Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3223053A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-11-11 20:55:46
Document Index: 352924696

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'art 30', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 30', 'art 32', 'art 30', 'art 32', 'art 30', 'art 32', 'art 32']

EP3223053A1 - Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography - Google Patents
EP3223053A1
EP3223053A1 EP16207513.9A EP16207513A EP3223053A1 EP 3223053 A1 EP3223053 A1 EP 3223053A1 EP 16207513 A EP16207513 A EP 16207513A EP 3223053 A1 EP3223053 A1 EP 3223053A1
EP16207513.9A
2004-07-16 Application filed by Nikon Corp filed Critical Nikon Corp
2004-07-16 Priority to EP15158998.3A priority patent/EP2960702B1/en
2004-07-16 Priority to EP20040778426 priority patent/EP1660925B1/en
2017-09-27 Publication of EP3223053A1 publication Critical patent/EP3223053A1/en
238000000671 immersion lithography Methods 0 abstract claims description title 61
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and a method of controlling the fluid flow and pressure to provide stable conditions for immersion lithography. A fluid is provided in a space (34) between the lens (22) and the substrate (16) during the immersion lithography process. Fluid is supplied to the space and is recovered from the space through a porous member (51) in fluidic communication with the space. Maintaining the pressure in the porous member under the bubble point of the porous member can eliminate noise created by mixing air with the fluid during fluid recovery. In one embodiment, the method comprises drawing the fluid from the space via a recovery flow line through a porous member; and maintaining a pressure of the fluid in the porous member below a bubble point of the porous member during drawing of the fluid from the space.
This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/500,312, filed September 3, 2003 , and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/541,329, filed February 2, 2004 , the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates generally to a system and a method for providing fluid for immersion lithography and, more particularly, for controlling the fluid flow and pressure to provide stable conditions for immersion lithography.
Immersion lithography is a technique which can enhance the resolution of projection lithography by permitting exposures with numerical aperture (NA) greater than one, which is the theoretical maximum for conventional "dry" systems. By filling the space between the final optical element and the resist-coated target (i.e., wafer), immersion lithography permits exposure with light that would otherwise be totally internally reflected at an optic-air interface. Numerical apertures as high as the index of the immersion liquid (or of the resist or lens material, whichever is least) are possible. Liquid immersion also increases the wafer depth of focus, i.e., the tolerable error in the vertical position of the wafer, by the index of the immersion liquid compared to a dry system with the same numerical aperture. Immersion lithography thus has the potential to provide resolution enhancement equivalent to the shift from 248 to 193 nm. Unlike a shift in the exposure wavelength, however, the adoption of immersion would not require the development of new light sources, optical materials, or coatings, and should allow the use of the same or similar resists as conventional lithography at the same wavelength. In an immersion system where only the final optical element and its housing and the wafer (and perhaps the stage as well) are in contact with the immersion fluid, much of the technology and design developed for conventional tools in areas such as contamination control, carry over directly to immersion lithography.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and a method of controlling the fluid flow and pressure to provide stable conditions for immersion lithography. A fluid is provided in a space between the lens and the substrate during the immersion lithography process. Fluid is supplied to the space and is recovered from the space through a porous member in fluidic communication with the space. Maintaining the pressure in the porous member under the bubble point of the porous member can eliminate noise created by mixing air with the fluid during fluid recovery. The bubble point is a characteristic of the porous member which depends on the size of the holes in the porous member (the largest hole) and the contact angle which the fluid forms with the porous member (as a parameter based on the property of the porous material and the property of the fluid). Because the bubble point is typically a very low pressure, the control of this low pressure becomes an important issue.
An aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of recovering a fluid from a space between a lens and a substrate in an immersion lithography system. The method comprises drawing the fluid from the space via a recovery flow line through a porous member; and maintaining a pressure of the fluid in the porous member below a bubble point of the porous member during drawing of the fluid from the space.
