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EP0605103B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Projection apparatus for immersed exposure

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1993-11-26
•
Granted: 1998-10-14
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Expires: 2013-11-26
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kazuo C/O Canon K.K. Takahashi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 17:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70691; G03F7/707; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70341; G03F7/70733; G03F7/7075; G03F7/708; G03F7/70858; G03F7/70866; G03F7/70875; G03F7/70883; G03F7/70891

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 197 words
A projection exposure apparatus, comprising: illumination means (3) for illuminating a pattern of an original (1); holding means (12) for holding a substrate (2); a projection optical system (4, 7) for projecting an image of the pattern of the original (1) onto the substrate (2) held by said holding means (12); characterised in that: said projection optical system (4, 7) comprises a primary optical system (4) and a secondary optical system (7) separate from said primary optical system (4), said secondary optical system (7) including a planar optical element (7) to be positioned in a portion of a projection light path between said primary optical system (4) and the substrate (2) when the pattern of the original (1) is projected on to the substrate (2) through said projection optical system (4, 7); and said apparatus further comprises a container (9) adapted to be filled with a liquid material (23) so as to be positioned between said optical element (7) and the substrate (2) when the pattern of the original (1) is projected on to the substrate (2) through said projection optical system (4, 7) wherein said optical element (7) provides a cover member for said container (9).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment measuring system (6, 16) for detecting the positional relationship between the substrate (2) and the image projected by said projection optical system (4, 7) with respect to a horizontal direction, a focus position detecting system for detecting the positional relationship between the substrate and the focus position of said projection optical system (4, 7) with respect to a vertical direction, and tilt means for moving and/or tilting said holding means in X, Y and/or  direction on the basis of the detection through said alignment measuring system and the focus position detecting system so as to bring a pattern on the substrate into coincidence with the projected image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising conveying means (11-4) for loading and unloading said container (9) onto and from said holding means (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means (20, 21) for executing the filling of the container (9) with the liquid (23), upon said holding means (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for executing the filling of the container (9) with the liquid (23), at a position spaced from said holding means (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the substrate (2) provides a base of said container (9).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 52 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means (12) includes a portion for directly supporting the substrate (2) which portion is separated from said holding means (12), and wherein said portion provides a base of said container (9) while the remaining portion of said holding means holds said container (9).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the substrate (2) is detachable from said container (9).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container (9) is arranged to provide one of a positive pressure and a negative pressure therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said container (9) is made of a low thermal expansion material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the outer wall of said container (9) is covered by a heat insulating material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 68 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said alignment measuring system (6, 16) includes a measurement reference mirror (16), wherein at least two adjoining faces of the outer wall of said container (9) extend perpendicularly to each other, and wherein said at least two faces extend substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the substrate (2) whereby said reference mirror (16) is provided by said at least two faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical element (7) is detachable from said container (9).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container (9) includes pipe means with a valve (25-3), for injection and discharging of the liquid into and out of said container (9).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container (9) has a reference mark to be used for placing the same on said holding means (12).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure gauge (27) for detecting the pressure of the liquid material in said container (9).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the filling liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum pump for providing a negative pressure of the liquid material in said container (9).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a thermometer (18) for measuring the temperature of the liquid material in said container (9).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising temperature controlling means for controlling the temperature of the liquid material in said container (9).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising ultrasonic vibration means (22) for vibrating the liquid material in said container (9) with ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump (20) for injecting and discharging the liquid into and out of the container (9).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising filtering means (21) coupled to said pump (20), for filtering the liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 46 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attitude control means for tilting or holding said container (9) upright, wherein during injection of the liquid into the container (9) said container (9) is tilted or held upright so that the liquid is injected thereinto from below.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the injection of the liquid into the container (9) and the exposure operation are done at independent timings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container (9) is openable and closable so as to allow loading and unloading of the substrate (2) into and out of the inside of said container (9).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said holding means (12) includes a passageway for holding the substrate (2) through vacuum attraction, and an openable/closable shutter for preventing flow of the liquid into said passageway.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising measuring means provided in said container (9), for measuring any non-uniformness of illuminance during the exposure operation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said container (9) has a member operable as a reference in respect to the positioning on another portion of said holding means (12).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for providing at least one of electric connection, pneumatic communication and vacuum communication to said container (9).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring the refractive index of the liquid material in said container (9).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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