Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method to control vacuum at porous material using multiple porous materials

US8634055B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
8References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 2010
Grant dateJan 21, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2031

Classification

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

Abstract

An immersion liquid confinement apparatus recovers an immersion liquid from an immersion area that includes a gap between a projection system and an object of exposure in an immersion lithography system. The apparatus includes a confinement member that includes an outlet and an aperture through which a patterned image is projected onto the object. A first liquid-permeable member covers the outlet and has a first surface that faces the object and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface contacting a first chamber. A second liquid-permeable member has first and second oppositely-facing surfaces, the first surface of the second liquid-permeable member contacts the first chamber, the second surface of the second liquid-permeable member contacts a second chamber that is different from the first chamber. A hydrophobic porous member is provided between the first chamber and a vacuum system that supplies a low pressure to the first chamber.

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