a closing member displacement mechanism using a combination of one or more leaf springs and one or more electromagnets, or a combination of one or more actuators and one more pins, or a pressure source, is employed to move the member 30 to or from the structure 12. An adjustment plate is used to compensate the varying thickness of the closing member in a closing member receptacle of varying depth on different substrates. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus capable of efficiently sealing liquid between different regions on a substrate table. SOLUTION: The substrate table includes a cover plate 100 disposed on the top surface of a substrate table body MB. Having a flat and continuous top surface, the cover plate 100 can be applied to a local region-type liquid supply system. The top surface of the cover plate 100 is substantially coplanar with that of a substrate W. This makes it possible to install a seal projection portion 200 for reducing or preventing the entry of liquid into a recess between a substrate support SS and the substrate table body MB. The seal projection portion 200 connects between the bottom internal edge of the cover plate 100 and the top surface of the substrate support SS. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT