Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam; a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, and a shield device arranged between a source of air flows and/or pressure waves and an element sensitive for the air flows and/or pressure waves.

Abstract: A lens element, for use in a projection system, includes a concave side. The lens element further includes a membrane and a nozzle, the membrane at least covering the concave side of the lens element. The nozzle is arranged for supplying and/or removing a liquid and/or a gas in between the concave side and the membrane.

Abstract: An electrical connection system is disclosed. The electrical connection system comprises a housing, an elongate conductor and a flexible planar electrical connector. The housing comprises a front plate having a conducting surface and a back plate having a conducting surface. The elongate conductor extends through the front plate. The flexible planar electrical connector comprises a laminate that comprises, in order, a first flexible planar insulating layer, a conductor configured to carry an electrical current and a second flexible planar insulating layer. The flexible planar electrical connector is sandwiched by and extends beyond the front plate and the back plate. The elongate conductor is electrically connected to the conductor of the planar connector.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is provided with a sensor. The sensor comprises a frame that defines a space that is crossed multiple times by wire. Detection electronics are connected to the wire and configured to detect a change of temperature of the wire due to infrared radiation being incident upon the wire. The detection electronics are further configured to provide an output signal in the event that a change of temperature of the wire is detected.

Abstract: An object suitable for a plasma cleaning treatment in a plasma cleaning device, the object including a first outer surface area; a second outer surface area, wherein the object is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a removable cover such that the cover is connectable to the object to cover the second outer surface area, and wherein the object connected with the removable cover is adapted to be cleaned in the plasma cleaning device such that the plasma cleaning device is not exposed to particles of the second outer surface area and wherein the first outer surface area is cleaned in the plasma cleaning device.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a table having a surface and a sensor, or a target for a sensor, or both, the sensor and/or target having a first area which is lyophobic to immersion liquid and a second area which is lyophilic to immersion liquid, and a liquid displacement device configured to displace liquid on the sensor and/or target, the liquid displacement device comprising a gas outlet opening configured to direct a gas flow toward the first and second areas, wherein a property of a part of the gas flow directed to the first area is different to a property of a part of the gas flow directed to the second area.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The projection system is mounted on a reference structure of the lithographic apparatus by a mount of the lithographic apparatus. The mount includes a first piezoelectric element to exert a force on the projection system, a second piezoelectric element to measure the force, and an interconnection member interposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the interconnection member comprising a cut.

Abstract: A detector detects radiation from a mask to form an image, but the focal plane of the image is in front of the mask. Any particles arranged on the mask will be in focus. However, the pattern on the mask will be out of focus. It is therefore possible to detect the existence and location of particles on a mask having an arbitrary pattern. The depth of field of the detector is small and the focal plane is no further from the surface of the patterning device than two times the depth of field.

Abstract: Movements of a lithographic apparatus include dynamic positioning errors on one or more axes which cause corresponding errors which can be measured in the applied pattern. A test method includes operating the apparatus several times while deliberately imposing a relatively large dynamic positioning error at different specific frequencies and axes. Variations in the error in the applied pattern are measured for different frequencies and amplitudes of the injected error across a frequency band of interest for a given axis or axes. Calculation using said measurements and knowledge of the frequencies injected allows analysis of dynamic positioning error variations in frequency bands correlated with each injected error frequency.

Abstract: An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a fluid handling system configured to provide immersion liquid between a final element of a projection system and a surface which comprises, in cross-section, a feature, and an adjustment fluid source configured to locally change the composition of the immersion liquid to cause a local decrease in surface tension of the immersion liquid at least when a meniscus of the immersion liquid contacts the feature.

Abstract: A spectral purity filter is configured to reflect extreme ultraviolet radiation. The spectral purity filter includes a substrate, and an anti-reflective coating on a top surface of the substrate. The anti-reflective coating is configured to transmit infrared radiation. The filter also includes a multi-layer stack configured to reflect extreme ultraviolet radiation and to substantially transmit infrared radiation.

Abstract: A container is provided for use within a lithographic apparatus. The container is configured to house at least one component of the lithographic apparatus within an internal space which is at least partially filled with a packing material that includes a plurality of gas cells.

