Apparatus and Method for Particle Monitoring in Immersion Lithography
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An immersion lithography system, comprising:
- an imaging lens having a front surface;
a substrate stage positioned under the front surface of the imaging lens;
an immersion fluid retaining structure having at least one fluid port, configured to hold a fluid from the fluid inlet for at least partially filling a space between the front surface and a substrate on the substrate stage, and receive or dispel the fluid through the fluid port; and
a particle monitor module integrated with the immersion fluid retaining structure.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides an immersion lithography system. The system includes an imaging lens having a front surface; a substrate stage positioned underlying the front surface of the imaging lens; an immersion fluid retaining structure having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, configured to hold a fluid from the fluid inlet, at least partially filling a space between the front surface and a substrate on the substrate stage, and flowing the fluid out through the fluid outlet; and a particle monitor module integrated with the immersion fluid retaining structure.
43 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An immersion lithography system, comprising:
-
an imaging lens having a front surface; a substrate stage positioned under the front surface of the imaging lens; an immersion fluid retaining structure having at least one fluid port, configured to hold a fluid from the fluid inlet for at least partially filling a space between the front surface and a substrate on the substrate stage, and receive or dispel the fluid through the fluid port; and a particle monitor module integrated with the immersion fluid retaining structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An immersion lithography system, comprising:
-
an imaging system; a substrate stage positioned underlying the imaging system; an immersion fluid retaining structure configured to hold a fluid at least partially filling a space between the imaging system and a substrate on the substrate stage; a tank coupled to the immersion fluid retaining structure for receiving the fluid; a liquid particle counter coupled to the tank for monitoring particles in the fluid; and a gas filter coupled to the tank for providing gas to the tank for use with the liquid particle counter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for immersion photolithography patterning semiconductor integrated circuits, comprising:
-
flowing an immersion fluid to a space between an imaging lens and a substrate on a substrate stage, through an immersion fluid retaining module; and monitoring particles in the immersion fluid before flowing into the space or after flowing out from the space. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification