Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
First Claim
1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
- an illuminator configured to condition a radiation beam;
a support constructed to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate;
a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, the liquid supply system comprising a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine the liquid within the space;
an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate; and
an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system comprising a separator tank arranged to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, configured to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
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Abstract
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table to hold a substrate and a projection system to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A liquid supply system at least partly fills a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, and has a liquid confinement structure to at least partly confine the liquid within the space. An outlet removes a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate. An evacuation system draws the mixture through the outlet, and includes a separator tank to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A lithographic apparatus comprising:
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an illuminator configured to condition a radiation beam;
a support constructed to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate;
a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, the liquid supply system comprising a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine the liquid within the space;
an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate; and
an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system comprising a separator tank arranged to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, configured to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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a pressurized gas input configured to provide gas under pressure to an interface region of a container from which liquid may escape;
a stabilized evacuation system configured to provide controlled removal of a mixture of liquid and gas from the region, the flow of gas caused by the pressurized gas input coupled with the stabilized evacuation system being configured to limit the escape of liquid from the container through the interface region, the stabilized evacuation system comprising a separator tank arranged to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, configured to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
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21. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:
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an illuminator configured to condition a radiation beam;
a support constructed to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate;
a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, the liquid supply system comprising a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine the liquid within the space;
an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate; and
an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system comprising a two-phase compatible pump and a liquid/gas homogenizer arranged between the gap and the two-phase compatible pump, the liquid/gas homogenizer being arranged to provide a uniform mixture of liquid and gas to the two-phase compatible pump. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:
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an illuminator configured to condition a radiation beam;
a support constructed to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;
a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate;
a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate;
a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, the liquid supply system comprising a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partly confine the liquid within the space;
an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate; and
an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system, comprising;
a main pumping line connected to a two-phase compatible pump configured to pump the mixture, a backup line connectable to a shared vacuum facility configured to pump gas only and arranged to backup the two-phase compatible pump, the two-phase compatible pump being configurable to provide a deeper vacuum than the shared vacuum facility, and a two-phase-compatible pressure regulator connected to the main pumping line and the backup line. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
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providing a liquid to a space between a projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate, the liquid being confined to the space at least in part by a liquid confinement structure;
removing a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate;
separating, in a separator tank, liquid from gas in the mixture;
pumping on a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank so as to maintain a stable pressure within the separator tank; and
projecting a patterned beam of radiation, using the projection system, through the liquid onto the substrate.
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26. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
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providing a flow of gas under pressure to an interface region of a container from which liquid may escape;
controlled removing of a mixture of liquid and gas from the region, the flow of gas coupled with the controlled removal of the mixture being configured to limit the escape of liquid from the container through the interface region;
separating, in a tank, liquid from gas in the mixture; and
pumping on a non-liquid-filled region of the tank so as to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
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27. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
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providing a liquid to a space between a projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate, the liquid being confined to the space at least in part by a liquid confinement structure;
removing a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate using a two-phase compatible pump;
homogenizing the mixture before it reaches the two-phase compatible pump; and
projecting a patterned beam of radiation, using the projection system, through the liquid onto the substrate.
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28. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
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providing a liquid to a space between a projection system of a lithographic apparatus and a substrate, the liquid being confined to the space at least in part by a liquid confinement structure;
removing a mixture of liquid and gas, the mixture passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate, through a main pumping line using a two-phase compatible pump;
removing gas from the mixture through a backup line using a shared vacuum facility as a backup to the two-phase compatible pump, the two-phase compatible pump providing a deeper vacuum than the shared vacuum facility;
regulating the main pumping line and the backup line using a two-phase-compatible pressure regulator; and
projecting a patterned beam of radiation, using the projection system, through the liquid onto the substrate.
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Specification