Patent ID: 8514370

Claim:
A substrate support structure for clamping a substrate on a surface of the substrate support structure by means of a capillary layer of a liquid having an outer liquid surface, the surface of the substrate support structure having an outer edge and comprising one or more substrate supporting elements for receiving the substrate to be clamped, wherein the one or more substrate supporting elements are arranged to provide support for the substrate at a plurality of support locations, wherein the substrate support structure further comprises a sealing structure circumscribing the surface of the substrate support structure for substantially closing off a circumferential opening facing the outer liquid surface and having a top surface or edge forming a sealing rim, wherein a distance between the outer edge of the surface of the substrate support structure and an outermost one of the support locations is greater than a distance between the outer edge and the sealing rim, and wherein a distance between the sealing rim and the outermost support location is greater than a maximum distance between adjacent support locations; and wherein the sealing rim is substantially level with a top of the substrate supporting elements.