Patent ID: 7367345
Filing Date: 2008-05-06
Classification: G03F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising: a proximity head configured to generate a fluid meniscus to facilitate patterning of a photoresist on a substrate surface, the fluid meniscus being constantly replenished with fluid by addition of the fluid into the fluid meniscus and by removal of the fluid from the fluid meniscus by a vacuum, the proximity head having source inlets that introduce a surface tension reducing gas, the surface tension reducing gas being configured to reduce surface tension of the fluid meniscus relative to the substrate surface, and the proximity head further having a head surface that has flat surface regions, the head surface is defined with discrete holes to pass the fluid, the vacuum, and the surface tension reducing gas, the discrete holes reside at the head surface and extend through the flat surface regions of the head surface; and a lithography lens structure at least partially defined within the proximity head, the lithography lens structure having a lithography lens configured to be in direct contact with the fluid meniscus during operation, the lithography lens structure configured to apply a patterned light from the lithography lens through the fluid meniscus to pattern the photoresist on the substrate surface.