In some embodiments, maintaining the pressure comprises providing an overflow container kept at a preset pressure; and directing the fluid drawn from the space through the porous member via the recovery flow line to the overflow container. Maintaining the pressure further comprises siphoning the fluid from the overflow container to a collection tank. The fluid is siphoned downed by gravity to the collection tank disposed below the overflow container. In other embodiments, maintaining the pressure comprises providing a fluid level buffer; drawing the fluid from the space via a buffer flow line through the porous member to the fluid level buffer; sensing a pressure or a fluid level at the fluid level buffer; and controlling the fluid flow drawn from the space via the recovery flow line through the porous member based on the sensed pressure or fluid level at the fluid level buffer. Controlling the fluid flow comprises controlling a variable valve disposed in the recovery flow line downstream of the porous member. In still other embodiments, maintaining the pressure comprises providing a fluid level buffer; drawing the fluid from the space via a buffer flow line through the porous member to the fluid level buffer; sensing a pressure or a fluid level at the fluid level buffer; and controlling a vacuum pressure at an outlet of the recovery flow line through the porous member based on the sensed pressure or fluid level at the fluid level buffers. Controlling the vacuum pressure comprises controlling a vacuum regulator in a collection tank at the outlet of the recovery flow line.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for recovering a fluid from a space between a lens and a substrate in an immersion lithography system comprises an inner part including a lens opening to accommodate a portion of the lens and position the lens apart from the substrate separated by the space to receive a fluid in the space between the lens and the substrate. An outer part is disposed around the inner part, and includes a porous member fluidicly coupled with the space and with a fluid recovery outlet to draw fluid from the space via the porous member to the fluid recovery outlet. A pressure control system is fluidicly coupled with the porous member to maintain a pressure at the surface of the porous member below a bubble point of the porous member during drawing of the fluid from the space via the porous member.
In some embodiments, the pressure control system comprises an overflow container fluidicly coupled with the porous member; and a vacuum regulator configured to regulate a pressure in the overflow container. A collection tank is fluidicly coupled to and disposed below the overflow container. In other embodiments, the pressure control system comprises a fluid level buffer fluidicly coupled with the porous member; a sensor configured to sense a pressure or a fluid level at the fluid level buffer; and a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet, based on a sensor signal from the sensor, to maintain a pressure at the surface of the porous member below a bubble point of the porous member during drawing of the fluid from the space via the porous member. The pressure control system comprises a valve disposed downstream of the fluid recovery outlet, and the controller is configured to control the valve to adjust the flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet. In still other embodiments, the pressure control system comprises a collection tank fluidicly coupled to the fluid recovery outlet; and a controllable vacuum regulator configured to regulate a pressure in the collection tank. The controller is configured to control the controllable vacuum regulator to adjust the flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet to the collection tank by controlling the pressure in the collection tank.
In specific embodiments, the inner part is spaced from the outer part by an intermediate spacing. The inner part includes an inner cavity forming a part of the spacing between the lens and the substrate, and the inner part includes apertures disposed above the inner cavity for at least one of introducing fluid into and drawing fluid from the inner cavity. The inner part includes apertures disposed on opposite sides of the lens opening for introducing fluid into the inner cavity. The inner part includes a pair of buffer slots disposed on opposite sides of the lens opening in a direction of scan of the immersion lithography system. The inner part includes purge holes and wherein each of the pair of buffer slots is fluidicly coupled to at least one of the purge holes. The porous member is selected from the group consisting of a mesh, a porous material, and a member having etched holes therein.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus comprises an optical projection system having a last optical element and configured to project an image onto a workpiece; and a stage configured to support the workpiece adjacent the optical projection system when the image is being projected onto the workpiece. A gap is provided between the last optical element and the workpiece, and is configured to be filled with an immersion fluid. A porous material is positioned adjacent the gap, and is configured to recover fluid exiting the gap. A control system is configured to maintain a pressure on the porous material. The pressure is at or below the bubble point of the porous material.
Fig. 1 is a simplified elevational view schematically illustrating an immersion lithography system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle for fluid delivery and recovery for immersion lithography according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inner part of the nozzle of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the nozzle according to another embodiment.
