Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8089608?dq=6,360,693
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 01:39:41
Document Index: 517621335

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 64', 'art 64', 'art 64', 'Application No. 06', 'Application No. 06731969', 'Application No. 05710042']

Patent US8089608 - Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn exposure apparatus includes an immersion space forming member (70) which fills an optical path space (K1) for exposure light (EL) with a first liquid (LQ) to form an immersion space, and a temperature regulating mechanism (60) which suppresses a change in the temperature of the immersion space forming...http://www.google.com/patents/US8089608?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8089608 - Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing methodAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8089608 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/887,584Publication dateJan 3, 2012Filing dateApr 17, 2006Priority dateApr 18, 2005Also published asEP1873816A1, EP1873816A4, US8724077, US20090115977, US20120062861, WO2006112436A1Publication number11887584, 887584, US 8089608 B2, US 8089608B2, US-B2-8089608, US8089608 B2, US8089608B2InventorsHiroyuki Nagasaka, Kenichi Shiraishi, Tomoharu Fujiwara, Soichi Owa, Akihiro MiwaOriginal AssigneeNikon CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (103), Non-Patent Citations (10), Referenced by (2), Classifications (11), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetExposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing methodUS 8089608 B2Abstract An exposure apparatus includes an immersion space forming member (70) which fills an optical path space (K1) for exposure light (EL) with a first liquid (LQ) to form an immersion space, and a temperature regulating mechanism (60) which suppresses a change in the temperature of the immersion space forming member (70) accompanying deactivation of formation of the immersion space.
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus, an exposure method, and a device manufacturing method which expose a substrate via a liquid.
BACKGROUND ART In a photolithography process, which is one of the manufacturing steps of micro devices (electronic devices, etc.), such as semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, an exposure apparatus is used which projects and exposes a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate. This exposure apparatus has a mask stage capable of holding and moving a mask, and a substrate stage capable of holding and moving a substrate, and projects and exposes a pattern of a mask onto a substrate via a projection optical system while sequentially moving the mask stage and the substrate stage. In the manufacture of a micro device, in order to increase the density of the device, it is necessary to make the pattern formed on the substrate fine. In order to address this necessity, even higher resolution of the exposure apparatus is desired. As one means for realizing this higher resolution, there is proposed an immersion exposure apparatus as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, in which liquid is filled in an optical path space for the exposure light, and exposure light is shone onto the substrate via the liquid, to thereby expose the substrate.
[Patent Document 1] PCT International Publication No. WO 99/49504 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the immersion exposure apparatus, if the temperature of a member, for example, a nozzle member, which fills the optical path space with the liquid to form an immersion space changes, there is a possibility that the temperature of the liquid supplied to the optical path space may change, and thus the optical path space cannot be filled with a desired temperature of liquid. Furthermore, there is possibility that, with a change in the temperature of the nozzle member, various members arranged in the vicinity of the nozzle member may be deformed thermally, and consequently exposure precision may deteriorate.
Means for Solving the Problem According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate via a first liquid filled into an optical path space for the exposure light. The exposure apparatus includes an immersion space forming member which fills the optical path space for exposure light with the first liquid to form an immersion space, and a temperature regulating mechanism which suppresses a change in the temperature of the immersion space forming member accompanying deactivation of formation of the immersion space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an exposure apparatus according to a first embodiment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereunder is a description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this description.
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an exposure apparatus EX according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the exposure apparatus EX includes a mask stage MST capable of holding and moving a mask M, a substrate stage ST1 having a substrate holder PH holding a substrate P and capable of moving the substrate P held by the substrate holder PH, a measurement stage ST2 capable of mounting and moving at least some of measuring devices which measure exposure treatment, an illumination optical system IL for illuminating the mask M held by the mask stage MST with exposure light EL, a projection optical system PL for projecting a pattern image of the mask M illuminated with the exposure light EL onto the substrate P held on the substrate stage ST1, and a control unit CONT for controlling operation of the whole exposure apparatus EX. The substrate stage ST1 and the measurement stage ST2 are adapted to be movable independently from each other on a base member BP, at adjacent a image plane side of the projection optical system PL.
