Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US9329493
Timestamp: 2017-12-12 20:13:56
Document Index: 95709728

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 200717562', 'Application No. 200605084', 'Application No. 200605084', 'Application No. 200605084', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 200503619', 'Application No. 177221', 'Application No. 209439', 'Application No. 200717562', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 209223', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 05', 'Application No. 05', 'Application No. 200380105467', 'Application No. 2008101751375', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 200480009702', 'Application No. 098146233', 'Application No. 2013', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 09920027510', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2006', 'Application No. 04746097', 'Application No. 200505829', 'Application No. 2005', 'Application No. 200717576', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 200717561', 'Application No. 04746097', 'Application No. 098115103', 'Application No. 200580002269', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 10186140', 'Application No. 10186147', 'Application No. 10186153', 'Application No. 099136459', 'Application No. 03777352', 'Application No. 200580002269', 'Application No. 200580002269', 'Application No. 098146230', 'Application No. 200380105467', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 10185953', 'Application No. 10185992', 'Application No. 05704182', 'Application No. 04721260', 'Application No. 2009', 'Application No. 200605084', 'Application No. 170735', 'Application No. 200580002269', 'Application No. 200580002269', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2008', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 2011', 'Application No. 13154181', 'Application No. 13154183', 'Application No. 13154185', 'Application No. 13154186', 'Application No. 13154187', 'Art. 94', 'Application No. 04', 'Application No. 200605084', 'Application No. 10186147', 'Application No. 09015888', 'Application No. 200717564', 'Application No. 10186134', 'Application No. 10186140', 'Application No. 10186153', 'Application No. 200503619', 'Application No. 04721260', 'Application No. 200480015978', 'Application No. 200480015978', 'Application No. 94103146']

Brevet US9329493 - Apparatus and method for maintaining immersion fluid in the gap under the ... - Google Brevets
An immersion exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate with a light beam via an optical element and immersion liquid. A first stage mounts the substrate and is movable relative to the optical element. A second stage is independently movable relative to the first stage and is positionable away...http://www.google.fr/patents/US9329493?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US9329493 - Apparatus and method for maintaining immersion fluid in the gap under the projection lens during wafer exchange in an immersion lithography machine
Numéro de publication US9329493 B2
Numéro de demande US 13/944,487
Autre référence de publication CN101002140A, CN101002140B, CN101980086A, CN101980086B, CN101980087A, CN101980087B, EP1616220A2, EP1616220A4, EP1616220B1, EP2613192A2, EP2613192A3, EP2613192B1, EP2613193A2, EP2613193A3, EP2613193B1, EP2613194A2, EP2613194A3, EP2613194B1, EP2613195A2, EP2613195A3, EP2613195B1, EP2618213A2, EP2618213A3, EP2618213B1, EP2887143A1, EP2887143B1, EP3141953A2, EP3141953A3, US7327435, US7372538, US7545479, US8035795, US8269944, US8351019, US8488100, US8514367, US8610875, US8634057, US8848166, US8848168, US8879047, US9081298, US9500960, US20060023186, US20060033894, US20070195300, US20070216886, US20070247602, US20070252965, US20070273857, US20080074634, US20100203455, US20110025999, US20110026000, US20130301020, US20130301021, US20130301022, US20130308107, US20150268563, US20160238948, WO2004090577A2, WO2004090577A3
Numéro de publication 13944487, 944487, US 9329493 B2, US 9329493B2, US-B2-9329493, US9329493 B2, US9329493B2
Citations de brevets (465), Citations hors brevets (259), Classifications (11)
US 9329493 B2
4. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that after the movement, the second stage remains below the optical element while an operation is performed on a substrate mounted on the first stage.
5. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first stage is movable away from below the optical element while the second stage is positioned below the optical element.
6. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that one of the first and second stages is arranged away from below the optical element while the other of the first and second stages is positioned below the optical element.
7. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that after the exposure of the substrate, the movement of the adjacent first and second stages relative to the optical element is performed to replace the first stage with the second stage.
8. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second stage is positionable away from below the optical element during exposure of the substrate mounted on the first stage.
9. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to move the adjacent first and second stages relative to the optical element so that the immersion liquid is maintained below the optical element by one or both of the adjacent first and second stages.
10. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the adjacent first and second stages are moved relative to the optical element until the second stage is below the optical element.
11. The immersion exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first stage is a wafer stage and the second stage is a pad stage.
13. An immersion exposure method for exposing a substrate with a light beam via an optical element and immersion liquid, the method comprising:
14. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent first and second stages are moved in a transition from a first state to a second state, the first state being a state in which the immersion liquid is maintained in a space between the optical element and the first stage, the second state being a state in which the immersion liquid is maintained in a space between the optical element and the second stage, the immersion liquid being maintained below the optical element during the transition.
15. The immersion exposure method according to claim 14, wherein the first stage and the second stage move in unison in the transition.
16. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein after the movement, the second stage remains below the optical element while an operation is performed on a substrate mounted on the first stage.
17. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the first stage is movable away from below the optical element while the second stage is positioned below the optical element.
18. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein one of the first and second stages is arranged away from below the optical element while the other of the first and second stages is positioned below the optical element.
19. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein after the exposure of the substrate, the movement of the adjacent first and second stages relative to the optical element is performed to replace the first stage with the second stage.
20. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the second stage is positionable away from below the optical element during exposure of the substrate mounted on the first stage.
21. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent first and second stages are moved relative to the optical element so that the immersion liquid is maintained below the optical element by one or both of the adjacent first and second stages.
22. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent first and second stages are moved relative to the optical element until the second stage is below the optical element.
23. The immersion exposure method according to claim 13, wherein the first stage is a wafer stage and the second stage is a pad stage.
This is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/822,804 filed Jul. 10, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,514,367), which in turn is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/237,721 filed Sep. 29, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,538), which is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/IB2004/001259 filed Mar. 17, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/462,499 filed on Apr. 11, 2003. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
22 Aug. 13, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
23 Aug. 13, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
24 Aug. 14, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
27 Aug. 18, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
28 Aug. 2, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/356,000.
29 Aug. 21, 2013 Advisory Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/435,780.
30 Aug. 21, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,823.
31 Aug. 28, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/889,733.
32 Aug. 29, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/878,076.
33 Aug. 3, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
34 Aug. 31, 2007 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/258,846.
35 Aug. 4, 2009 Austrian Examination Report in Singapore Application No. 200717562-3.
36 Aug. 6, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
37 Aug. 6, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
38 Aug. 7, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
39 Aug. 7, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/655,083.
40 Australian Office Action for Singapore Application No. 200605084-3 dated Feb. 29, 2008.
41 Australian Office Action for Singapore Application No. 200605084-3 dated Oct. 29, 2008.
42 Australian Search Report for Singapore Application No. 200605084-3 dated Jul. 10, 2008.
43 Dec. 1, 2009 Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2009-044470 (with translation).
44 Dec. 10, 2007 Austrian Invitation to Respond to Written Opinion in Singapore Application No. 200503619-9.
45 Dec. 13, 2009 Office Action in Israeli Application No. 177221, with translation.
46 Dec. 14, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 12/010,824.
47 Dec. 16, 2014 Office Action issued in Israeli Application No. 209439.
48 Dec. 18, 2008 Invitation to Respond to Written Opinion in Singapore Application No. 200717562-3.
49 Dec. 19, 2007 Indonesian Office Action in Application No. W-002005 02693 with translation.
50 Dec. 2, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,804.
51 Dec. 20, 2006 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/258,846.
52 Dec. 20, 2007 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,721.
53 Dec. 20, 2010 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2005-7019366, with translation.
54 Dec. 21, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/984,980.
55 Dec. 28, 2014 Office Action issued in Israeli Application No. 209223.
56 Dec. 3, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
57 Dec. 9, 2009 Notice of Allowance in Japanese Application No. 2005-507235, with translation.
58 Dec. 9, 2009 Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2009-044470, with translation.
59 Dec. 9, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,807.
60 Emerging Lithographic Technologies VI, Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 4688 (2002), "Semiconductor Foundry, Lithography, and Partners", B.J. Lin, pp. 11-24.
