Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080198343 | Systems and methods for insitu lens cleaning in immersion lithography - An immersion lithography apparatus is provided that includes an energy source, a projection optical system, a stage, a showerhead including an immersion liquid supply device and an immersion liquid discharge device that produces a flow of liquid within an exposure zone, and a cleaning device that cleans a portion of the projection optical system having been contacted with the immersion liquid by means of a cleaning gas. In an embodiment, the cleaning device includes a gas supply device and a gas discharge device that produce a flow of cleaning gas into the exposure zone. In embodiments, the apparatus includes a stage that includes a dose sensor and/or an ultra-violet light source. A method for insitu cleaning of a final lens element within an immersion lithography system having an immersion fluid showerhead that provides immersion fluid to an exposure zone of the immersion lithography system is also provided. | 08-21-2008 |
20090109411 | Systems and Methods for Insitu Lens Cleaning Using Ozone in Immersion Lithography - An immersion lithography apparatus is provided that includes an energy source, a projection optical system, a stage, a showerhead including an immersion liquid supply device and an immersion liquid discharge device that produces a flow of liquid within an exposure zone, and a cleaning device that cleans a portion of the projection optical system having been contacted with the immersion liquid by means of a cleaning gas. In an embodiment, the cleaning device includes an ozone generation unit produces a flow of ozone into the exposure zone. In embodiments, the apparatus includes a stage that includes a dose sensor and/or an ultra-violet light source. A method for insitu cleaning of a final lens element within an immersion lithography system having an immersion fluid showerhead that provides immersion fluid to an exposure zone of the immersion lithography system is also provided. | 04-30-2009 |
20090185149 | IMMERSION LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS WITH IMMERSION FLUID RE-CIRCULATING SYSTEM - A lithographic apparatus includes a projection system, a fluid handling structure, a metrology device, and a recycling control device. The projection system is configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, the substrate being supported on a substrate table. The fluid handling structure is configured to provide an immersion fluid to a space between the projection system and the substrate and/or substrate table. The metrology device is configured to monitor a parameter of the immersion fluid. The recycling control device regulates a routing of the immersion fluid either to be reused by the fluid handling structure or to be reconditioned based on the quality of immersion fluid indicated by the metrology device. | 07-23-2009 |
20090190106 | IMMERSION LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS - An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed having a projection system, a liquid supply system, and a recycling system. The projection system is configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate, wherein a substrate table is configured to support the substrate. The liquid supply system is configured to provide an immersion liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate or the substrate table. The recycling system is configured to collect the immersion liquid from the liquid supply system and to supply the immersion liquid to the liquid supply system. The recycling system includes a fiber configured to remove organic contaminants from the immersion liquid. | 07-30-2009 |
20090213343 | RE-FLOW AND BUFFER SYSTEM FOR IMMERSION LITHOGRAPHY - A system is disclosed to isolate an environmental chamber of an immersion lithographic apparatus, to which an immersion fluid comprising liquid, is provided from an external environment. Further, there is disclosed a system for measuring flow rate and/or vapor concentration of a gas using a transducer to send and/or receive an acoustic signal. | 08-27-2009 |
20100053574 | Liquid Immersion Lithography System Comprising a Tilted Showerhead Relative to a Substrate - A liquid immersion lithography system includes projection optics (PL) and a showerhead ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100214544 | FLUID HANDLING DEVICE, AN IMMERSION LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND A DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A fluid handling device for an immersion lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling device comprising: at least one body with a surface facing a space for fluid; a plurality of openings for the flow of fluid therethrough defined in the surface; at least one barrier moveable relative to the plurality of openings for selectively allowing or preventing the flow of fluid through selected openings of the plurality of openings. | 08-26-2010 |
20110261335 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMALLY-INDUCED ABERRATION CORRECTION IN IMMERSION LITHOGRAPHY - Immersion lithography aberration control systems and methods that compensate for a heating effect of exposure energy in an immersion fluid across an exposure zone are provided. An aberration control system includes actuators that adjust optical elements within the immersion lithography system and a fluid heating compensation module coupled to the actuators. The fluid heating adjustment module determines actuator commands to make aberration adjustments to optical elements within the immersion lithography system based on changes in one or more of a flow rate of the immersion liquid, an exposure dose and a reticle pattern image. In an embodiment, the aberration control system includes an interferometric sensor that pre-calibrates aberrations based on changes in operating characteristics related to the immersion fluid. Methods are provided that calibrate aberrations, determine actuator adjustments and implement actuator adjustments upon changes in operating characteristics to control aberration effects. | 10-27-2011 |
20120013866 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, FLUID COMBINING UNIT AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A system for tuning the refractive index of immersion liquid in an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. Two or more immersion liquids of different refractive index are mixed together in order to achieve a desired refractive index. Further, the fluids may be conditioned and treated to maintain optical characteristics. | 01-19-2012 |