Exposure apparatus
First Claim
1. An exposure apparatus which projects and transfers a pattern formed on a mask to a substrate by using exposure light, comprising:
- a stage;
an optical system; and
a gas flow formation mechanism which forms a flow of inert gas in an optical path space including a space through which exposure light passes between said stage and said optical system, wherein said gas flow formation mechanism is arranged to form a flow of inert gas having a spatially or temporarily nonuniform distribution in the optical path space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention shortens a time required to purge, with inert gas, gas in a space (optical path space) through which exposure light passes, such as a space between a projection optical system and a substrate. The exposure apparatus includes a wafer stage (102), a projection optical system (101), and an air supply portion (112) which supplies inert gas at a nonuniform flow velocity to an optical path space (113) through which exposure light passes between the wafer stage (102) and the projection optical system (101). A downward flow of inert gas is formed.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An exposure apparatus which projects and transfers a pattern formed on a mask to a substrate by using exposure light, comprising:
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a stage;
an optical system; and
a gas flow formation mechanism which forms a flow of inert gas in an optical path space including a space through which exposure light passes between said stage and said optical system, wherein said gas flow formation mechanism is arranged to form a flow of inert gas having a spatially or temporarily nonuniform distribution in the optical path space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A device manufacturing method comprising the steps of:
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transferring a pattern to a substrate coated with a photosensitive material by using an exposure apparatus; and
developing the substrate, wherein the exposure apparatus is arranged to project and transfer a pattern formed on the mask to the substrate by using exposure light, the exposure apparatus comprises a stage, an optical system, and a gas flow formation mechanism which forms a flow of inert gas in an optical path space including a space through which exposure light passes between the stage and the optical system, and the gas flow formation mechanism forms a flow of inert gas having a spatially or temporarily nonuniform distribution in the optical path space.
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Specification