Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Takaiwa

Hiroaki Takaiwa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190094708
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system, a substrate stage which is movable and has a holder to hold a substrate, and a detection apparatus that detects whether liquid is present on a surface of an object, which is disposed lower than a front end of the projection optical system. The surface of the object includes a recessed portion formed on the object. The substrate is exposed by emitting exposure light onto the substrate through the projection optical system and a liquid in a liquid immersion area locally formed on a portion of an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Takashi HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180364581
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate with light via liquid includes a stage which holds the substrate and is movable relative to a projection system; and a liquid supply system which supplies liquid onto the substrate held on the stage to form a liquid immersion area on part of the substrate The stage includes a substrate holder arranged in a recess of the stage to hold the substrate inside the recess so that an upper surface of the substrate is substantially flush with an upper surface of the stage around the recess; a flow passage connected to an internal space of the recess to remove liquid from the internal space; and a sensor which receives light from the projection optical system and is arranged so that an upper surface of the sensor is substantially flush with the upper surface of the stage around the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Shigeru HIRUKAWA, Ryuichi HOSHIKA, Hitoshi ISHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10151983
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a final optical element via which an exposure beam is projected, an immersion member having an opening through which the exposure beam is projected, liquid supply ports and liquid recovery ports, a stage which is movable below and relative to the projection system and the immersion member, the stage including a holder configured to hold a substrate, and a detection system configured to detect a residual liquid on at least one of the substrate held on the holder of the movable stage and the movable stage. A liquid immersion area that covers only a portion of the upper surface of the substrate is formed on an upper surface of the substrate held on the holder of the movable stage, while supplying immersion liquid via the liquid supply ports and removing the immersion liquid via the liquid recovery ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takaiwa, Takashi Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20180299789
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection system, a stage having a holder on which a substrate is held, a supply system having a supply flow path via which liquid is supplied to form an immersion area under the projection system, a first recovery system having a recovery port via which the supplied liquid is recovered from above the stage, a second recovery system having a recovery flow path provided in the stage via which the supplied liquid is recovered, and a third recovery system which has a path and which removes liquid in the supply flow path using the path. The substrate is exposed via the liquid immersion area covering a portion of an upper surface of the substrate with exposure light from the projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki HARA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Dai ARAI
  • Publication number: 20180292759
    Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus which can prevent a liquid from entering into a rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus is provided with a base material, a first holding portion formed on the base material to hold the substrate, and a second holding portion formed on the base material to hold a plate member by surrounding the circumference of a processing substrate held by the first holding portion. The second holding portion holds the plate member so as to form a second space on the side of the rear surface of the plate member. On the rear surface of the plate member, an absorbing member is arranged to absorb the liquid entered from a gap between the substrate held by the first holding portion and the plate member held by the second holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Makoto Shibuta, Katsushi Nakano, Yuichi Yoshida, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 10088760
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus (EX) is an apparatus which exposes a substrate (P) by irradiating exposure light (EL) onto the substrate (P) via a projection optical system (PL) and a liquid (1). The exposure apparatus (EX) has a substrate table (PT) for holding the substrate (P), and a plate member (30) having a liquid repellent flat surface (30A) is replaceably provided to the substrate table (PT) to prevent the liquid from remaining, maintaining excellent exposure accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Hiroaki Takaiwa, Shigeru Hirukawa, Ryuichi Hoshika, Hitoshi Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 10012909
    Abstract: A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a last optical element, a liquid supply system having a first path through which immersion liquid is supplied to a supply opening, and a liquid removal system having a second path connected to the first path. The liquid removal system removes the immersion liquid from the first path using the second path so that the supply flow path becomes a substantially gas filled space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Hara, Hiroaki Takaiwa, Dai Arai
  • Patent number: 9846371
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Owa, Nobutaka Magome, Shigeru Hirukawa, Yoshihiko Kudo, Jiro Inoue, Hirotaka Kohno, Masahiro Nei, Motokatsu Imai, Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Kenichi Shiraishi, Yasufumi Nishii, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Publication number: 20170329234
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi OWA, Nobutaka MAGOME, Shigeru HIRUKAWA, Yoshihiko KUDO, Jiro INOUE, Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Hirotaka KOHNO, Masahiro NEI, Motokatsu IMAI, Kenichi SHIRAISHI, Yasufumi NISHII, Hiroaki TAKAIWA
  • Publication number: 20160231653