Abstract: A gas analyzing system is disclosed, the system including a gas analyzer and a reduced pressure chamber in which interior the gas analyzer is arranged, the reduced pressure chamber having an inlet configuration for a gas mixture inflow and an outlet configuration for a gas mixture outflow, wherein the outlet configuration during operation is connected to a pump system to facilitate the gas mixture outflow, the outlet configuration having a channel section and a flow section, the flow section having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross -sectional area of the channel section.

Abstract: A lithography apparatus with a data-path for converting a representation of a requested dose pattern to a sequence of control data suitable for controlling an array of individually controllable elements. The data path comprises a plurality of data manipulation devices and a calculation load controller for balancing a calculation load between the data manipulation devices. A device manufacturing method using elements of the lithography apparatus, and a flat panel display and integrated circuit device manufactured using the method.

Abstract: An encoder-type measurement system is configured to measure a position dependent signal of a movable object, the measurement system including at least one sensor mountable on the movable object a sensor target object mountable on a substantially stationary frame, and a mounting device configured to mount the sensor target object on the substantially stationary frame. The measurement system further includes a compensation device configured to compensate movements and/or deformations of the sensor target object with respect to the substantially stationary frame. The compensation device may include a passive or an active damping device and/or a feedback position control system. In an alternative embodiment, the compensation device includes a gripping device which fixes the position of the sensor target object during a high accuracy movement of the movable object.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a source configured to generate a radiation beam comprising desired radiation and undesired radiation using a plasma, an illumination system configured to condition the radiation beam and to receive hydrogen gas during operation of the lithographic apparatus, and a support structure constructed to hold a patterning device. The patterning device is capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam. A substrate table is constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system is configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The lithographic apparatus is configured such that the radiation beam on entering the projection system includes at least 50% of the undesired radiation that is generated by the plasma and includes wavelengths of radiation that interact with the hydrogen gas to generate hydrogen radicals.

Abstract: A spectral purity filter is configured to transmit extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and deflect or absorb non-EUV secondary radiation. In an embodiment, the spectral purity filter includes a body of material highly transmissive of EUV radiation and a layer of material highly reflective of non-EUV secondary radiation located on a radiation incident side of the body. In an embodiment, the spectral purity filter includes a body of material highly transmissive of EUV radiation and a layer of high emissivity material on an end of the body.

Abstract: Improved low k1 lithographic imaging is disclosed by optimizing or improving an illumination polarization condition. The polarization condition may be a pre-defined spatially varying polarization, or a spatially customized local polarization of bright illumination points based on tracking a value of a desired lithographic response. Several non-traditional polarization conditions, e.g., TM/TE polarization (with or without a central TM region), diagonal polarization, and Y+X polarization (typically for dark field illumination) are disclosed, that offer substantial imaging advantages for specific lithographic problems, especially at low k1 values. The initial polarization definition may be limited to specific fixed polarization angles.

Abstract: A substrate table positioning device that is supported by four bearing elements is provided. The substrate table positioning device also includes a balance mass. Two of the bearing elements support the base frame in such a way that they can move in a vertical direction independently of the other bearing elements. This can be achieved by using a hinge. This structure of substrate table positioning device has a higher lowest Eigen frequency of oscillation than that of substrate table positioning devices supported by three bearing elements. As such, the balance mass is not excited by typical vibrations that occur in the lithographic apparatus. This enables better positional control of the substrate table. It also enables at least some of the dimensions of the frame elements of the balance mass to be reduced.

Abstract: A method of measurement of at-resolution overlay offset may be implemented in a scatterometer. At least three targets are provided on a wafer, each target comprising a first marker grating and a second interleaved marker grating and each target having a different overlay bias between its first and second marker. The first and second markers are provided by subsequent lithography steps in a double patterning lithographic process. The targets are measured with a scatterometer and for each target a measured CD of at least one of the markers is determined using reconstruction. The CD of the first marker may be fixed in the reconstruction. The measured CDs and at least one of the overlay biases is used to determine an overlay result corresponding to a minimum measured CD. The overlay result may be determined by fitting a function such as a parabola to the measured CDs and the overlay biases and determining the overlay at the minimum of the fitted function.