Patent ID: 7078715
Filing Date: 2006-07-18
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A lithographic projection apparatus comprising: a beam production system for providing a beam of radiation, patterning the beam of radiation, and projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate; a support table for supporting an article so that a planar surface of the article lies in a predetermined plane transverse to a propagation direction of the projection beam, the support table having a support surface and an array of protrusions extending from the support surface to support the article on the protrusions, at least a top of each protrusion being substantially formed of an integral protrusion material; a detector for detecting height deviations of the protrusions that affect a surface flatness of the article; a height adjustment device arranged to independently modify a height of the protrusion material of individual protrusions when the support table is operable in the apparatus; and a controller coupled between the detector and the height adjustment device and arranged to control the height adjustment device to adjust the height of the protrusions corresponding to the detected height deviations of the protrusions that affect the surface flatness of the article.