Patent ID: 8767178
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
1. An immersion lithography apparatus, comprising: a lens assembly having an imaging lens disposed therein; a proximity cover extending outwardly from the lens assembly and configured to confine immersion fluid beneath the lens assembly; a wafer stage configured to retain a wafer beneath the lens assembly; a plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets disposed adjacent to the lens assembly, each direction-controlling fluid inlet in the plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets being configured to direct a flow of fluid beneath the lens assembly and being independently controllable with respect to the other fluid inlets in the plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets; a fluid tank configured to retain the immersion fluid, the fluid tank situated with respect to the wafer stage for enabling immersion of the wafer retained on the wafer stage in the immersion fluid, wherein incoming fluid from the plurality direction-controlling fluid inlets flows into the fluid tank; and an enclosing cover disposed above and spaced from the proximity cover, the enclosing cover extending over the fluid tank in a manner parallel to the proximity cover to provide a temperature-controlled, non-evaporating environment within the fluid tank; and wherein the plurality of direction-controlling fluid inlets extend through the both the enclosing cover and the proximity cover.