Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a light source, an illumination optical system for illuminating an original with light from the light source, and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the original, illuminated by the illumination optical system, onto a substrate. In addition, a radiation member is disposed opposite to a subject of temperature adjustment which corresponds to at least one of an optical element of the illumination optical system, an optical element of the projection optical system and the original, and a control system controls a temperature of the radiation member in accordance with a state or exposure of the subject of temperature adjustment.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate to light via a reticle while the substrate and the reticle are scanned based on information regarding a shape of the reticle. A projection optical system projects a reticle pattern onto the substrate and a reticle stage holds the reticle and moves in the scanning direction. A measurement system measures a position of the reticle surface in the optical axis direction. Information is generated on a position of each measurement point of the surface in the scanning direction with respect to which the measurement system measures a surface position based on pattern information. The measurement performed with respect to each measurement point is used to obtain reticle shape information. The position of the reticle stage and operation of the measurement system is controlled based on the generated information and the reticle stage position information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the apodization of projection optics for use in a lithographic apparatus, the projection optics having an object plane where, in use, a reticle is placed, a pupil plane, and an image plane where, in use, a wafer is placed. The method includes placing one or more appropriate apertures in said object plane for creating a substantially uniform light distribution, illuminating the or each aperture and measuring the intensity distribution at a plane which is conjugate to the pupil plane in order to calculate the apodization of the projection optics.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus having a base and a movable body which is driven to move along the base. The apparatus includes a generator configured to generate a driving signal for the movable body, a temperature adjusting mechanism configured to adjust temperature of the base, and a controller configured to control a manipulated variable for the temperature control mechanism based on the generated driving signal.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus uses polarized light to improve the imaging properties, such as exposure latitude, while maintaining and extending the lifetime of an illumination system in the lithographic apparatus.

Abstract: The mutually associated structure patterns, which are provided on one mask, or a plurality of masks for a double or multiple exposure can be received by the mask substrate holder. The mask substrate holder has two receiving stations one for each of the masks. Alternatively, both structure patterns for the double exposure are formed on one mask. The substrate holder has one receiving station. The substrate holder, is displaced from the section including first structure pattern to the second, between the two exposure operations, without the masks having to be loaded or unloaded, and realigned.

Abstract: In a lithographic apparatus, a measurement of the position of an object in an ambient space by an object position measuring system which is influenced by pressure variations in the ambient space, is corrected by an accurate measurement of the pressure in the ambient space. A pressure difference is measured between a pressure in a reference pressure volume and an ambient pressure in an ambient space. An absolute pressure in the reference pressure volume is added to the pressure difference to determine a change of pressure in the ambient space. Alternatively, the pressure difference is integrated over time and a determined change of pressure in the reference pressure volume is added to the pressure difference to determine a change of pressure in the ambient space.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate. The apparatus includes an optical element, and at least two clamping assemblies for clamping the optical element. The clamping assemblies each include a first clamp with a first clamping surface in contact with a first surface of the optical element and a second clamp with a second clamping surface in contact with a second surface of said optical element, opposite said first surface of said optical element.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for conditioning a beam of radiation, and an article support for supporting a substantially flat article to be placed in a beam path of the beam of radiation. The article support includes a plurality of supporting protrusions that define a support zone for providing a substantially flat plane of support. The apparatus also includes a backfill gas feed for providing an improved thermal conduction between the article and the article support. The backfill gas feed includes a backfill gas discharge zone for feeding backfill gas to a backside of the article when supported by the article support. The backfill gas discharge zone substantially encloses the support zone.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of placing a substrate on a support. In an embodiment of the invention, the method includes determining a position of the substrate relative to a reference position via a sensor which outputs a sensor signal to a control unit, the determining including detecting the position of the substrate in a chamber, and determining a gripping position on the substrate; gripping the substrate at the gripping position with a gripper controlled by the control unit, and providing the substrate in a defined position on the support member, the providing including moving the substrate to a fixed position relative to the support member such that the center of the substrate arrives at a predetermined position on the support member.