Fig. 6 is simplified view schematically illustrating a pressure control system for fluid recovery in an immersion lithography system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is simplified view schematically illustrating a pressure control system for fluid recovery in an immersion lithography system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is simplified view schematically illustrating a pressure control system for fluid recovery in an immersion lithography system according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a simplified view schematically illustrating a pressure control system for fluid recovery in an immersion lithography system with water stagnation prevention according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 1 show an immersion lithography system 10 including a reticle stage 12 on which a reticle is supported, a projection lens 14, and a wafer 16 supported on a wafer stage 18. An immersion apparatus 20, which is sometimes referred to herein as a showerhead or a nozzle, is disposed around the final optical element 22 of the projection lens 14 to provide and recover a fluid, which may be a liquid such as water or a gas, between the final optical element 22 and the wafer 16. In the present embodiment, the immersion lithography system 10 in which the reticle and the wafer 16 are moved synchronously in respective scanning directions during a scanning exposure.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the apparatus or nozzle 20 for delivery and recovery of the fluid between the final optical element 22 and the wafer 16 for immersion lithography. Fig. 2 shows the bottom perspective view of the nozzle 20, which includes an outer part 30 and an inner part 32. The inner part 32 defines an inner cavity 34 to receive the fluid between the final optical element 22 and the wafer 16. The inner part 32 includes apertures 38 for fluid flow into and out of the inner cavity 34. As seen in Fig. 2, there are apertures 38 disposed on both sides of the final optical element 22. The inner part 32 has a flat portion 33 surrounding the inner cavity 34. The flat portion 33 is substantially parallel to the wafer 16. The distance D1 between the end surface of the final optical element 22 and the wafer 16 is greater than the distance D2 between the flat portion 33 and the wafer 16. The distance D1 could be 1.0-5.0 mm, and the distance D2 could be 0.5-2.0 mm. In another embodiment, the distance D1 is substantially equal to the distance D2. The inner part 32 further includes a pair of buffers or buffer slots 40 with purge holes 42. The buffers 40 are arranged at or near the flat portion 33. The buffers 40 are disposed on opposite sides of the final optical element 22. A cross-sectional view of the inner part 32 in the direction of scan 44 is illustrated in Fig. 4.
The outer part 30 is spaced from the inner part 32 by an intermediate spacing or groove 48, which may be referred to as an atmospheric groove. The outer part 30 includes one or more fluid recovery openings 50 disposed on opposite sides of the final optical element 22. A porous member 51 is disposed in a slot or outer cavity 53 which extends around the inner part 32 and fluidicly communicates with the pair of fluid recovery openings 50. The porous member 51 may be a mesh or may be formed of a porous material having holes typically in the size range of about 50-200 microns. For example, the porous member 51 may be a wire mesh including woven pieces or layers of material made of metal, plastic, or the like, a porous metal, a porous glass, a porous plastic, a porous ceramic, or a sheet of material having chemically etched holes (e.g., by photo-etching). The outer part 30 further includes a fluid buffer outlet 56 and a fluid recovery outlet 58. In another embodiment of the nozzle 20' as seen in Fig. 5, the inner part 32 does not contact or form a seal with the final optical element 22, but is spaced from the final optical element 22. The gap prevents nozzle vibrations from being transmitted to the final optical element 22. However, the gap may allow the fluid to be exposed to air.
On occasion, the fluid has to be fully recovered from the inner cavity of the inner part 32. In Fig.1, there are small holes 42 in each of the buffers 40 in the inner cavity. These holes 42 are provided for fast fluid recovery or fluid purge when the fluid has to be fully recovered. Sucking the fluid out from these holes 42 using high vacuum with the combination of some movement in the wafer stage 18 allows all the fluid to be recovered within a reasonable time.
