Abstract: A method for joining at least two members of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes providing a first member, providing a second member, direct-bonding the first member and the second member to form a direct-bond, and anodically bonding the first member and the second member. At least one of the members includes ultra low expansion glass and/or ultra low expansion glass ceramics.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method is disclosed. The method includes patterning a beam of radiation, projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a plurality of outer target portions of a substrate in a sequence in which each subsequent outer target portion is spaced-apart from a preceding outer target portion, and subsequent to projecting the patterned beam of radiation on the plurality of outer target portions, projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto an inner target portion of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithographic projection apparatus with a supporting structure to support and move an object, like a substrate. The supporting structure may be a robot having a robotic arm with a support frame for supporting, e.g. the substrate. The support frame includes a clamping structure having one or more clamps for holding the substrate during movement. The robot arm comprises one or more compliant parts. The clamp may be a Johnson-Raybeck effect type clamp with an oxidized upper surface. For better de-clamping, a RF AC decaying de-clamping voltage may be provided to the clamp. The apparatus may be cleaned with one single substrate only.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring an object (W). the transfer apparatus comprises a gripper (15) for at least one of gripping the object (W) at a first position and then releasing the object (W) at a second position proximate to a receiver (20) and releasing the object (W) at a first position after gripping the object at a second position proximate to the receiver (20). The transfer apparatus is further provided with a measurement device (22) arranged to measure the relative position of the gripper (15) with respect to the receiver (20) in at least one dimension. Further, a relative position error is defined with respect to a desired relative position based on the relative position measured. The relative position of the gripper (15) and the receiver (20) are adjusted for minimizing the relative position error in the second position.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method is disclosed. The method includes patterning a beam of radiation, projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a plurality of outer target portions of a substrate in a sequence in which each subsequent outer target portion is spaced-apart from a preceding outer target portion, and subsequent to projecting the patterned beam of radiation on the plurality of outer target portions, projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto an inner target portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system for providing a beam of radiation on a flat article to be placed in a beam path of the beam of radiation, and an article handler for handling the article during placement or removal of the article. The article handler includes an electrode and a dielectric layer in order to form an electrostatic clamp for electrostatically clamping the article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preventing contamination of the surfaces of reflective optical elements for the soft X-ray and EUV wavelength range during their irradiation at operating wavelength in an evacuated closed system having a residual gas atmosphere, said elements comprising a cover layer consisting of at least one transition metal. According to said method a residual gas atmosphere is adjusted. The aim of the invention is to prevent a degradation of the surfaces by deposition of carbon and by surface oxidation. For this purpose, both a reducing gas or gas mixture and a gas or gas mixture containing oxygen atoms are introduced.

Abstract: In a lithographic projection apparatus, a grating spectral filter is used to filter an EUV projection beam. The grating spectral filter is preferably a blazed, grazing incidence, reflective grating. Cooling channels may be provided in or on the rear of the grating spectral filter. The grating spectral filter may be formed of a material effectively invisible to the desired radiation.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus with a chuck in which a dielectric element of the electrostatic chuck has a specific resistivity of at least 1016 ?cm so that once the potential difference between electrodes of the chuck is removed the force on the article to be clamped reduces below a predetermined minimum level quickly. The dielectric element also has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 0.02×10?6K?1. A method of manufacturing a chuck includes joining a first glass ceramic element with a second glass element with an electrode therebetween in which a current is passed through the second glass element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithographic projection apparatus with a supporting structure to support and move an object, like a substrate. The supporting structure may be a robot having a robotic arm with a support frame for supporting, e.g. the substrate. The support frame includes a clamping structure having one or more clamps for holding the substrate during movement. The robot arm comprises one or more compliant parts. The clamp may be a Johnson-Raybeck effect type clamp with an oxidized upper surface. For better de-clamping, a RF AC decaying de-clamping voltage may be provided to the clamp. The apparatus may be cleaned with one single substrate only.

Abstract: In a lithographic projection apparatus, a grating spectral filter is used to filter an EUV projection beam. The grating spectral filter is preferably a blazed, grazing incidence, reflective grating. Cooling channels may be provided in or on the rear of the grating spectral filter. The grating spectral filter may be formed of a material effectively invisible to the desired radiation.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus with a chuck in which a dielectric element of the electrostatic chuck has a specific resistivity of at least 1016 SE cm so that once the potential difference between electrodes of the chuck is removed the force on the article to be clamped reduces below a predetermined minimum level quickly. The dielectric element also has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 0.02×10−6K−1. A method of manufacturing a chuck includes joining a first glass ceramic element with a second glass element with an electrode therebetween in which a current is passed through the second glass element.

Abstract: In a lithographic projection apparatus, a grating spectral filter is used to filter an EUV projection beam. The grating spectral filter is preferably a blazed, grazing incidence, reflective grating. Cooling channels may be provided in or on the rear of the grating spectral filter. The grating spectral filter may be formed of a material effectively invisible to the desired radiation.

Abstract: In a lithographic projection apparatus, a grating spectral filter is used to filter an EUV projection beam. The grating spectral filter is preferably a blazed, grazing incidence, reflective grating. Cooling channels may be provided in or on the rear of the grating spectral filter. The grating spectral filter may be formed of a material effectively invisible to the desired radiation.