Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8169591?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=oakley+5,387,949
Timestamp: 2014-07-30 09:47:00
Document Index: 236209255

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 05767342', 'Application No. 05767342', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 05767342', 'Application No. 05767342', 'Application No. 05767342', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 201010129961']

Patent US8169591 - Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsAn exposure apparatus is provided with a projection optical system, and the projection optical system includes a first optical element disposed most closely to an image plane of the projection optical system. The exposure apparatus includes a first liquid immersion mechanism which forms a first liquid...http://www.google.com/patents/US8169591?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8169591 - Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8169591 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/659,321Publication dateMay 1, 2012Filing dateAug 1, 2005Priority dateAug 3, 2004Also published asCN101799636A, CN101799636B, CN102998910A, DE602005021653D1, EP1791164A1, EP1791164A4, EP1791164B1, EP2226682A2, US20080084546, US20120176589, WO2006013806A1Publication number11659321, 659321, US 8169591 B2, US 8169591B2, US-B2-8169591, US8169591 B2, US8169591B2InventorsSoichi Owa, Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Ryu SugawaraOriginal AssigneeNikon CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (105), Non-Patent Citations (23), Classifications (10), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetExposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing deviceUS 8169591 B2Abstract An exposure apparatus is provided with a projection optical system, and the projection optical system includes a first optical element disposed most closely to an image plane of the projection optical system. The exposure apparatus includes a first liquid immersion mechanism which forms a first liquid immersion area of a first liquid between the first optical element and an upper surface of a transparent member provided on a side of the image plane of the projection optical system, and an observation unit which observes a state of the first liquid immersion area. It is possible to grasp the state of the liquid immersion area of the liquid, thereby executing optimum liquid immersion exposure.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate through a liquid, and a method for producing a device.
BACKGROUND ART Semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices are produced by the so-called photolithography technique in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a photosensitive substrate. An exposure apparatus to be used in this photolithography process includes a mask stage for supporting a mask and a substrate stage for supporting a substrate, and transfers a pattern of the mask onto the substrate via a projection optical system while successively moving the mask stage and the substrate stage. In recent years, it is demanded to realize the higher resolution of the projection optical system in order to respond to the further advance of the higher integration of the device pattern. As the exposure wavelength to be used is shorter, the resolution of the projection optical system becomes higher. As the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is larger, the resolution of the projection optical system becomes higher. Therefore, the exposure wavelength, which is used for the exposure apparatus, is shortened year by year, and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is increased as well. The exposure wavelength, which is dominantly used at present, is 248 nm of the KrF excimer laser. However, the exposure wavelength of 193 nm of the ArF excimer laser, which is shorter than the above, is also practically used in some situations. When the exposure is performed, the depth of focus (DOF) is also important in the same manner as the resolution. The resolution R and the depth of focus δ are represented by the following expressions respectively.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention To satisfactorily perform an exposure process based on a liquid immersion method, it is essential to maintain a liquid immersion area in a desired state. Therefore, it is desirable that the exposure process is performed after grasping the state of the liquid immersion area and confirming that the liquid immersion area is in the desired state.
Means for Solving the Problem In order to achieve the object as described above, the present invention adopts the following constructions.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, by detecting a gas portion in the liquid in the liquid immersion area, the state of the liquid immersion area is grasped, and by taking a proper necessary measure or performing treatment for the liquid immersion area, a sufficient liquid immersion area can be maintained. The gas portion is detected when exchanging the substrate, so that the detection of the gas portion does not affect the exposure operation, and a desired throughput of the exposure apparatus can be maintained. The term �gas portion in the liquid� includes not only bubble in the liquid but also void in the liquid.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a substrate can be satisfactorily exposed after confirming that a liquid immersion area of a liquid is in a desired state by using an observation unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement view illustrating an exposure apparatus according to a first embodiment;
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement view illustrating an exposure apparatus EX according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the exposure apparatus EX includes a mask stage MST which is movable while supporting a mask M, a substrate stage PST1 which includes a substrate holder PH for holding a substrate P and is movable while holding the substrate P on the substrate holder PH, a measuring stage PST2 which holds a measuring instrument for performing measurements relating to an exposure process and is movable independently from the substrate stage PST1, an illumination optical system IL which illuminates the mask M supported on the mask stage MST with exposure light beam EL, a projection optical system PL which projects an image of a pattern of the mask M illuminated with the exposure light beam EL onto the substrate P supported on the substrate stage PST1, and a control unit CONT which collectively controls the overall operation of the exposure apparatus EX. To the control unit CONT, a display unit DY which displays information relating to an exposure process is connected.
