Patent · US Expired

Immersion optical lithography system having protective optical coating

US7495743B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
19References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2005
Grant dateFeb 24, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70958
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An immersion lithography system is provided which includes an optical source operable to produce light having a nominal wavelength and an optical imaging system. The optical imaging system has an optical element in an optical path from the optical source to an article to be patterned thereby. The optical element has a face which is adapted to contact a liquid occupying a space between the face and the article. The optical element includes a material which is degradable by the liquid and a protective coating which covers the degradable material at the face for protecting the face from the liquid, the protective coating being transparent to the light, stable when exposed to the light and stable when exposed to the liquid.

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