System managing gas flow between chambers of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography apparatus
First Claim
1. A flow management system for an extreme ultraviolet lithography apparatus, the system comprising:
- a first enclosing wall at least partially surrounding a first space;
a system generating plasma in said first space, the plasma emitting extreme ultraviolet light;
a second enclosing wall at least partially surrounding a second space;
an elongated body restricting flow from the first space to the second space, the body at least partially surrounding a passageway and having a first open end allowing EUV light to enter the passageway from the first space and a second open end allowing EUV light to exit the passageway into the second space, the body having a shape establishing a location having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first and second ends; and
a flow of gas exiting an aperture, the aperture positioned to introduce gas into the passageway at a position between the first end of the body and the location having a reduced cross-sectional area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas flow management system may comprise a first and second enclosing walls at least partially surrounding first and second respective spaces; a system generating plasma in the first space, the plasma emitting extreme ultraviolet light; an elongated body restricting flow from the first space to the second space, the body at least partially surrounding a passageway and having a first open end allowing EUV light to enter the passageway from the first space and a second open end allowing EUV light to exit the passageway into the second space, the body shaped to establish a location having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first and second ends; and a flow of gas exiting an aperture, the aperture positioned to introduce gas into the passageway at a position between the first end of the body and the location having a reduced cross-sectional area.
129 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A flow management system for an extreme ultraviolet lithography apparatus, the system comprising:
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a first enclosing wall at least partially surrounding a first space; a system generating plasma in said first space, the plasma emitting extreme ultraviolet light; a second enclosing wall at least partially surrounding a second space; an elongated body restricting flow from the first space to the second space, the body at least partially surrounding a passageway and having a first open end allowing EUV light to enter the passageway from the first space and a second open end allowing EUV light to exit the passageway into the second space, the body having a shape establishing a location having a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first and second ends; and a flow of gas exiting an aperture, the aperture positioned to introduce gas into the passageway at a position between the first end of the body and the location having a reduced cross-sectional area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An extreme ultraviolet lithography apparatus comprising:
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a first chamber having gas disposed therein; a second chamber having gas disposed therein; an intermediary chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber; an elongated body restricting flow from the first chamber to the intermediary chamber, the body at least partially surrounding a passageway and having a first open end allowing EUV light to enter the passageway and a second open end allowing EUV light to exit the passageway; a flow of gas exiting an aperture, the aperture positioned to introduce gas into the passageway at a location between the first end and the second end of the body; and a pump removing gas from the intermediary chamber. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a first enclosing structure surrounding a first volume; a system generating a plasma at a plasma site in the first volume, the plasma producing EUV radiation and ions exiting the plasma; an optic positioned in the first volume and distanced from the site by a distance, d; a gas disposed between the plasma site and optic, the gas establishing a gas number density sufficient to operate over the distance, d, to reduce ion energy below 100 eV before the ions reach the optic; and a second enclosing structure surrounding a second volume, a system coupling the second volume to the first volume to allow EUV radiation to pass from the first volume to the second volume and operable to establish a gas flow directed from the second volume into the system and a gas flow from the system into the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification