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 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 in which the likelihood or rate of deterioration of lyophobicity and/or lyophilicity is reduced.SOLUTION: An immersion lithographic apparatus includes a surface having at least one active group (e.g., lyophobic group) which, during use, comes into contact with immersion liquid, and an immersion liquid supply system configured to provide immersion liquid comprising a protection component which is more reactive with a product of photoionization of the immersion liquid than the active group of the surface, the protection component being present in an amount between 1 ppm and 0.1 ppm.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic equipment and a lithographic method which can reduce generation of bubbles in liquid. SOLUTION: The lithographic equipment comprises a substrate table for holding a substrate, a projection system which is arranged to project a radiation beam patterned on the substrate, a liquid supplying system prepared to supply liquid to a space between the projection system, the substrate and the substrate table, and a ring placed to cover a gap between the substrate and the substrate table and made contact with both of them. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus for reducing the possibility of, for example, a leak of drops from an immersion space or generation of air bubbles into the immersion space. SOLUTION: An immersion lithography apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has: a fluid handling system for supplying an immersion fluid between a projection system final component and a surface having a characteristic portion in a cross section thereof; and an adjustment fluid source for locally changing the composition of the immersion fluid such that at least surface tension of the immersion fluid locally decreases when the meniscus of the immersion fluid contacts the characteristic portion. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus and a lithographic method which can reduce passage of air through liquid or contamination of the liquid. SOLUTION: The lithographic apparatus comprises a substrate table for holding a substrate, a projection system for projecting a patterned radiation beam projected on the substrate, a liquid supplying system which supplies liquid to a space between the projection system, the substrate table, and the substrate, and a sealing prepared to the substrate table. The sealing can be operated from opened configuration to closed configuration, and in closed configuration, when a substrate is on the substrate table, the sealing closes a gap between them. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising at least one sealing aperture (40) comprising a hollow part (41), having an inner surface (42), extending at an interface between different zones (50;60) of the apparatus; and a member (43) positioned in the hollow part configured to substantially transmit EUV radiation and to substantially filter non-EUV radiation at the interface; wherein the inner surface of the hollow part has a surface treatment configured to increase absorption of the non-EUV radiation that is transferred by the member to the hollow part.