The directions of rotation (inclination) about the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are θX, θY, and θZ directions, respectively. The term �substrate� referred to herein includes substrates obtained by coating a semiconductor wafer surface with a resist, and the term �mask� includes a reticle formed with a device pattern to be subjected to the reduction projection onto the substrate.
Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a second embodiment. In the following description, the constitutive parts or portions, which are same or equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above, are designated by the same reference numerals, and any explanation therefor will be simplified or omitted.
Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is a drawing of a third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the observation unit 60 is provided in an internal space 66′ of the substrate stage PST1. At a part of the upper surface 51 of the substrate stage PST1, an opening 64K′ is formed so as to be connected to the internal space 66′, and in this opening 64K′, a transparent member 64 is arranged. The transparent member 64 and the observation unit 60 are allowed to be thus provided in the substrate stage PST1 which is movable while holding the substrate P.
Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment will be described. In the embodiment described above, the control unit CONT judges whether or not the liquid immersion area is in a desired state based on the result of observation performed by the observation unit 60 (step SA6 of FIG. 5), and when it is judged that the liquid immersion area is not in the desired state, various measures for eliminating this inconvenience are taken (step SA8 of FIG. 5). However, in this embodiment, when the gas portions such as bubbles are present in the liquid forming the liquid immersion area, the control unit CONT operates to supply liquid LQ that has been degassed, for a predetermined period of time, as a measure for reducing or eliminating the gas portions. Namely, when the control unit CONT judges that, for example, gas portions are present in the second liquid LQ2 forming the second liquid immersion area LR2 based on the result of observation performed by the observation unit 60 provided in the measuring stage PST2, the control unit CONT controls the second liquid immersion mechanism 2 so as to supply the degassed second liquid LQ to the second space K2 between the first optical element LS1 and the second optical element LS2 for a predetermined period of time, and recovers a predetermined amount of the second liquid LQ2 from the second space K2 according to the supply amount of the degassed second liquid LQ2. As described above, since the second liquid supply unit 31 of the second liquid immersion mechanism 2 has a degassing unit for reducing the gas components in the second liquid LQ2, the control unit CONT can sufficiently operates to degas the second liquid LQ2 by using the degassing unit provided in the second liquid supply unit 31 and then control the second liquid immersion mechanism 2 and to supply the degassed second liquid LQ2 to the second space K2 between the first optical element LS1 and the second optical element LS2. Then, by supplying the sufficiently degassed second liquid LQ2 to the second space K2 for the predetermined period of time, the gas portions (bubbles) in the second liquid LQ2 forming the second liquid immersion area LR2 can be reduced or eliminated by dissolving the gas portions into the second liquid LQ2.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing an example of an operation for supplying the degassed second liquid LQ2 for the predetermined period of time. Here, the description is given by way of example in which the observation operation by the observation unit 60 is performed when the second liquid LQ2 is exchanged. The term �exchange of the second liquid LQ2� means that, when the second space K2 between the first optical element LS1 and the second optical element LS2 is filled with the second liquid LQ2, the operation for supplying the second liquid LQ2 to the second space K2 and the operation for recovering the second liquid LQ2 from the second space K2 by the second liquid immersion mechanism 2 are simultaneously performed so that the second liquid LQ2 previously filled in the second space K2 is recovered and a clean fresh second liquid LQ2 adjusted to a predetermined temperature is supplied to the second space K2.
Fifth Embodiment In each of the above-described embodiments, when executing the observation operation using the observation unit 60, the liquid immersion areas LR1 and LR2 may be illuminated with light from a light source as will be explained in this embodiment. In this embodiment, various illumination methods and apparatuses and structures for the methods will be explained. For example, exposure light beam EL can be used as illumination light, and in this case, the intensity of the exposure light beam EL may be lowered. As a material of the transparent member 64, a transparent material (for example, calcium fluoride, silica glass, etc.) is selected as appropriate according to the wavelength of the exposure light beam EL. It is preferable that a high-sensitivity image pickup device and/or detection element are used according to the wavelength of the exposure light beam EL.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the invention, appropriate or suitable processes are performed by grasping the states of the liquid immersion areas, especially the presence of gases in the liquids in the liquid immersion areas, thereby optimizing the states of the liquid immersion area or areas at the time of actual exposure. Therefore, satisfactory liquid immersion exposure is realized.
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