Abstract: An illumination optical device, wherein a micro channel is not generated practically in a diffractive optical element arranged in an optical path of pulse laser light having high energy density. An illumination optical device having a light source (1) for supplying pulse laser light, wherein an irradiated plane (M) is illuminated with light from this light source. The illumination optical device comprises a diffractive optical element (4) arranged in an optical path between a light source and an irradiated plane, through which a light beam having an energy density of 1 mJ/cm2/pulse or more passes. The diffractive optical element is formed by an oxide crystal material such as quartz crystal.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus having a radiation beam inspection device including a barrier to the beam of radiation, the barrier having an aperture through which a portion of the beam of radiation passes; and a radiation sensor that determines the intensity of the radiation passing through the aperture and the position, relative to the aperture, of the point at which the radiation is incident on the radiation sensor.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a guiding mechanism to guide a movable structure such as a mask blade of a reticle masking device, a movable part connected to the movable structure, and a substantially stationary part to guide the movable part. The movable part includes a nozzle to inject a gas in a gap between the movable and stationary parts, a contactless supply of the gas from the stationary part to the movable part being provided by a gas supply outlet in the stationary part and a gas supply inlet in the movable part. The gas supply outlet includes an inlet trench in a surface of the movable part facing the gas supply outlet of the stationary part, the trench being orientated parallel to a direction of movement of the movable part. The movable part includes a motor drive part and a counter weight part connected to an end of the motor drive part facing away from the movable structure.

Abstract: An array of individually controllable elements, comprising a plurality of control areas consisting of a plurality of rows of reflectors. Alternate rows of reflectors are actuated in a common manner such that the control areas function as a grating to provide a control element that can be used as a diffractive optical element.

Abstract: A flexible substrate, which has a photosensitive agent applied thereon, is continuously supplied from a supply unit to a guide unit where light is irradiated from a light source on a section of the substrate. A mask is positioned between the substrate and the light source so that the light from the light source selectively subjects the section of the substrate to exposure. Hence, it is possible to form a pattern having a continuous slanted structure for a large-area display panel.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light source (1) comprises a laser light source (10) for generating a signal light in the infrared region, a optical amplifier (20) which comprises fiber optical amplifiers (21, 22) and amplifies the signal light generated by the laser light source (10), and a wavelength converting optical system (30) which coverts the signal light amplified by the light amplifier (20) into an ultraviolet light and outputs the converted light. The ultraviolet light source (1) uses a single-mode fiber laser (26) as an excitation light source for at least the fiber optical amplifier (22) at one stage of the optical amplifier (20).

Abstract: The exposure device includes a polarizing plate and an illumination diaphragm. The polarizing plate is located in an optical path between a light source and a photomask, serving as a polarizing unit that polarizes an illuminating light from the light source in the first and the second direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The illumination diaphragm is a so-called quadruple illumination diaphragm, which includes four openings. The first opening and the second opening are located on a straight line running parallel to a third direction perpendicular to the optical axis and passing the center point of the illumination diaphragm, across the center point from each other. Likewise, the third opening and the fourth opening are located on a straight line running parallel to a fourth direction perpendicular to the optical axis and passing the center point, across the center point from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an exposure apparatus and a cooling method usable therein, being effective to improve a mirror temperature-control precision and to suppress temperature changes in a certain allowable range, particularly in an EUV exposure apparatus. The exposure apparatus includes a chamber having an inside space filled with a vacuum ambience, a subject member disposed in the inside space, the subject member being a member to be temperature-adjusted, a radiation member for temperature-adjusting the subject member without contact thereto, and a temperature adjusting mechanism for temperature-adjusting the subject member, wherein the temperature adjusting mechanism changes the temperature of the radiation member before a heat quantity applied or to be applied to the subject member changes.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus for immersion lithography is described in which a compensation controller controls actuators to apply forces to the substrate equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to forces which are applied to the substrate by a liquid supply system which supplies liquid between the projection system and the substrate.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes an optical system for guiding light with a central wavelength between 5 and 20 nm from a light source to an object to be exposed, the optical system including a first mirror and a second mirror, a first controller for controlling a temperature of the first mirror to a first zero cross temperature, at which the first mirror has a coefficient of thermal expansion of zero, and a second controller for controlling a temperature of the second mirror to a second zero cross temperature, at which the second mirror has a coefficient of thermal expansion of zero, the second zero cross temperature being different from the first zero cross temperature.