Recovering fluid through the porous member 51 by maintaining the pressure in the porous member 51 under the bubble point can eliminate noise created by mixing air with the fluid during fluid recovery. The bubble point is a characteristic of the porous member 51 which depends on the size of the holes in the porous member 51 (the largest hole) and the contact angle which the fluid forms with the porous member 51 (as a parameter based on the property of the porous material and the property of the fluid). Due to the fact that the bubble point is typically a very low pressure (e.g., about 1000 pascal), the control of this low pressure becomes an important issue. Figs. 6-7 illustrate three specific ways of maintaining the pressure below the bubble point during fluid recovery.
In the pressure control system 120 of Fig. 7, the pressure at the surface of the porous member 51 is maintained below the bubble point using a vacuum regulator 122 at a water level buffer 124 which is fluidicly coupled with the porous member 51 by a buffer flow line 126 (which is connected to the fluid buffer outlet 56). A pressure transducer or a water level sensor 128 is used to measure the pressure or fluid level at the fluid level buffer 124. The sensor signal is then used for feedback control 130 to a valve 132 that is disposed in a recovery flow line 134 (which is connected to the fluid recovery outlet 58) connected between the porous member 51 and a collection tank 136. The valve 132 maybe any suitable valve, such as a proportional or variable valve. The variable valve 132 is adjusted to control the fluid flow through the fluid recovery line 134 to the collection tank 136 to maintain the pressure or fluid level of the fluid level buffer 124 at a preset value. The collection tank 136 is under a relatively higher vacuum controlled by a high vacuum regulator 138 for fluid recovery. In this fluid control system 120, no overflow tank is needed and the collection tank 136 can be placed anywhere in the system and need not be disposed below an overflow tank. An on/off valve 140 is desirably provided in the fluid recovery line 134 and is switched off when fluid recovery is not required.
In Fig. 8, the pressure control system 160 is similar to the system 120 of Fig.7, and like reference characters are used for like parts. Instead of using the valve 132 for the feedback control of fluid recovery, this system 160 employs a controllable vacuum regulator 162 for the feedback control of fluid recovery. The vacuum regulator 162 is typically electronically controllable to adjust the vacuum pressure in the collection tank 136 based on the sensor signal from the pressure transducer or a water level sensor 128. The vacuum regulator 162 is adjusted to control the fluid flow through the fluid recovery line 134 to the collection tank 136 to maintain the pressure or fluid level of the fluid level buffer 124 at a preset value. The on/off valve 140 in the fluid recovery line 134 is switched off when fluid recovery is not required.
Fig. 9 shows a pressure control system for fluid recovery in an immersion lithography system with water stagnation prevention according to another embodiment of the present invention. The pressure control system 180 is similar to the system 120 of Fig. 7 having the same components with the same reference characters. In addition, the water level buffer 124 is fluidicly coupled with a water supply or water recovery 182 to supply water to or recover water from the water level buffer 124 to prevent stagnation. An optional pump or a similar moving part may be used to induce flow between the water level buffer 124 and the water supply or water recovery 182. There is a possibility of bacteria/fungus growth in stagnated water or fluid over time. Under normal operation, the water at the water level buffer 124 is stagnated because water recovered from the mesh 51 will go through the small tube at the mesh level to the collection tank 136. By inducing flow into or out of the water level buffer 124 during normal operation, the bacteria/fungus growth problem can be prevented.
Also, the present invention could be applied to Twin-Stage-Type Lithography System. Twin-Stage-Type Lithography System, for example, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,262,796 and U.S. Patent No. 6,341,007 , the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The following numbered paragraphs provide further disclosure of the invention:
2. The method of paragraph 1 wherein maintaining the pressure comprises:
providing an overflow container kept at a preset pressure; and
directing the fluid drawn from the space through the porous member via the recovery flow line to the overflow container.
3. The method of paragraph 2 wherein maintaining the pressure further comprises siphoning the fluid from the overflow container to a collection tank.
4. The method of paragraph 3 wherein the fluid is siphoned downed by gravity to the collection tank disposed below the overflow container.
