Patent ID: 6573979
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
An exposure apparatus, comprising:a chuck having a holding surface for holding a substrate; a stage for holding said chuck; an urging mechanism for the holding surface; relay pins having a whetstone attracting portion for attracting a whetstone, the attracting portion being defined at an upper end of said relay pins, wherein the holding surface is relatively movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the upper end, and wherein the whetstone is attracted to and held at the upper end in a state in which the holding surface is placed lower than the upper end position; and a conveying mechanism for conveying the whetstone to said stage, wherein the whetstone has a conveyance holding surface, defined on a cleaning surface of the whetstone, that enables said conveying mechanism to hold the whetstone during conveyance of the whetstone, and wherein, when said stage having the whetstone placed thereon moves between said conveying mechanism and said urging mechanism, the whetstone is held by attraction on said relay pins, and said stage is moved while the whetstone is urged against the holding surface, for cleaning the holding surface.