61 European Office Action for European Application No. 05 704 182.4 dated Aug. 2, 2007.
62 European Office Action for European Application No. 05 704 182.4 dated Sep. 12, 2008.
63 Feb. 1, 2008 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200380105467.2, with translation.
64 Feb. 10, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,804.
65 Feb. 12, 2010 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 2008101751375, with translation.
66 Feb. 14, 2014 Office Action issued in European Patent Application No. 10 186 134.2.
67 Feb. 17, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
68 Feb. 20, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
69 Feb. 20, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,505.
70 Feb. 24, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
71 Feb. 27, 2009 Chinese Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200480009702.0 with translation.
72 Feb. 27, 2013 Office Action issued in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098146233 (with translation).
73 Feb. 4, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
74 Feb. 4, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
75 Feb. 4, 2014 Office Action issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-080847 (with translation).
76 Feb. 5, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
77 Feb. 5, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
78 Feb. 5, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,823.
79 Feb. 5, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/449,430.
80 Feb. 6, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/798,262.
81 Feb. 9, 2009 Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2004-558437, with translation.
82 J. Microlith., Microfab., Microsyst., vol. 1 No. 3, Oct. 2002, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, "Resolution enhancement of 157 nm lithography by liquid immersion", M. Switkes et al., pp. 1-4.
83 Jan. 14, 2010 Office Action in Taiwanese Application No. 09920027510, with translation.
84 Jan. 15, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/655,083.
85 Jan. 15, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
86 Jan. 16, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
87 Jan. 16, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
88 Jan. 16, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/435,780.
89 Jan. 17, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/461,246.
90 Jan. 17, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
91 Jan. 22, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
92 Jan. 24, 2012 Office Action issue in EP Application No. 10 185 953.6.
93 Jan. 24, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
94 Jan. 27, 2009 Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2006-506525 with translation.
95 Jan. 27, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/882,837.
96 Jan. 28, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/889,733.
97 Jan. 28, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/453,386.
98 Jan. 31, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
99 Jan. 31, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,823.
100 Jan. 4, 2008 Supplementary European search report in European Application No. 04746097.7.
101 Jan. 5, 2007 Austrian Examination Report in Singapore Application No. 200505829-2.
102 Jan. 5, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
103 Jan. 5, 2015 Advisory Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
104 Jan. 5, 2015 Advisory Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
105 Jan. 7, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2005-7023089, with translation.
106 Jan. 8, 2015 Advisory Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/435,780.
107 Jan. 9, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/882,837.
108 Jan. 9, 2014 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/946,317.
109 Jul. 12, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,718.
110 Jul. 19, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/656,550.
111 Jul. 2, 2008 Search Report in Singapore Application No. 200717576-3.
112 Jul. 25, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/665,273.
113 Jul. 27, 2009 Notice of Allowance in Japanese Application No. 2004-558437, with translation.
114 Jul. 28, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,807.
115 Jul. 4, 2008 Search Report in Singapore Application No. 200717561-5.
116 Jul. 5, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/338,826.
117 Jul. 6, 2009 Communication Under Rule 71(3) in European Application No. 04746097.7.
118 Jul. 7, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860.
119 Jul. 9, 2013 Office Action issued in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098115103 (with Translation).
120 Jun. 1, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/340,680.
121 Jun. 11, 2007 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/259,061.
122 Jun. 14, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,721.
123 Jun. 14, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
124 Jun. 14, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
125 Jun. 15, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
126 Jun. 15, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,823.
127 Jun. 18, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
128 Jun. 19, 2009 Notice of Allowance in Chinese Application No. 200580002269.2, with translation.
129 Jun. 19, 2012 Office Action issued in Korean Application No. 2012-7006824 (with English translation).
130 Jun. 20, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
131 Jun. 21, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/453,386.
132 Jun. 24, 2015 Office Action issued in European Application No. 10186140.9.
133 Jun. 24, 2015 Office Action issued in European Application No. 10186147.4.
134 Jun. 24, 2015 Office Action issued in European Application No. 10186153.2.
135 Jun. 27, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/338,826.
136 Jun. 28, 2013 Office Action issued in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 099136459 (with translation).