    Abstract: To provide a substrate holding apparatus which can prevent a liquid from entering into a rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus is provided with a base material, a first holding portion formed on the base material for holding the substrate, and a second holding portion formed on the base material for holding a plate member by surrounding the circumference of a processing substrate held by the first holding portion. The second holding portion holds the plate member so as to form a second space on the side of the rear surface of the plate member. On the rear surface of the plate member, an absorbing member is arranged for absorbing the liquid entered from a gap between the substrate held by the first holding portion and the plate member held by the second holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Makoto SHIBUTA, Katsushi NAKANO, Yuichi YOSHIDA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA
  • Patent number: 9341959
    Abstract: To provide a substrate holding apparatus which can prevent a liquid from entering into a rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus is provided with a base material, a first holding portion formed on the base material for holding the substrate, and a second holding portion formed on the base material for holding a plate member by surrounding the circumference of a processing substrate held by the first holding portion. The second holding portion holds the plate member so as to form a second space on the side of the rear surface of the plate member. On the rear surface of the plate member, an absorbing member is arranged for absorbing the liquid entered from a gap between the substrate held by the first holding portion and the plate member held by the second holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Shibuta, Yuichi Yoshida, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Publication number: 20160103397
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by filling a liquid between a projection optical system and the substrate, and projecting the image of a pattern onto the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid, and includes a liquid removing mechanism that intermittently blows a gas against a reference member, movable mirror, and the like, to which the liquid is adhered in order to remove that liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki HARA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA
  • Patent number: 9268237
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Owa, Nobutaka Magome, Shigeru Hirukawa, Yoshihiko Kudo, Jiro Inoue, Hirotaka Kohno, Masahiro Nei, Motokatsu Imai, Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Kenichi Shiraishi, Yasufumi Nishii, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 9235139
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Owa, Nobutaka Magome, Shigeru Hirukawa, Yoshihiko Kudo, Jiro Inoue, Hirotaka Kohno, Masahiro Nei, Motokatsu Imai, Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Kenichi Shiraishi, Yasufumi Nishii, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 9223224
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by filling a liquid between a projection optical system and the substrate, and projecting the image of a pattern onto the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid, and includes a liquid removing mechanism that intermittently blows a gas against a reference member, movable mirror, and the like, to which the liquid is adhered in order to remove that liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Hara, Hiroaki Takaiwa
  • Patent number: 9182685
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by irradiating exposure light onto the substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid. The exposure apparatus has a stage which includes a substrate holder for holding the substrate, a detachable member detachably disposed on the stage so that its upper surface contacts an immersion region, and a sensor having a light transmissive member. The detachable member, on which an opening is formed in the upper surface, is disposed on the stage so that the light transmissive member is arranged within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagasaka, Hiroaki Takaiwa, Shigeru Hirukawa, Ryuichi Hoshika, Hitoshi Ishizawa
  • Publication number: 20150301457
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi OWA, Nobutaka MAGOME, Shigeru HIRUKAWA, Yoshihiko KUDO, Jiro INOUE, Hirotaka KOHNO, Masahiro NEI, Motokatsu IMAI, Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Kenichi SHIRAISHI, Yasufumi NISHII, Hiroaki TAKAIWA
  • Publication number: 20150286151
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus (EX) is an apparatus which exposes a substrate (P) by irradiating exposure light (EL) onto the substrate (P) via a projection optical system (PL) and a liquid (1). The exposure apparatus (EX) has a substrate table (PT) for holding the substrate (P), and a plate member (30) having a liquid repellent flat surface (30A) is replaceably provided to the substrate table (PT) to prevent the liquid from remaining, maintaining excellent exposure accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Shigeru HIRUKAWA, Ryuichi HOSHIKA, Hitoshi ISHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20150234282
    Abstract: A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a last optical element, a liquid supply system having a first path through which immersion liquid is supplied to a supply opening, and a liquid removal system having a second path connected to the first path. The liquid removal system removes the immersion liquid from the first path using the second path so that the supply flow path becomes a substantially gas filled space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Hideaki HARA, Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Dai ARAI
  • Publication number: 20150234293
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a final optical element via which an exposure beam is projected, an immersion member having an opening through which the exposure beam is projected, liquid supply ports and liquid recovery ports, a stage which is movable below and relative to the projection system and the immersion member, the stage including a holder configured to hold a substrate, and a detection system configured to detect a residual liquid on at least one of the substrate held on the holder of the movable stage and the movable stage. A liquid immersion area that covers only a portion of the upper surface of the substrate is formed on an upper surface of the substrate held on the holder of the movable stage, while supplying immersion liquid via the liquid supply ports and removing the immersion liquid via the liquid recovery ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKAIWA, Takashi HORIUCHI