Patent ID: 7123349
Filing Date: 2006-10-17
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A lithographic projection assembly, comprising: a radiation system configured to provide a beam of radiation; a support structure configured to support a patterning device that imparts a desired pattern onto said beam of radiation; a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; a first load lock and a second load lock for transferring said substrate between a first environment and a second environment, said second environment configured to have a lower pressure than said first environment; a third load lock for transferring objects from a third environment to the second environment, said third load lock being accessible from a side facing the third environment; a lithographic projection apparatus comprising a projection chamber in which said substrate is processed by projecting said patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and a substrate handler comprising a handler chamber within said second environment, said handler chamber and said projection chamber communicate via a load position for inputting said substrate from said handler chamber into said projection chamber and an unload position for removing said substrate from said projection chamber into said handler chamber, said handler chamber comprising: a pre-processing system configured to perform pre-processing tasks on said substrate prior to being processed in said projection chamber, and a transport system configured to transfer said substrate from said load locks to said pre-processing system, transfer said substrate from said pre-processing system to said load position, and transfer said substrate from said unload position to said load locks.