137 Jun. 5, 2007 Search Report in European Application No. 03777352.0.
138 Jun. 9, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,505.
139 Mar. 1, 2005 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/IB04/01259.
140 Mar. 1, 2011 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
141 Mar. 10, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860.
142 Mar. 11, 2010 Supplemental Notice of Allowability in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
143 Mar. 13, 2009 Chinese Office Action in Application No. 200580002269.2 with translation.
144 Mar. 13, 2009 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200580002269.2, with translation.
145 Mar. 19, 2013 Office Action issued in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098146230 (with translation).
146 Mar. 2, 2007 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200380105467.2, with translation.
147 Mar. 2, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
148 Mar. 20, 2006 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/237,721.
149 Mar. 20, 2006 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/259,061.
150 Mar. 23, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 12/010,824.
151 Mar. 23, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2009-7023978, with translation.
152 Mar. 23, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2010-7000875, with translation.
153 Mar. 23, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2010-7023716, with translation.
154 Mar. 23, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2010-7023718, with translation.
155 Mar. 28, 2011 Search Report in European Application No. 10185953.6.
156 Mar. 28, 2011 Search Report in European Application No. 10185992.4.
157 Mar. 29, 2007 Search Report in European Application No. 05704182.4.
158 Mar. 29, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
159 Mar. 3, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,807.
160 Mar. 3, 2011 Office Action in European Application No. 04721260.0.
161 Mar. 30, 2010 Notice of Allowance in Japanese Application No. 2009-044470, with translation.
162 Mar. 30, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
163 Mar. 31, 2008 Australian Written Opinion (Allowance) in Singapore Application No. 200605084-3.
164 Mar. 6, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/461,244.
165 Mar. 8, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
166 May 10, 2009 Israeli Office Action in Israeli Application No. 170735 with translation.
167 May 13, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
168 May 14, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/665,273.
169 May 14, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/984,980.
170 May 16, 2008 Chinese Office Action in Application No. 200580002269.2 with translation.
171 May 16, 2008 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200580002269.2, with translation.
172 May 17, 2005 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/JP2005/001076, with translation.
173 May 27, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
174 May 27, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
175 May 29, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/798,262.
176 May 30, 2012 Office Action issued in Korean Application No. 2011-7014236 (with English translation).
177 May 31, 2011 Notice of Allowance in Japanese Application No. 2008-111219, with translation.
178 May 4, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2011-7003627, with translation.
179 May 4, 2011 Office Action in Korean Application No. 2011-7003628, with translation.
180 May 7, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/889,733.
181 May 8, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/878,076.
182 May 9, 2014 Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 13154181.5.
183 May 9, 2014 Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 13154183.1.
184 May 9, 2014 Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 13154185.6.
185 May 9, 2014 Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 13154186.4.
186 May 9, 2014 Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 13154187.2.
187 Nikon Corporation, 3rd 157 nm symposium, Sep. 4, 2002, "Nikon F2 Exposure Tool", Soichi Owa et al., 25 pages (slides 1-25).
188 Nikon Corporation, Immersion Lithography Workshop, Dec. 11, 2002, 24 pages (slides 1-24).
189 Nikon Corporation, Immersion Workshop, Jan. 27, 2004, "Update on 193 nm immersion exposure tool", S. Owa et al., 38 pages (slides 1-38).
190 Nikon Corporation, NGL Workshop, Jul. 10, 2003, :Potential performance and feasibility of immersion lithography, Soichi Owa et al., 33 pages, slides 1-33.
191 Nikon Corporation. Litho Forum, Jan. 28, 2004, "Update on 193 nm immersion exposure tool", S. Owa et al., 51 pages (slides 1-51).
