Patent ID: 8472004

Claim:
An immersion photolithography system, comprising: an electromagnetic radiation source; a lens system positioned to focus radiation emitted from the radiation source, with the lens system including a first lens; a workpiece support positionable into alignment with the first lens to allow radiation emitted by the radiation source and focused by the first lens to impinge on a workpiece; a liquid supply system for providing liquid between the first lens and the workpiece, the liquid supply system includes a liquid supply housing associated with the first lens, the liquid supply housing including an exit opening through which the liquid passes to contact the workpiece; and a seal element for enclosing a volume of liquid which maintains at least one surface area of the first lens wet, the seal element includes a plate having one or more resilient seal rings adapted to seal against a surface of the liquid supply housing, wherein the seal element is configured as a physical barrier confining liquid onto the first lens when the one or more resilient seal rings contact the liquid supply housing to form one or more liquid tight seals surrounding the exit opening of the liquid supply housing.