Patent ID: 6642996
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A scanning exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate with a pattern formed on an original while scanning the original and the substrate, the apparatus comprising:a chuck for holding a substrate; a stage for moving said chuck to align the substrate; a mechanism for purging an exposure optical path near said stage with inert gas, said mechanism having a cover covering the exposure optical path between a substrate-side lower end of an optical system and a vicinity of said stage, and a supply port for supplying inert gas into said cover; and a top plate which is mounted on said stage and has a surface substantially flush with a surface of the substrate, wherein said top plate is arranged to form a gap between said top plate and a side surface of the substrate, a depth of the gap is not less than a width of the gap, and a dimension from the side surface of the substrate to an outer edge of said top plate is larger than that of a substrate-side opening of said cover in a scanning direction.