Patent ID: 6721032
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
An exposure apparatus comprising:an illumination optical system which illuminates a pattern formed on a mask with light from a light source; a movable mask stage for holding the mask; a projection optical system which guides light from a pattern of the mask to a wafer; a movable wafer stage for holding the wafer; a shielding member which forms an optical path space including an optical path of exposure light and a space surrounding the optical path space at, of a space through which the exposure light passes, at least one portion between said illumination optical system and said mask stage, between said mask stage and said projection optical system, or between said projection optical system and said wafer stage; first gas supply means for supplying an inert gas to the optical path space; a chamber surrounding said wafer stage, said projection optical system and said shielding member; and reduction means for reducing a change in total light quantity of the exposure light reaching the wafer that is caused by movement of at least one of said mask stage and said wafer stage.