Abstract:
A liquid confinement structure configured to contain a liquid in a space between a projection system and a substrate has a recess in its lower surface which is open to both a relatively low pressure source and a relatively high pressure source and through which liquid and/or gas from between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate is extracted.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which a specific coating is applied to a specific surface. The coating is made from at least 99 wt % of at least one of the following: a transition metal oxide; a poor metal oxide, sulfide or selenide; a compound with the formula ATiOn where A is an element from Group 2 of the Periodic Table; or TiO2 doped with a metal from Group 3, 5 or 7 of the Periodic Table, wherein the coating is less than or equal to 49 nm thick.
Abstract:
An immersion lithographic apparatus is described in which a two-phase flow is separated into liquid-rich and gas-rich flows by causing the liquid-rich flow to preferentially flow along a surface.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for fast purging of pellicle volumes. A purge device has a base which is enclosed in a controlled environment filled with purge gas. The base has a cavity formed on a surface therein. The cavity receives a reticle-pellicle assembly including a pellicle surface and an enclosed pellicle volume. A first region within the cavity can be formed to hold purging gas at a high pressure. A gap region is formed below the pellicle within the cavity. A displacement force on the pellicle due to a pressure difference between purging gas in the enclosed volume and purging gas in the gap region is kept within a tolerance range of the pellicle. According to further embodiments, a purge device is provided that includes a flow barrier (e.g., non-contacting and/or contacting barriers). A pressure balancing plate and/or flow resistant plates are provided in a purge device.
Abstract:
An immersion lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate table for holding a substrate, the substrate table being constructed and arranged to allow liquid to flow off the substrate and over an edge of a top surface of the substrate table, and a gutter for collecting the liquid flow under the edge. Several features for improving liquid retrieval are described.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an illumination system to provide a beam of radiation, and a support structure for supporting a patterning device. The patterning device serves to impart the beam with a pattern in its cross-section. The apparatus also includes a gas flushing device for flushing a substantially laminar flow of gas across the beam of radiation and/or along a surface of an optical component. The gas flushing device includes a single gas outlet that has an inner rim at a downstream end of the gas outlet. The inner rim defines a total gas outlet area. The gas outlet is provided with a laminator that has an effective area out of which, in use, the substantially laminar flow of gas flows. The laminator effective area includes material that has laminator openings and is at least as large as the total gas outlet area.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a substrate table configured to support a substrate on a substrate supporting area and a heater and/or temperature sensor on a surface adjacent the substrate supporting area.
Abstract:
A substrate holder for a lithographic apparatus has a planarization layer provided on a surface thereof. The planarization layer provides a smooth surface for the formation of an electronic component such as a thin film electronic component. The planarization layer may be provided in multiple sub layers. The planarization layer may smooth over roughness caused by removal of material from a blank to form burls on the substrate holder.
Abstract:
An immersion lithographic apparatus is described in which a two-phase flow is separated into liquid-rich and gas-rich flows by causing the liquid-rich flow to preferentially flow along a surface.