Patent ID: 8300207

Claim:
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus comprising: a projection system having an optical element, a substrate positioned below the projection system being exposed with exposure light; a liquid immersion member which has a liquid contact surface that opposes a front surface of an object and that includes a liquid recovery area, a liquid in a gap between the liquid contact surface of the liquid immersion member and the front surface of the object being recovered through the liquid recovery area; and a porous member, which is disposed below the liquid contact surface, the object being moved below the projection system, the liquid immersion member, and the porous member; wherein the porous member and the liquid contact surface are configured to provide a space between the porous member and the liquid contact surface of the liquid immersion member, and the porous member and the liquid contact surface are configured to provide an opening located below the liquid contact surface of the liquid immersion member and above the porous member, through which the liquid is allowed to flow into the space.