Patent · US Active

Immersion exposure technique

US7561248B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
12References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 2007
Grant dateJul 14, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70341
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An exposure apparatus which has a projection optical system and exposes a substrate to a pattern of an original via the projection optical system with a gap between the projection optical system and the substrate filled with liquid. The apparatus includes a supply nozzle having a supply port to supply the liquid to the gap through the supply port, the supply port arranged on a first opposite surface to an exposed surface of the substrate, a recovery nozzle having a recovery port to recover the liquid through the recovery port, arranged more distant than the supply port from a final surface of the projection optical system, the recovery port arranged so as to oppose the exposed surface of the substrate, and a stepped portion having a second opposite surface to the exposed surface of the substrate. A distance between the second opposite surface and the exposed surface of the substrate is different from a distance between the first opposite surface and the exposured surface of the substrate.

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