Patent ID: 8576379

Claim:
A lithographic projection apparatus comprising: a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate, the substrate table having a depression configured to receive the substrate; a holder which is disposed inside the depression, the holder having a rim which holds the substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; an immersion system having a liquid supply path and a liquid recovery path, the immersion system supplying a liquid via the liquid supply path under the projection system, and recovering the liquid via the liquid recovery path from an immersion area which is formed under the projection system by the supplied liquid; a sensor configured to measure one or both of (1) a position of the substrate prior to entering the depression based on a pre-alignment measurement, and (2) a gap between an edge of the substrate disposed inside the depression and an edge of the depression; and a substrate handling system in communication with the sensor configured to position the substrate inside the depression based upon the measurement result of the sensor such that the gap between the edge of the substrate and the edge of the depression is substantially uniform inside the depression.