5. The method of paragraph 1 wherein maintaining the pressure comprises:
providing a fluid level buffer;
drawing the fluid from the space via a buffer flow line through the porous member to the fluid level buffer;
sensing a pressure or a fluid level at the fluid level buffer; and
controlling the fluid flow drawn from the space via the recovery flow line through the porous member based on the sensed pressure or fluid level at the fluid level buffer.
6. The method of paragraph 5 wherein controlling the fluid flow comprises controlling a variable valve disposed in the recovery flow line downstream of the porous member.
7. The method of paragraph 1 wherein maintaining the pressure comprises:
controlling a vacuum pressure at an outlet of the recovery flow line through the porous member based on the sensed pressure or fluid level at the fluid level buffer.
8. The method of paragraph 7 wherein controlling the vacuum pressure comprises controlling a vacuum regulator in a collection tank at the outlet of the recovery flow line.
9. An apparatus for recovering a fluid from a space between a lens and a substrate in an immersion lithography system, the apparatus comprising:
an inner part including a lens opening to accommodate a portion of the lens and position the lens apart from the substrate separated by the space to receive a fluid in the space between the lens and the substrate;
an outer part disposed around the inner part, the outer part including a porous member fluidicly coupled with the space and with a fluid recovery outlet to draw fluid from the space via the porous member to the fluid recovery outlet; and
10. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the pressure control system comprises:
an overflow container fluidicly coupled with the porous member; and
a vacuum regulator configured to regulate a pressure in the overflow container.
11. The apparatus of paragraph 10 further comprising a collection tank fluidicly coupled to and disposed below the overflow container.
12. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the pressure control system comprises:
a fluid level buffer fluidicly coupled with the porous member;
a sensor configured to sense a pressure or a fluid level at the fluid level buffer; and
a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet, based on a sensor signal from the sensor, to maintain a pressure at the surface of the porous member below a bubble point of the porous member during drawing of the fluid from the space via the porous member.
13. The apparatus of paragraph 12 wherein the pressure control system comprises a valve disposed downstream of the fluid recovery outlet, and wherein the controller is configured to control the valve to adjust the flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet.
14. The apparatus of paragraph 12 wherein the pressure control system comprises:
a collection tank fluidicly coupled to the fluid recovery outlet; and
a controllable vacuum regulator configured to regulate a pressure in the collection tank;
wherein the controller is configured to control the controllable vacuum regulator to adjust the flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet to the collection tank by controlling the pressure in the collection tank.
15. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the inner part is spaced from the outer part by an intermediate spacing.
16. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the inner part includes an inner cavity forming a part of the spacing between the lens and the substrate, and wherein the inner part includes apertures disposed above the inner cavity for at least one of introducing fluid into and drawing fluid from the inner cavity.
17. The apparatus of paragraph 16 wherein the inner part includes apertures disposed on opposite sides of the lens opening for introducing fluid into the inner cavity.
18. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the inner part includes a pair of buffer slots disposed on opposite sides of the lens opening.
19. The apparatus of paragraph 18 wherein the inner part includes purge holes and wherein each of the pair of buffer slots is fluidicly coupled to at least one of the purge holes.
20. The apparatus of paragraph 9 wherein the porous member is selected from the group consisting of a mesh, a porous material, and a member having etched holes therein.
an optical projection system having a last optical element, the optical projection system configured to project an image onto a workpiece;
a stage configured to support the workpiece adjacent the optical projection system when the image is being projected onto the workpiece;
a gap between the last optical element and the workpiece, the gap being configured to be filled with an immersion fluid;
a porous material, positioned adjacent the gap, the porous material configured to recover fluid exiting the gap; and
a control system configured to maintain a pressure on the porous material, the pressure being at or below the bubble point of the porous material.
22. The apparatus of paragraph 21 wherein the control system comprises:
23. The apparatus of paragraph 22 further comprising a collection tank fluidicly coupled to and disposed below the overflow container.
