Patent ID: 6951766
Filing Date: 2005-10-04
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. An exposure apparatus comprising: a gas flow path including a first area and a second area, the first area being formed above a reticle having formed thereon a pattern that is projected onto a material to be processed in order to form an image of the pattern on the material to be processed, and the second area being connected to the first area, having a cross-sectional area that is different from that of the first area, and not being disposed in line with the reticle; a blowing section that blows gas to the gas flow path; an illumination optical system that illuminates the pattern; and a projection optical system that projects the pattern onto the material to be processed in order to form an image of the pattern on the material to be processed, wherein the second area is located downstream from the first area in terms of the gas flow of the gas flow path, and the cross-sectional area of the first area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second area, and wherein said gas flow path includes a third area provided upstream from the first area in terms of the gas flow of the gas flow path, and the cross-sectional area of the third area is greater than the cross-sectional area of the first area.