Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US8493545
Timestamp: 2017-12-11 05:53:04
Document Index: 444733346

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 201010127802', 'Application No. 09176909', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2008', 'Application No. 04734624', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 200480009691', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 12155100', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 12155114', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 094118981', 'Application No. 09176909', 'Application No. 09176910', 'Application No. 09176911', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 201010127815', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 201010113560', 'Application No. 200506413', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 2005800183590', 'Application No. 200480009691', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 09176909', 'Application No. 09176910', 'Application No. 09176911', 'Application No. 09176912', 'Application no. 09176913', 'Application No. 2005800183590', 'Application No. 2007', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 05749073', 'Application No. 2005064134', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 201010127815', 'Application No. 09176912', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 200480009691', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 201010127802', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 093114406', 'Application No. 12155098', 'Application No. 200902712', 'Application No. 12155099', 'Application No. 05749073', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 09176909', 'Application No. 098124949', 'Application No. 12155096', 'Application No. 12155095', 'Application No. 12155097']

Brevet US8493545 - Cleanup method for optics in immersion lithography supplying cleaning liquid ... - Google Brevets
An immersion lithography apparatus and cleanup method used for the immersion lithography apparatus in which an immersion liquid is supplied to a gap between an optical element of a projection optics and a workpiece during an immersion lithography process. A surface of an object, which is different from...http://www.google.fr/patents/US8493545?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US8493545 - Cleanup method for optics in immersion lithography supplying cleaning liquid onto a surface of object below optical element, liquid supply port and liquid recovery port
Numéro de publication US8493545 B2
Numéro de demande US 12/382,078
Autre référence de publication CN1867865A, CN1867865B, CN101825847A, CN101825847B, CN103558736A, CN103558736B, CN106444292A, DE602004024295D1, EP1614001A2, EP1614001A4, EP1614001B1, EP2161619A1, EP2161619B1, EP2161619B8, EP2161620A1, EP2161621A1, EP2166413A1, EP2172809A1, US7522259, US8085381, US8269946, US8670103, US8670104, US20060023185, US20070132975, US20070171390, US20070247601, US20080100813, US20090161084, US20090174872, US20090195762, US20140132939, WO2004093130A2, WO2004093130A3
Numéro de publication 12382078, 382078, US 8493545 B2, US 8493545B2, US-B2-8493545, US8493545 B2, US8493545B2
Inventeurs Hidemi Kawai, W. Thomas Novak
Citations de brevets (390), Citations hors brevets (186), Classifications (11), Événements juridiques (1)
Cleanup method for optics in immersion lithography supplying cleaning liquid onto a surface of object below optical element, liquid supply port and liquid recovery port
US 8493545 B2
1. A method used in an immersion lithography apparatus in which an immersion liquid is supplied to a gap between an optical element of a projection optics and a workpiece during an immersion lithography process, the method comprising:
supplying, during the immersion lithography process, the immersion liquid to the gap through a first channel without passing through a second channel; and
supplying, during a cleanup process, a cleaning liquid onto a surface of an object, which is different from the workpiece, provided directly vertically below the optical element, a liquid supply port and a liquid recovery port, the cleaning liquid being supplied from above the object from the liquid supply port by delivering flow from the second channel such that only a portion of the surface of the object is covered by the cleaning liquid and at least a part of a remainder of the surface of the object is not covered by the cleaning liquid nor the immersion liquid,
wherein the workpiece is moved directly vertically below and relative to the optical element, the liquid supply port and the liquid recovery port during the immersion lithography process, and
wherein during the immersion lithography process, the immersion liquid is locally disposed on an upper surface of the workpiece, at least a part of a remainder of the upper surface of the workpiece not being covered by the immersion liquid nor the cleaning liquid.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid covers only a portion of the surface of the object such that a surface of the cleaning liquid extends between the surface of the object and a liquid supply member which has the supply port.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply port supplies the immersion liquid during the immersion lithography process.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the object relative to the optical element in the cleanup process.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleanup process is performed with ultraviolet light.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid fills a space between the optical element and the object in the cleanup process.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is provided directly vertically below a member to be cleaned during the cleanup process.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning liquid is retained between the member to be cleaned and the object in the cleanup process.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the member to be cleaned includes the optical element.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein liquid absorbed by the optical element is removed in the cleanup process.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece includes a wafer for fabricating a semiconductor device.
