Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080259292 | Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method - A lithographic apparatus is disclosed including a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between a liquid confinement structure of the liquid supply system and the substrate, and an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system having 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. | 10-23-2008 |
20080291407 | Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method - A lithographic apparatus is disclosed wherein a liquid supply system is configured to at least partly fill a region between a substrate and a projection system of the lithographic apparatus with a liquid and having a liquid confinement structure fixed in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the projection system and configured to cooperate with a substrate table configured to hold the substrate in order to restrict the liquid to a region above an upper surface of the substrate table so that a side of the substrate to be exposed is substantially covered in the liquid during exposure. | 11-27-2008 |
20080314249 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DE-GASSING A LIQUID - An apparatus configured to de-gas a liquid includes a semi-permeable membrane having a first side on which the liquid is provided; and (i) a vaporizer configured to provide vapor of the liquid to a second side of the membrane; or (ii) a gas inlet configured to provide a gas to the second side of the membrane, the gas adapted to dissociate when dissolved in the liquid and an ion exchanger for the liquid downstream of the semi-permeable membrane. | 12-25-2008 |
20090303455 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow. | 12-10-2009 |
20100045951 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A temperature sensor is provided to measure the temperature of immersion liquid at a position where the immersion liquid is supplied. The reading of this temperature sensor is used to control the magnitude of heat input to the immersion liquid using a heater and/or cooler. A controller is used to calculate the calibration error of the temperature sensor relative to a temperature sensor that is provided upstream. The controller uses readings of the temperature difference between the two temperature sensors at one or more mass flow rates in order to estimate the temperature difference between the two temperature sensors at an infinite mass flow rate. The temperature difference at this infinite mass flow rate is estimated to be the temperature calibration error of the temperature sensor to measure the temperature of immersion liquid at a position where the immersion liquid is supplied relative to the upstream temperature sensor. | 02-25-2010 |
20100149514 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow. | 06-17-2010 |
20100245791 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - Methods and apparatus for maintaining the thermal equilibrium of a substrate and an immersion lithographic apparatus are disclosed using or having a timetable comprising information regarding the position, speed and/or acceleration of the substrate; and an evaporation controller and/or condensation controller acting to decrease localized evaporation and/or increase localized condensation in response to the information in the timetable. Evaporation of liquid from the surface of the substrate cools it down, while condensing liquid on its bottom surface heats the substrate locally. | 09-30-2010 |
20100265476 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate. The liquid supply system may further include a de-mineralizing unit, a distillation unit, a de-hydrocarbonating unit, a UV radiation source, and/or a filter configured to purify the liquid. A gas content reduction device may be provided to reduce a gas content of the liquid. A chemical may be added to the liquid using an adding device to inhibit lifeform growth and components of the liquid supply system may be made of a material which is non-transparent to visible light such that growth of lifeforms may be reduced. | 10-21-2010 |
20110136064 | FLUID FILTRATION METHOD, FLUID FILTERED THEREBY, LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACUTRING METHOD - A method for filtering a fluid to obtain a fluid having a known purity is described. The fluid is filtered with a filtration system, and upstream of a final filtration stage of the filtration system, a purity of the fluid is measured. A purity of the fluid filtered by the filtration system is determined by correcting the measured purity with a filtration behavior of the final filtration stage. In an embodiment, the fluid comprises an ultra pure water for use as an immersion liquid in a lithographic apparatus. | 06-09-2011 |
20110249246 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A lithographic apparatus is disclosed including a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between a liquid confinement structure of the liquid supply system and the substrate, and an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system having 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. | 10-13-2011 |
