Patent ID: 7738076

Claim:
An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate to exposure light via a pattern of a mask, said apparatus comprising: a stage configured to hold one of the substrate and the mask, and to be moved; a projection optical system configured to project the pattern onto the substrate; a defining member facing said stage and configured to define a first space, between said stage and said projection optical system, through which the exposure light passes and which is to be filled with fluid; a first stream mechanism having a first supply port in said defining member and configured to stream fluid through the first space from said first supply port, the first supply port opening into the first space; an exhaust mechanism having an exhaust port in said defining member and configured to exhaust fluid in the first space from said exhaust port, the exhaust port opening into the first space; and a second stream mechanism having a second supply port, different from said first supply port, wherein said second supply port is arranged to surround the first space at a lower portion of said defining member, and is configured to stream fluid from said second supply port against a portion of said stage that opposes the second supply port, so as to seal the first space through which said first stream mechanism streams the fluid, wherein said second supply port is arranged lower than each of said first supply port and said exhaust port, and wherein said apparatus is configured such that (i) a pressure in the first space is not positive relative to a pressure in a third space that is separated from the first space by a second space located between said second supply port and the portion of said stage, and (ii) a pressure in the second space is higher than the pressure in the first space and the pressure in the third space.