Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to provide a beam of radiation, a support configured to support a patterning device, a substrate table and a projection system. Furthermore, the lithographic apparatus includes a plurality of EUV sources for providing EUV radiation to the illumination system and a distributor which is arranged to convert the EUV radiation from each of the EUV sources into an intermediate beam of radiation. The intermediate beam of radiation is directed from the distributor in a first direction by a mirror surface. The distributor may include a rotationally driven mirror arrangement, the axis of rotation being non-parallel to the mirror surface.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to provide a beam of radiation and projection system configured to project the radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate. At least one of the illumination system and the projection system includes a focusing element for reflecting or refracting the beam. A plurality of stop discs is provided, each having an aperture therethrough, together with a disc positioner configured to place one of the stop discs adjacent the focusing element to control the numerical aperture (NA) of the projection system or illumination system. The apparatus further includes a disc changer configured to select one of the stop discs and provide the selected stop disc to the disc positioner, the disc changer being external to the projection system or illumination system.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system mounted on a reference frame, which in turn is mounted on a base which supports the apparatus. Vibrations and displacement errors in the base are filtered through two sets of isolation mounts operatively between the base and reference frame and between the reference frame and a projection frame of the projection system and therefore disturbance of the projection system is reduced.
Abstract:
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a structure surrounds a space between the projection system and a substrate table of the lithographic projection apparatus. A gas seal is formed between said structure and the surface of said substrate to contain liquid in the space.
Abstract:
A lithographic apparatus including means for selectively transmitting a projection beam before imaging the patterned projection beam onto a substrate. The means may include any of the following: a selectively transmitting device disposed downstream of a patterning device in the direction of the projection beam, a fixed and a moving set of masking blades in a scanning system or an array of switchable elements. The means may be provided to a mask table/holder or to a frame or structure of the lithographic projection apparatus.
Abstract:
A method using a lithographic apparatus comprising a reflective integrator is claimed that optimizes the exposure of features on a target area of a substrate, when the features make an angle between 5 and 85 degrees with respect to the target area. The method comprises rotating the reflective integrator with respect to the target area providing a rotated mirror-symmetric pupil shape, which is implemented by either rotating the substrate or rotating the reflective integrator with respect to the machine or the patterning device. The patterning device comprises a maximum usable area and a patterned area which are rotated with respect to each other if a rotated substrate is employed. The method can be used in single exposure or double exposure mode. A further advantage of the method of using a rotated wafer is that it can be used for exposing features on a substrate in any direction even when the projection system of the lithographic apparatus shows a preferred polarization direction.
Abstract:
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate. The liquid supply system may further include a de-mineralizing unit, a distillation unit, a de-hydrocarbonating unit, a UV radiation source, and/or a filter configured to purify the liquid. A gas content reduction device may be provided to reduce a gas content of the liquid. A chemical may be added to the liquid using an adding device to inhibit lifeform growth and components of the liquid supply system may be made of a material which is non-transparent to visible light such that growth of lifeforms may be reduced.
Abstract:
A lithographic projection apparatus wherein a liquid supply system provides a space between a projection system and a substrate with liquid. The liquid supply system comprises a member. A liquid seal is formed between the member and the substrate by a flow of liquid. In an embodiment, the liquid seal is formed by a flow of liquid from an inlet to an outlet of the member.
Abstract:
A lithographic projection apparatus contains a projection system configured to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate. The projection system contains one or more optically active mirrors and heat shields located to intercept heat radiation to or from the mirrors and/or their support. The heat shields are actively cooled and the mirrors and the heat shields and the mirrors are supported separately on a support frame to reduce vibration of the mirrors due to active cooling. The heat shields may include heat shields that intercept heat radiation to or from the support and/or respective heat shields for individual mirrors that intercept heat radiation to or from the mirrors.
Abstract:
An arrangement for use in a projection exposure tool (100) for microlithography comprises a reflective optical element (10; 110) and a radiation detector (30; 32; 130). The reflective optical element (10; 110) comprises a carrier element (12) guaranteeing the mechanical strength of the optical element (10; 110) and a reflective coating (18) disposed on the carrier element (12) for reflecting a use radiation (20a). The carrier element (12) is made of a material which upon interaction with the use radiation (20a) emits a secondary radiation (24) the wavelength of which differs from the wavelength of the use radiation (20a), and the radiation detector (30; 32; 130) is configured to detect the secondary radiation (24).