Patent ID: 7501226
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. An immersion lithography system for performing immersion lithography on a wafer, comprising: a wafer stage for receiving and holding the wafer thereon; a fluid containing feature for providing an immersion fluid; a seal ring covering a predetermined portion of a wafer edge for preventing the immersion fluid from leaking through the covered portion of the wafer edge, the seal ring being removable from the wafer edge; and a ring-shaped seal ring carrier structure configured to attach, pick up, and move the seal ring from the wafer by a vacuum force, the structure comprises: a seal ring carrier arm; a ring-shaped seal ring carrier attached to the seal ring carrier arm; a vacuum channel constructed within the seal ring carrier arm and the ring-shaped seal ring carrier; and vacuum port openings formed on seal ring contact locations of the ring-shaped seal ring carrier.