Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus suppressing or preventing leakage or spillage of an immersion liquid during operation to the minimum, and also to provide a lithographic projection method and a device manufacturing method. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus includes: a liquid supply system supplying an immersion liquid between a downstream optical element of a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate; and a control system which drives a substrate table so as to perform an acceleration profile to accelerate the substrate table from a first velocity in a first direction to a second velocity in a second direction. The acceleration profile is asymmetric in time and is dimensioned so that when the substrate table is accelerated according to the acceleration profile, a force to break a meniscus of the immersion liquid remains lower than a force to maintain the meniscus of the immersion liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic device having an illuminating system with an optical element that can adjust a radiation beam so as to have a cross-section of a first portion of a linear polarized light radiation and an unpolarized light or a second portion of a circularly polarized light radiation. SOLUTION: The device further has a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device can give a pattern to a cross-section of an illuminating radiation beam to form a patternized radiation beam. The device is configured to support a substrate by providing a substrate table and project the patternized radiation beam to a targeted portion of the substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-speed method of detecting a particle on an arbitrary pattern. SOLUTION: A camera 30 detects a radiation from a mask MA to form an image, but a focal plane FP of the image is in front of the mask MA. An arbitrary particle D on the mask MA is put in focus. A pattern on the mask MA, however, is out of focus. Consequently, the presence and position of the particle D on the mask MA having the arbitrary pattern can be detected. The depth of focus of the camera 30 is small and the focal plane FP is not twice as far away from a surface of the patterning device as the depth of focus. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give high flexibility to the projection beam angle, when a projection beam hits a substrate. SOLUTION: The final element in a projection system of immersion lithography equipment is configured for a liquid, having a refractive index larger than the refractive index of the final element. In an embodiment, the final element includes a lens having a meniscus convex form. Such a final element is capable of increasing the effective numerical aperture of the lithography equipment and reducing the total reflection of the beam, when the projection beam passes through the final element and reaches the liquid. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved method to structure a projection system for a lithography apparatus. SOLUTION: In order to calibrate the lithography apparatus, the contrast of aerial images is measured with reference to the setting of a plurality of manipulators that can be utilized by the projection system. The setting value, with which the maximum value can be obtained, is determined as the appropriate setting of the relevant manipulator. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
Provided is an illumination system of a lithographic apparatus, the illumination system having a plurality of reflective elements arranged to receive radiation from a radiation source, the reflective elements being movable between different orientations. In the different orientations the reflective elements direct radiation towards different locations at a reflective component in a pupil plane of the illumination system, thereby forming different illumination modes. Each reflective element is moveable between a first orientation which directs radiation towards a first location the pupil plane and a second orientation which directs radiation towards a second location in the pupil plane, the first orientation and the second orientation of the reflective element being defined by end stops.
Abstract:
A system and method are used to direct a radiation beam to illuminate non-perpendicularly a patterning array of individually controllable elements used for patterning the radiation beam. The individually controllable elements can change a telecentricity of the radiation beam. Projection of the radiation beam onto the individually controllable elements can be by a concave mirror or use a folding mirror placed in an object field of the individually controllable elements. Alternatively, the individually controllable elements can change the optical axis of the radiation beam.
Abstract:
A final element (20,21) of a projection system (PL) of an immersion lithographic apparatus is configured for a liquid (11) having a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the final element. In an embodiment, the final element comprises a convex meniscus shaped lens (21). Such a final element enables the effective numerical aperture of the lithographic apparatus to be increased and reduce total internal reflection of the projected beam as it passes through the final element to the liquid.