12. An immersion lithography apparatus comprising:
a liquid recovery port; and
a projection optics having an optical element, the projection optics projecting a pattern image onto a workpiece through an immersion liquid supplied to a gap between the final surface and the workpiece during an immersion lithography process;
wherein during the immersion lithography process, the immersion liquid is supplied through a first channel without passing through a second channel and the workpiece is moved directly vertically below and relative to the projection optics, the liquid supply port and the liquid recovery port,
wherein during a cleanup process, an object having a surface, which is different from the workpiece, is placed directly vertically below the liquid supply port, the liquid recovery port and the projection optics, and a cleaning liquid is supplied onto the object from above the object from the liquid supply port by delivering flow from the second channel such that only a portion of the surface of the object is covered by the cleaning liquid and at least a part of a remainder of the surface of the object is not covered by the cleaning liquid nor the immersion liquid, and
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a liquid supply member which has the supply port,
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the liquid supply port supplies the immersion liquid during the immersion lithography process.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the object is moved relative to the optical element in the cleanup process.
16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cleanup process is performed with ultraviolet light.
17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cleaning liquid fills a space between the optical element and the object in the cleanup process.
18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the object is provided directly vertically below a member to be cleaned during the cleanup process.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cleaning liquid is retained between the member to be cleaned and the object in the cleanup process.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the member to be cleaned includes an optical element of the projection optics, the optical element having the final surface.
21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the object includes a pad.
exposing a workpiece through the projection optics of the immersion lithography apparatus of claim 12; and
23. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the workpiece includes a wafer for fabricating a semiconductor device.
24. A method used in an immersion lithography apparatus in which an immersion liquid is supplied onto a workpiece during an immersion lithography process, the method comprising:
supplying, during the immersion lithography process, the immersion liquid through a first channel without passing through a second channel; and
supplying, during a cleanup process, a cleaning liquid onto a surface of an object, which is different from the workpiece, provided directly vertically below a liquid supply port, the cleaning liquid being supplied from above the object from the liquid supply port by delivering flow from the second channel such that only a portion of the object surface is covered by the cleaning liquid and at least a part of a remainder of the object surface is not covered by the cleaning liquid nor the immersion liquid,
wherein the workpiece is moved directly vertically below and relative to the liquid supply port during the immersion lithography process, and
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the cleaning liquid covers only the portion of the surface of the object such that a surface of the cleaning liquid extends between the surface of the object and a liquid supply member which has the liquid supply port.
26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising moving the object relative to the liquid supply port in the cleanup process.
27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the cleanup process is performed with ultraviolet light.
28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the object is provided directly vertically below a member to be cleaned during the cleanup process.
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the cleaning liquid is retained between the member to be cleaned and the object in the cleanup process.
30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the member to be cleaned includes an optical element of a projection optics, and wherein the immersion liquid is supplied to a gap between the workpiece and the optical element during the immersion lithography process.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein liquid absorbed by the optical element is removed in the cleanup process.
32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the workpiece includes a wafer for fabricating a semiconductor device.
33. A method used in an immersion lithography apparatus, the method comprising:
placing an object to perform a cleanup process directly vertically below a liquid supply port of the apparatus, the apparatus being an apparatus in which an immersion liquid is supplied onto a workpiece through a first channel without passing through a second channel during an immersion lithography process; and
supplying, during the cleanup process, a cleaning liquid onto a surface of the object, which is different from the workpiece, placed directly vertically below the liquid supply port, the cleaning liquid being supplied from above the object from the liquid supply port by delivering flow from the second channel, a portion of the surface of the object being covered by the cleaning liquid during the cleanup process and at least a part of a remainder of the surface of the object is not covered by the cleaning liquid nor the immersion liquid,
wherein the workpiece is moved directly vertically below and relative to the liquid supply port during the immersion lithography process; and
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the cleaning liquid covers only the portion of the surface of the object such that a surface of the cleaning liquid extends between the surface of the object and a liquid supply member which has the liquid supply port.