In the present embodiment, a case where a scan type exposure apparatus (so-called scanning stepper) which exposes a pattern formed on the mask M to the substrate P while the mask M and the substrate P are synchronously moved in a scanning direction is used as the exposure apparatus EX will be described as an example. In the following description, a synchronous moving direction (scanning direction) of the mask M and the substrate P within a horizontal plane is defined as the X-axis direction, a direction (a non-scanning direction) orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the horizontal plane is defined as the Y-axis direction, and a direction (in this example, a direction parallel to an optical axis AX of the projection optical system PL) orthogonal to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is defined as the Z axis direction. Furthermore, directions of rotation (inclination) about the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are defined as the θX, the θY, and the θZ directions, respectively. In addition, the term �substrate� includes a substrate which is obtained by coating a film, such as a resist and a protective film, on a semiconductor wafer. The �mask� includes a reticle in which a device pattern to be reduction-projected onto a substrate is formed.
In the present embodiment, the porous member 25 is formed from titanium and has lyophilicity (hydrophilic properties) to the liquid LQ. Of course, the porous member 25 may be formed from lyophilic materials other than titanium. Furthermore, the porous member 25 may be formed from stainless steel (for example, SUS316), and may be subjected to lyophilic treatment (surface treatment) so that the surface thereof may be made lyophilic. As an example of the lyophilic treatment, treatment which causes chrome oxide to adhere to the porous member 25 can be exemplified. Specifically, �GOLDEP� treatment or �GOLDEP WHITE� treatment with Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd. can be exemplified. Furthermore, elution of impurities from the porous member 25 to the liquid LQ is suppressed by performing such surface treatment.
When the pressure (pressure on the bottom face of the porous member 25H) between the first hole 25Ha of the porous member 25 and the substrate P is defined as �Pa�, the pressure (pressure on the top face the porous member 25) of the passage space 24 above the porous member 25 is defined as �Pc�, the hole diameter (diameter) of each of the holes 25Ha and 25Hb is defined as �d�, the angle of contact of the porous member 25 (internal surface of the hole 25H) with respect to the liquid LQ is defined as �θ�, and the surface tension of the liquid LQ is defined as �γ�, the immersion mechanism 1 of the present embodiment is set to satisfy the following condition:
If the conditions are satisfied, even when a gas space is formed below the first hole 25Ha of the porous member 25 (on the side of the substrate P), the gas in the gas space is prevented from moving into (entering) the passage space 24 above the porous member 25 via the first hole 25Ha. That is, an interface between the liquid LQ and the gas can be maintained inside the first hole 25Ha of the porous member 25, and thus the gas can be prevented from entering the passage space 24 from the gas space under the porous member 25 via the first hole 25Ha, by optimizing the hole diameter �d� of the porous member 25, the contact angle (affinity) θ of the porous member 25 with respect to the liquid LQ, the surface tension �γ� of the liquid LQ, and the pressures Pa and Pc so as to satisfy the above conditions. Meanwhile, since the liquid space is formed below the second hole 25Hb of the porous member 25 (on the side of the substrate P), only the liquid LQ can be recovered via the second hole 25Hb of the porous member 25.
In the present embodiment, since the pressure Pa of the space below the porous member 25, the hole diameter �d�, the contact angle θ of the porous member 25 (internal surface of the hole 25H) with respect to the liquid LQ, and the surface tension �γ� of the liquid (pure water) LQ are almost constant, the immersion mechanism 1 controls the suction power of the liquid recovery device 21 to regulate the pressure Pc of the passage space 24 above the porous member 25 so as to satisfy the above conditions.
