Patent ID: 8027027
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: B82Y,G03F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A lithographic apparatus comprising: a measuring system that measures characteristics of substrates in a first area of the apparatus; a projection system that projects a patterned radiation beam onto a substrate in a second area of the apparatus; a liquid confinement system that at least partly confines liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate; at least two substrate stages each of which holds a substrate; and a positioning system that moves the stages between the first area and the second area, and during exposure, positions one of the stages holding a substrate in the second area on the basis of at least one measured characteristic of that substrate; wherein the stages are positionable so as to be close to or in contact with each other in order to perform a simultaneous movement of the stages to bring the lithographic apparatus from a first state in which the liquid is confined between a first substrate held by a first stage of the substrate stages and the projection system, to a second state in which the liquid is confined between a second substrate held by a second stage of the substrate stages and the projection system, such that during the simultaneous movement the liquid is essentially confined within the space in contact with the projection system.