Patent ID: 7050152
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
1. An exposure apparatus for exposing an object put on a first stage by irradiating light from a light source onto the object through an exposure optical system comprising at least one optical element: wherein a first space in which the first stage is arranged and a second space in which at least one of the optical elements which comprise the exposure optical system is arranged, each respectively consist of a closed space maintained by a reduced pressure, wherein said first and second spaces are isolated by a partition except for an opening part through which an exposure light passes and are adjacent, wherein said exposure apparatus comprises: a first management part that manages a pressure of the reduced pressure of the first space; and a second management part that manages a pressure of the reduced pressure of the second space, wherein said pressure of the first space is managed so that the pressure of the first space is equal to or less than the pressure of the second space.