Patent ID: 8477284
Filing Date: 2013-07-02
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
1. An immersion liquid confinement apparatus for confining an immersion liquid in an immersion area that includes a gap between a projection system and an object of exposure in an immersion lithography system, the apparatus also recovering the immersion liquid from the immersion area, the apparatus comprising: a confinement member that includes an outlet and an aperture through which a patterned image is projected onto the object; a first porous member covering the outlet and having a first surface that faces the object and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface contacting a first chamber, the immersion liquid being recovered to the first chamber through the first porous member; and a second porous member disposed adjacent to and spaced from the second surface of the first porous member, the second porous member having a first surface that faces the second surface of the first porous member and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second porous member, the second surface of the second porous member contacting a second chamber that is different from the first chamber and the immersion liquid being recovered through the second porous member from the first chamber to the second chamber.