Patent · US Expired

Lithographic apparatus having a gas flushing device

US7136142B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
5References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 2004
Grant dateNov 14, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 14, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70908
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an illumination system to provide a beam of radiation, and a support structure for supporting a patterning device. The patterning device serves to impart the beam with a pattern in its cross-section. The apparatus also includes a gas flushing device for flushing a substantially laminar flow of gas across the beam of radiation and/or along a surface of an optical component. The gas flushing device includes a single gas outlet that has an inner rim at a downstream end of the gas outlet. The inner rim defines a total gas outlet area. The gas outlet is provided with a laminator that has an effective area out of which, in use, the substantially laminar flow of gas flows. The laminator effective area includes material that has laminator openings and is at least as large as the total gas outlet area.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.