35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising moving the object relative to the liquid supply port in the cleanup process.
36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the cleanup process is performed with ultraviolet light.
37. The method according to claim 33, wherein the object is provided directly vertically below a member to be cleaned during the cleanup process.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the cleaning liquid is retained between the member to be cleaned and the object in the cleanup process.
39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the member to be cleaned includes an optical element of a projection optics, and wherein the immersion liquid is supplied to a gap between the workpiece and the optical element during the immersion lithography process.
40. The method according to claim 39, wherein liquid absorbed by the optical element is removed in the cleanup process.
41. The method according to claim 33, wherein the workpiece includes a wafer for fabricating a semiconductor device.
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74 Jul. 15, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,425.
75 Jul. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2010-026918 (with English translation).
76 Jul. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2011-089258 (with English translation).
77 Jul. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2011-089259 (with English translation).
78 Jul. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2011-089260 (with English translation).
79 Jul. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Application No. 2011-089261 (with English translation).
80 Jul. 2, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,651.
81 Jul. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in EP Application No. 09176909.1.
82 Jul. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in EP Application No. 09176910.9.
83 Jul. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in EP Application No. 09176911.7.
84 Jul. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in EP Application No. 09176912.5.
85 Jul. 26, 2011 Office Action issued in EP Application no. 09176913.3.
86 Jul. 4, 2008 Chinese Office Action in Chinese Application No. 2005800183590, with translation.
87 Jul. 8, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
88 Jul. 8, 2011 Office Action issued in Korean Application No. 2007-7000539 (with English translation).
89 Jun. 10, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/570,219.
90 Jun. 10, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,441.
91 Jun. 11, 2008 European Summos to Attend Oral Proceedings in European Application No. 04 759 103.7.
92 Jun. 15, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,231.
93 Jun. 21, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/603,078.
94 Jun. 24, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/570,219.
95 Jun. 25, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,441.
96 Jun. 26, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/003,038.
97 Jun. 28, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,162.
98 Jun. 29, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/703,802.
99 Jun. 29, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/015,767.
100 Jun. 4, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/153,357.
101 Jun. 5, 2012 Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-151714 (with translation).
102 Jun. 6, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/134,950.
103 Jun. 9, 2009 Supplementary European Search Report in European Application No. 05749073.2.
104 Mar. 17, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/015,767.
105 Mar. 17, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
106 Mar. 17, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
107 Mar. 18, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,162.
108 Mar. 19, 2008 Austrian Invitation to Respond to Written Opinion in Singapore Application No. 2005064134.
109 Mar. 19, 2013 Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-026918 (with translation).
110 Mar. 19, 2013 Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application. No, 2011-089259 (with translation).
111 Mar. 19, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/003,038.
112 Mar. 2, 2010 Japanese Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2006-509667, with translation.
113 Mar. 2, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,441.
114 Mar. 2, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/134,950.
115 Mar. 23, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/630,110.
116 Mar. 24, 2011 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 12/153,357.
117 Mar. 25, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/003,038.
118 Mar. 25, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/379,171.
119 Mar. 25, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,162.
120 Mar. 3, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/570,219.
121 Mar. 30, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
122 Mar. 30, 2012 Office Action issued in Korean Application No. 2005-7022146 (with English translation).
123 Mar. 7, 2012 Office Action issued in Chinese Application No. 201010127815.8 (with English translation).
124 Mar. 8, 2010 European Search Report in European Application No. 09176912.5.
125 Mar. 9, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/015,767.
126 Mar. 9, 2010 Japanese Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2004-151714, with translation.
127 Mar. 9, 2010 Japanese Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2006-274330, with translation.
128 May 13, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,340.
129 May 18, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/603,078.
130 May 28, 2013 Office Action issued in Korean Patent Application No. 2011-7024887 (with translation).
131 May 29, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,231.
132 May 31, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/284,187.
133 Nikon Corporation, 3rd 157 nm symposium, Sep. 4, 2002, "Nikon F2 Exposure Tool", Soichi Owa et al., 25 pages (slides 1-25).
