Patent · US Expired

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method

US7271873B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
7References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 2006
Grant dateSep 18, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 22, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70933
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an illuminator for conditioning a beam of radiation, and a first support for supporting a patterning device that serves to pattern the beam of radiation according to a desired pattern. The apparatus also includes a second support for supporting a substrate, a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate, and at least one gas generator for generating a conditioned gas flow. The gas generator includes a guiding element for guiding the gas flow to a lower volume generally located below a lower surface of the projection system and to a volume between the lower surface and the substrate. The guiding element directs the gas flow in a generally downward direction and then in a direction generally parallel to the lower surface.

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