Patent ID: 9411247
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: G03F

Claim Text:
1. A liquid immersion exposure apparatus comprising: a nozzle member having a recovery port and an opening via which an exposure beam passes; a projection system having a first optical element closest to an image surface and a second optical element which is second closest to the image surface, the first optical element having (i) a first surface facing the image surface, (ii) a second surface facing a lower surface of the second optical element, (iii) an inclined outer surface extending upwardly and radially outwardly from the first surface and facing an inner surface of the nozzle member, and (iv) a flange portion provided above the inclined outer surface, the flange portion being made of an optical material of the first optical element, and a distance between the first surface and the second surface on an optical axis of the first optical element being not less than 15 mm; a support member by which the flange portion of the first optical element is supported; and a substrate stage which has a holder for holding a substrate to be exposed and which moves the substrate below and relative to the nozzle member and the projection system, wherein the substrate held on the holder is exposed by projecting the exposure beam onto the substrate via the opening of the nozzle member through an immersion liquid between the first surface of the first optical element and the substrate.