134 Nikon Corporation, Immersion Lithography Workshop, Dec. 11, 2002, 24 pages (slides 1-24).
135 Nikon Corporation, Immersion Workshop, Jan. 27, 2004, "Update on 193 nm immersion exposure tool", S. Owa et al., 38 pages (slides 1-38).
136 Nikon Corporation, Litho Forum, Jan. 28, 2004, "Update on 193 nm immersion exposure tool", S. Owa et al., 51 pages (slides 1-51).
137 Nikon Corporation, NGL Workshop, Jul. 10, 2003, :Potential performance and feasibility of immersion lithography, Soichi Owa et al., 33 pages, slides 1-33.
138 Nov. 14, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,924.
139 Nov. 16, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,651.
140 Nov. 17, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/570,219.
141 Nov. 20, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,441.
142 Nov. 20, 2009 Chinese Notice of Allowance in Chinese Application No. 200480009691.6, with translation.
143 Nov. 21, 2008 European Result of Consultation in European Application No. 04 759 103.7.
144 Nov. 23, 2012 Office Action issued in CN Application No. 201010127802.0 (with English translation).
145 Nov. 24, 2009 Japanese Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2006-509667, with translation.
146 Nov. 27, 2012 Office Action issued in KR Application No. 2012-7025016 (with English translation).
147 Nov. 29, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
148 Nov. 4, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/015,767.
149 Nov. 4, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/570,219.
150 Nov. 4, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,441.
151 Nov. 5, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,231.
152 Nov. 7, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,964.
153 Nov. 9, 2010 Office Action in Taiwanese Application No. 093114406, with translation.
154 Oct. 10, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,651.
155 Oct. 11, 2012 Search Report issued in EP Application No. 12155098.2.
156 Oct. 12, 2012 Office Action issued in SG Application No. 200902712.9.
157 Oct. 14, 2005 International Search Report in Application No. PCT/JP2005/011305.
158 Oct. 19, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/603,078.
159 Oct. 21, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,231.
160 Oct. 21, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/153,354.
161 Oct. 21, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/153,234.
162 Oct. 23, 2012 Search Report issued in EP Application No. 12155099.0.
163 Oct. 24, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/003,038.
164 Oct. 24, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/379,171.
165 Oct. 24, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,162.
166 Oct. 25, 2012 Office Action issued in EP Application No. 05749073.2.
167 Oct. 28, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/134,950.
168 Oct. 30, 2012 Office Action issued in KR Application No. 2011-7019047 (with English translation).
169 Oct. 31, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/767,425.
170 Oct. 31, 2012 Office Action issued in KR Application No. 2011-7018576 (with English translation).
171 Oct. 8, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,231.
172 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/808,230 on Sep. 23, 2010.
173 Optical Microlithography XV, Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 4691 (2002), "Resolution Enhancement of 157 nm Lithography by Liquid Immersion", M. Switkes et al., pp. 459-465.
174 Optical Microlithography XVI, Proceedings of SPIE vol. 5040 (2003), "Immersion lithography; its potential performance and issues", Soichi Owa et al., pp. 724-733.
175 Sep. 1, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,162.
176 Sep. 14, 2004 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/JP2004/007417.
177 Sep. 16, 2005 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/US04/10309.
178 Sep. 17, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/704,241.
179 Sep. 20, 2005 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/JP2005/010412, with translation.
180 Sep. 25, 2012 Minutes of the Oral Proceedings issued in EP Application No. 09176909.1.
181 Sep. 28, 2012 Office Action issued in TW Application No. 098124949 (with English translation).
182 Sep. 5, 2012 Search Report issued in European Application No. 12155096.6.
183 Sep. 6, 2012 Search Report issued in European Application No. 12155095.8.
184 Sep. 6, 2012 Search Report issued in European Application No. 12155097.4.
185 Switkes M et al., "Immersion Liquids for Lithography in the Deep Ultraviolet" Proceedings of the SPIE, vol. 5040, pp. 690-694, Feb. 25, 2003.
186 U.S. Appl. No. 12/656,456, filed Jan. 29, 2010.
Classification internationale G03B27/52, B08B3/12, G03F7/20, B08B3/04
Classification coopérative G03F7/70341, B08B3/12, G03F7/70925, G03F7/70916, G03F7/70891, B08B3/04