As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 5A, during exposure of the substrate P etc., a predetermined amount F1 of liquid LQ per unit time is supplied to the predetermined space K2 including the optical path space K1 from the supply port 12. In the following description, the amount of liquid per unit time supplied to the optical path space K1 (predetermined space K2) from the supply port 12 is appropriately called �first amount F1.�
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the control unit CONT continues supplying a predetermined amount F2 of liquid LQ per unit time to the recovery passage 24 via the second supply pipe 15 from the liquid supply device 11, while the optical path space K1 of the exposure light EL is filled with the liquid LQ, as shown in FIG. 5A. That is, the control unit CONT continues supplying the liquid LQ to the recovery passage 24 from the liquid supply device 11 via the second supply pipe 15, which constitutes the temperature regulating mechanism 60, even while the substrate P is immersion-exposed. In the following description, the supply amount per unit time of liquid supplied from the second supply pipe 15 (temperature regulating mechanism 60) to the recovery passage 24 (nozzle member 70) in a state where the optical path space K1 is filled with the liquid LQ is appropriately called �second amount F2.�
There is a case that, after predetermined treatment, such as exposure treatment of the substrate P, is performed in a state where the optical path space K1 is filled with the liquid LQ, the whole liquid LQ that is filling the optical path space K1 is removed for maintenance of the apparatus, for example. In the following description, removing (recovering) the whole liquid LQ that is filling the predetermined space K2 including the optical path space K1 is appropriately called �full recovery.�
In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit CONT makes the amount F3 per unit time of the liquid LQ supplied to the recovery passage 24 from the liquid supply device 11 after the liquid LQ has been removed from the optical path space K1 greater than the amount F2 (second amount) per unit time of the liquid LQ supplied to the recovery passage 24 from the liquid supply device 11 during exposure of the substrate P, etc. In the following description, the supply amount per unit time of liquid supplied to the recovery passage 24 (nozzle member 70) from the second supply pipe 15 (temperature regulating mechanism 60) in a state where there is no liquid LQ in the optical path space K1 is appropriately called �third amount F3.�
Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 6. In the following description, the same components as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.
Third Embodiment A third embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 7. In the following description, the same components as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted. Referring to FIG. 7, the nozzle member 70 has an internal passage 61 through which the liquid LQ for adjusting the temperature of the nozzle member 70 flows, separately from the supply passage 14 connected to the supply port 12 for supplying the liquid LQ to the optical path space K1 and the recovery passage 24 connected to the recovery port 22 for recovering the liquid LQ in the optical path space K1. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the internal passage 61 is provided inside the inclined plate 72, the side plate 73, and the top plate 75 of the nozzle member 70. The internal passage 61 may be formed annularly inside the nozzle member 70 and may be formed spirally so as to surround the optical path space K1, for example. An inlet connected to the second supply pipe 15 is provided in a portion of the internal passage 61, and the liquid supply device 11 which constitutes the temperature regulating mechanism 60 supplies the liquid LQ to the internal passage 61 via the second supply pipe 15 and the inlet. Furthermore, an outlet for discharging the liquid LQ which has flowed through the internal passage 61 is provided at another portion of the internal passage 61. Also, the temperature regulating mechanism 60 can supply the liquid LQ from the inlet to the internal passage 61 and discharge the liquid LQ from the outlet, thereby continuing allowing the liquid LQ for temperature regulation to flow to the internal passage 61.
Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In the following description, the same components as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted. Referring to FIG. 8, the temperature regulating mechanism 60 has a jacket member 62 which faces a wall surface of the nozzle member 70, and through which the liquid LQ for regulating the temperature regulation of the nozzle member 70 flows.
Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 9. In the following description, the same components as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted. Referring to FIG. 9, the temperature regulating mechanism 60 has a heater 63 attached to the nozzle member 70.
Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 10. In the following description, the same components as or equivalent to those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted. Referring to FIG. 10, the temperature regulating mechanism 60 has a radiating part 64 which radiates heat toward the nozzle member 70. The radiating part 64 is provided in the measurement stage ST2. In the present embodiment, the radiating part 64 is provided on the top face 59 of the measurement stage ST2, which can face the nozzle member 70.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, a substrate can be effectively exposed by preventing deterioration of exposure precision resulting from a change in the temperature of an immersion space forming member. In addition, the present invention is very useful for an exposure apparatus and method for manufacturing a wide range of products, such as semiconductor devices, liquid crystal display devices or displays, thin-film magnetic heads, CCDs, micro machines, MEMS, DNA chips, and reticles (masks).
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No. 10/588,297, filed Aug. 2, 2006.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8724077 *Nov 18, 2011May 13, 2014Nikon CorporationExposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing methodUS20120062861 *Nov 18, 2011Mar 15, 2012Nikon CorporationExposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification355/30, 355/53, 355/77International ClassificationG03B27/32, G03B27/42, G03B27/52Cooperative ClassificationG03F7/70891, G03F7/70858, G03F7/70341European ClassificationG03F7/70F24, G03F7/70P6Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 1, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: NIKON CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NAGASAKA, HIROYUKI;SHIRAISHI, KENICHI;FUJIWARA, TOMOHARU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:019953/0374;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070906 TO 20070922Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NAGASAKA, HIROYUKI;SHIRAISHI, KENICHI;FUJIWARA, TOMOHARU;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070906 TO 20070922;REEL/FRAME:019953/0374RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services