192 Noticc of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/340,680 mailed on Sep. 9, 2010.
193 Notice of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716 mailed on Oct. 21, 2010.
194 Notice of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860 mailed on Oct. 4, 2010.
195 Notice of Allowance issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/984,980 mailed on Oct. 7, 2010.
196 Nov. 1, 2010 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
197 Nov. 12, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/656,550.
198 Nov. 16, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
199 Nov. 16, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/338,826.
200 Nov. 16, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
201 Nov. 18, 2008 Communication Pursuant to Art. 94(3) EPC in European Application No. 04 746 097.7.
202 Nov. 18, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/889,733.
203 Nov. 24, 2006 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/259,061.
204 Nov. 25, 2008 Office Action and Australian Examination Report in Singapore Application No. 200605084-3.
205 Nov. 3, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/147,285.
206 Nov. 5, 2007 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,505.
207 Nov. 5, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/461,244.
208 Nov. 6, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
209 Oct. 1, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/798,262.
210 Oct. 1, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/822,807.
211 Oct. 10, 2006 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/338,826.
212 Oct. 10, 2012 European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10186147.4.
213 Oct. 10, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/137,753.
214 Oct. 11, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,786.
215 Oct. 11, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/852,807.
216 Oct. 13, 2010 European Search Report in European Application No. 09015888.2.
217 Oct. 14, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/984,980.
218 Oct. 14, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/382,807.
219 Oct. 15, 2008 Search Report in Singapore Application No. 200717564-9.
220 Oct. 16, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/853,643.
221 Oct. 2, 2012 European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10186134.2.
222 Oct. 2, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,784.
223 Oct. 2, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,785.
224 Oct. 2, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/449,430.
225 Oct. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/882,837.
226 Oct. 21, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/889,733.
227 Oct. 21, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 13/853,319.
228 Oct. 23, 2009 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/340,680.
229 Oct. 26, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,539.
230 Oct. 4, 2012 European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10186140.9.
231 Oct. 5, 2004 International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application No. PCT/JP2004/008595, with translation.
232 Oct. 8, 2012 European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10186153.2.
233 Oct. 9, 2008 Austrian Notice of Allowance in Singapore Application No. 200503619-9.
234 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.
235 Optical Microlithography XVI, Proceedings of SPIE vol. 5040 (2003), "Immersion lithography; its potential performance and issues", Soichi Owa et al., pp. 724-733.
236 Sep. 1, 2008 Supplementary European Search Report in European Application No. 04721260.0.
237 Sep. 1, 2010 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
238 Sep. 1, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919.
239 Sep. 1, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,925.
240 Sep. 10, 2009 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,716.
241 Sep. 19, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/339,683.
242 Sep. 23, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,783.
243 Sep. 25, 2008 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/602,371.
244 Sep. 25, 2012 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/461,246.
245 Sep. 26, 2008 Notice of Allowance in Chinese Application No. 200480015978.X, with translation.
246 Sep. 29, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/453,386.
247 Sep. 30, 2013 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/923,717.
248 Sep. 6, 2007 Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 11/259,061.
249 Sep. 6, 2011 Office Action issued in U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894.
250 Sep. 7, 2007 Office Action in Chinese Application No. 200480015978 and English Translation.
251 Sep. 7, 2012 Office Action issued in Taiwanese Application No. 94103146 (with English translation).
252 Sep. 9, 2008 Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 11/340,680.
253 U.S. Appl. No. 12/659,894, filed Mar. 24, 2010.
254 U.S. Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 10/588,029 dated May 5, 2009.
255 U.S. Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860 dated Dec. 7, 2009.
256 U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 10/588,029 dated Sep. 3, 2008.
257 U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860 dated May 6, 2009.
258 U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/785,860 dated Oct. 7, 2008.
259 U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 11/812,919 dated Sep. 9, 2009.
Classification internationale G03B27/52, G03B27/58, G03F7/20, G02B, G03B27/32, G03B27/42
Classification coopérative G03F7/70341, G03F7/70725, G03F7/70733, G03F7/70716, G03B27/52