24. The apparatus of paragraph 21 wherein the control system comprises:
a fluid level buffer fluidicly coupled with the porous material;
a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the fluid drawn from the gap through a fluid recovery outlet, based on a sensor signal from the sensor, to maintain a pressure at the surface of the porous material below a bubble point of the porous material during drawing of the fluid from the space via the porous material.
25. The apparatus of paragraph 24 wherein the control system comprises a valve disposed downstream of the fluid recovery outlet, and wherein the controller is configured to control the valve to adjust the flow rate of the fluid drawn from the space through the fluid recovery outlet.
26. The apparatus of paragraph 24 wherein the control system comprises:
a stage configured to support the workpiece adjacent the optical projection system when the image is being projected onto the workpiece; and
a nozzle configured to provide immersion fluid in the gap between the last optical element and the workpiece,
wherein the nozzle includes an inner cavity to retain the immersion fluid in the gap, and an outer cavity to recover immersion fluid that exits the inner cavity.
28. The apparatus of paragraph 27 wherein the nozzle further comprises a groove between the inner cavity and the outer cavity.
29. The apparatus of paragraph 27 wherein the nozzle further comprises a porous member disposed in the outer cavity.
30. The apparatus of paragraph 29 wherein the porous member is selected from the group consisting of a mesh, a porous material, and a member having etched holes therein.
31. The apparatus of paragraph 27 wherein the inner cavity forms a part of a spacing between the last optical element and the workpiece, and wherein the nozzle includes apertures disposed above the inner cavity for at least one of introducing fluid into and drawing fluid from the inner cavity.
32. The apparatus of paragraph 31 wherein the apertures are disposed on opposite sides of the last optical element.
33. The apparatus of paragraph 27 wherein the nozzle further comprises a pair of buffer slots disposed on opposite sides of the last optical element along a direction of movement of the stage with respect to the optical projection system.
34. The apparatus of paragraph 33 wherein the nozzle further comprises purge holes, and wherein each of the pair of buffer slots is fluidicly coupled to at least one of the purge holes.
35. The apparatus of paragraph 12 further comprising a fluid supply or a fluid recovery fluidicly coupled with the fluid level buffer.
36. The apparatus of paragraph 24 further comprising a fluid supply or a fluid recovery fluidicly coupled with the fluid level buffer.
A liquid immersion lithography apparatus for exposing a substrate with exposure light using a projection system having a final optical element, the exposure light passing through an immersion liquid filling a gap between the final optical element and the substrate, the apparatus comprising:
a stage which is movable in a scanning direction beneath the projection system and which is arranged to support the substrate; and
a nozzle member disposed to surround at least a lower part of the final optical element and a part of the gap between the final optical element and the substrate,
the nozzle member having:
apertures disposed to be above the end surface of the final optical element on both sides of the final optical element; and
one or more openings arranged around the gap,
wherein the apparatus is configured such that, during the exposure, the immersion liquid is supplied and recovered using the apertures such that the liquid is supplied on one side of the optical element and recovered on the other side of the optical element, and immersion liquid is recovered using the one or more openings.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle member has a lower surface portion arranged between the openings and the gap so as to surround the gap.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower surface portion is flat.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the nozzle member is arranged such that a distance between an end surface of the last optical element and the substrate is greater than a distance between the lower surface portion and the substrate.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 4, wherein the nozzle member is arranged such that a distance between the end surface of the last optical element and the substrate is 1.0-5.0 mm, and a distance between the lower surface portion and the substrate is 0.5-2.0 mm.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is configured to supply and recover the immersion liquid using the apertures so as to provide a flow of the liquid across the end surface of the final optical element.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flow is such as to prevent a temperature rise of the immersion liquid between the final optical element and the substrate.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein a damping material is mounted between the nozzle member and a mounting piece.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the nozzle member is spaced from the final optical element.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any preceding claim, the apparatus further comprises a pressure control system for controlling a pressure for recovering the liquid via the one or more openings, the pressure control system having a first tank connected to the one or more openings via a recovery flow line and a vacuum regulator to control a pressure in the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure control system has a flow regulator disposed in the recovery flow line for adjusting a liquid flow from the one or more openings to the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flow regulator includes a valve.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the pressure control system has a switching apparatus disposed in the recovery flow line for closing the recovery flow line when the liquid recovery from the one or more openings is not required.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the pressure control system has a valve disposed in the recovery flow line for closing the recovery flow line when the liquid recovery from the one or more openings is not required.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claim 10 to 14, wherein the recovery flow line is connected to an upper portion of the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the vacuum regulator is connected to an upper portion of the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the pressure control system has a pressure sensor to measure the pressure for recovering the liquid.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vacuum regulator is controlled based on a sensor signal from the pressure sensor.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the pressure control system has a second tank connected to the first tank and is arranged for flowing liquid from the first tank to the second tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second tank is disposed below the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the pressure control system has a path connected between the first tank and the second tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 21, wherein the path is configured for equalizing a pressure between the first and second tanks.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein the path is connected between an upper portion of the first tank and an upper portion of the second tank.
The liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 23, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, during the exposure, the pressure for recovering the liquid via the one or more openings from the upper surface of the substrate is controlled by controlling the pressure in the first tank.
A liquid immersion lithography method comprising:
supporting the substrate with a stage which is movable in a scanning direction beneath the projection system;
filling a gap between a final optical element of a projection system and the substrate with an immersion liquid with a nozzle member surrounding at least a lower part of the final optical element and a part of the gap between the final optical element and the substrate; and
exposing the substrate with exposure light via the projection system and the immersion liquid filling the gap,
apertures disposed above the end surface of the final optical element on both sides of the final optical element; and
wherein during the exposure, the immersion liquid is supplied and recovered using the apertures such that the liquid is supplied on one side of the optical element and recovered on the other side of the optical element, and immersion liquid is recovered using the one or more openings.
The liquid immersion lithography method of claim 25, wherein supply and recovery the immersion liquid using the apertures provides a flow of the liquid across the end surface of the final optical element.
The liquid immersion lithography method of claim 25 or 26, wherein the nozzle member is spaced from the final optical element.
The liquid immersion lithography method of any one of claims 25 to 27, further comprising controlling a pressure for recovering the liquid via the one or more openings from an upper surface of the substrate using a pressure control system, the pressure control system having a first tank connected to the one or more openings via a recovery flow line and a vacuum regulator which controls a pressure in the first tank.
The liquid immersion lithography method of claim 28, wherein the pressure control system has a pressure sensor which measures the pressure for recovering the liquid.
The liquid immersion lithography method of claim 29, wherein the vacuum regulator is controlled based on a sensor signal from the pressure sensor.
The liquid immersion lithography method of any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein during the exposure, the pressure for recovering the liquid via the one or more openings from the upper surface of the substrate is controlled by controlling the pressure in the first tank.
Use of the liquid immersion lithography apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 24 to expose a substrate.
EP16207513.9A 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography Withdrawn EP3223053A1 (en)
EP15158998.3A EP2960702B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP20040778426 EP1660925B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP20040778426 Division EP1660925B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP15158998.3A Division-Into EP2960702B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP15158998.3A Division EP2960702B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP3223053A1 true EP3223053A1 (en) 2017-09-27
EP15158998.3A Active EP2960702B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP20040778426 Active EP1660925B1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP17156010.5A Withdrawn EP3223074A1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for immersion lithography for recovering fluid
EP16207513.9A Withdrawn EP3223053A1 (en) 2003-09-03 2004-07-16 Apparatus and method for providing fluid for immersion lithography
EP (4) EP2960702B1 (en)
KR (8) KR101590686B1 (en)
TW (6) TW201827944A (en)
KR20120127755A (en) 2002-12-10 2012-11-23 가부시키가이샤 니콘 Exposure apparatus and method for manufacturing device
KR101345474B1 (en) 2003-03-25 2013-12-27 가부시키가이샤 니콘 Exposure system and device production method
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