20110292358 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - Various types of pressure regulating devices are disclosed to reduce a pressure gradient in a liquid supply system of a lithographic apparatus, the liquid supply system having a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partially confine a liquid between a projection system and a substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. A high pressure gradient may cause particulate contamination in the liquid supply system and/or liquid confinement structure. A pressure gradient can be reduced by, for example, the use of slow switching in one or more valves, a bleed flow around or through one or more valves, diversion of liquid to a drain rather than or in addition to switching a valve off, a pressure regulator or flow restrictor to prevent shock waves, and a buffer volume/damper to compensate for pressure fluctuation. | 12-01-2011 |
20110310367 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow. | 12-22-2011 |
20120008115 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A lithographic apparatus is disclosed wherein a liquid supply system is configured to at least partly fill a region between a substrate and a projection system of the lithographic apparatus with a liquid and having a liquid confinement structure fixed in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the projection system and configured to cooperate with a substrate table configured to hold the substrate in order to restrict the liquid to a region above an upper surface of the substrate table so that a side of the substrate to be exposed is substantially covered in the liquid during exposure. | 01-12-2012 |
20120013870 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate. The liquid supply system may further include a de-mineralizing unit, a distillation unit, a de-hydrocarbonating unit, a UV radiation source, and/or a filter configured to purify the liquid. A gas content reduction device may be provided to reduce a gas content of the liquid. A chemical may be added to the liquid using an adding device to inhibit lifeform growth and components of the liquid supply system may be made of a material which is non-transparent to visible light such that growth of lifeforms may be reduced. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013874 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - In a lithographic projection apparatus, a liquid supply system maintains liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate. The liquid supply system may further include a de-mineralizing unit, a distillation unit, a de-hydrocarbonating unit, a UV radiation source, and/or a filter configured to purify the liquid. A gas content reduction device may be provided to reduce a gas content of the liquid. A chemical may be added to the liquid using an adding device to inhibit lifeform growth and components of the liquid supply system may be made of a material which is non-transparent to visible light such that growth of lifeforms may be reduced. | 01-19-2012 |
20120097034 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DE-GASSING A LIQUID - An apparatus configured to de-gas a liquid includes a semi-permeable membrane having a first side on which the liquid is provided; and (i) a vaporizer configured to provide vapor of the liquid to a second side of the membrane; or (ii) a gas inlet configured to provide a gas to the second side of the membrane, the gas adapted to dissociate when dissolved in the liquid and an ion exchanger for the liquid downstream of the semi-permeable membrane. | 04-26-2012 |
20120267550 | THERMAL CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR THERMAL CONDITIONING A PART OF A LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND A THERMAL CONDITIONING METHOD - A conditioning system for conditioning a part of a lithographic apparatus, includes an evaporator positioned in thermal contact with the part for extracting heat from the part by evaporation of a fluid inside the evaporator; a condenser for removing heat from the fluid inside the condenser; fluid lines arranged between the evaporator and the condenser to form a fluid circuit; a pump arranged in the circuit to circulate the fluid in the circuit; an accumulator to hold fluid, wherein the accumulator is in fluid communication with the circuit and comprises a heat exchanger to transfer heat from or to fluid inside the accumulator; a temperature sensor to provide a signal representative of the fluid temperature; and a controller to maintain a substantially constant temperature of the fluid inside the circuit by regulating the amount of heat transferred by the heat exchanger based on the signal. | 10-25-2012 |
20140300883 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A porous member is used in a liquid removal system of an immersion lithographic projection apparatus to smooth uneven flows. A pressure differential across the porous member may be maintained at below the bubble point of the porous member so that a single-phase liquid flow is obtained. Alternatively, the porous member may be used to reduce unevenness in a two-phase flow. | 10-09-2014 |
20140375974 | SOURCE-COLLECTOR DEVICE, LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A source-collector device is constructed and arranged to generate a radiation beam, The device includes a target unit constructed and arranged to present a target surface of plasma-forming material; a laser unit constructed and arranged to generate a beam of radiation directed onto the target surface so as to form a plasma from said plasma-forming material; a contaminant trap constructed and arranged to reduce propagation of particulate contaminants generated by the plasma; a radiation collector comprising a plurality of grazing-incidence reflectors arranged to collect radiation emitted by the plasma and form a beam therefrom; and a filter constructed and arranged to attenuate at least one wavelength range of the beam. | 12-25-2014 |