Patent ID: 7221432

Claim:
An exposure apparatus comprising: a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a mask onto an object using a light with wavelength of 20 nm or less from a light source; first and second accommodating parts for accommodating the projection optical system and the mask or the object, said first and second accommodating part has different pressures; and a connecting part for defining an opening part that connects said second accommodating part with said first accommodating part, wherein said connecting part has a convex section that projects toward the object, and the convex section includes a projecting part that bends in almost parallel to the accommodated mask or object, and defines the opening part, and wherein said opening part of the connecting part has an area of 125 mm 2 or more, an average distance between the accommodated mask or object and the projecting part is 3 mm or less, and a length of the projecting part in the scan direction is 5.2 mm or more.