Abstract: A device manufacturing method using a lithographic apparatus having a localized immersion system for confining an immersion liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate to be exposed by the projection system, the method including: predicting a set of first locations on the substrate having a risk of residual liquid from the immersion system when exposed using an initial route for a substrate to expose a plurality of fields thereon; determining a set of modifications to the initial route to reduce the risk of residual loss; test exposing at least one test substrate using the initial route; obtaining a set of second locations of defects in the exposed test substrate; selecting a subset of the set of modifications by comparing the first locations and the second locations; and exposing a plurality of production substrates using the initial route modified by the selected subset of modifications.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method using a lithographic apparatus having a localized immersion system for confining an immersion liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate to be exposed by the projection system, the method including: predicting a set of first locations on the substrate having a risk of residual liquid from the immersion system when exposed using an initial route for a substrate to expose a plurality of fields thereon; determining a set of modifications to the initial route to reduce the risk of residual loss; test exposing at least one test substrate using the initial route; obtaining a set of second locations of defects in the exposed test substrate; selecting a subset of the set of modifications by comparing the first locations and the second locations; and exposing a plurality of production substrates using the initial route modified by the selected subset of modifications.

Abstract: A method of performance testing working parameters of a fluid handing structure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the method including: placing a test substrate having an upper surface with a first portion with a resist defining the upper surface and a second portion with a material different from the resist defining the rest of the upper surface on a table in the immersion lithographic apparatus, confining liquid on a region of an upper surface of the table and/or the upper surface of the test substrate by operating the fluid handing structure using the associated working parameters, moving the table such that the region moves from the second portion to the first portion, and detecting change to and/or residue on the first portion as a result of liquid being left behind on the first portion during the moving.

Abstract: A method of performance testing working parameters of a fluid handing structure in an immersion lithographic apparatus, the method including: placing a test substrate having an upper surface with a first portion with a resist defining the upper surface and a second portion with a material different from the resist defining the rest of the upper surface on a table in the immersion lithographic apparatus, confining liquid on a region of an upper surface of the table and/or the upper surface of the test substrate by operating the fluid handing structure using the associated working parameters, moving the table such that the region moves from the second portion to the first portion, and detecting change to and/or residue on the first portion as a result of liquid being left behind on the first portion during the moving.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method includes: confining a liquid to an immersion space between a projection system and an object; starting application of an underpressure to an extraction unit to remove fluid from a position proximate an edge of the object before the immersion space moves onto the object; moving the support table along a route comprising a series of motions such that a plurality of target positions on the object pass under the projection system; projecting through the immersion space a beam onto the target portions as the target portions pass under the projection system, the projecting performed to account for a certain predetermined thermal profile in the object; and stopping application of the underpressure at a predetermined time after the immersion space moves off the object for the last time during the series of motions to at least partly induce the certain predetermined thermal profile in the object.

Abstract: A device manufacturing method includes: confining a liquid to an immersion space between a projection system and an object; starting application of an underpressure to an extraction unit to remove fluid from a position proximate an edge of the object before the immersion space moves onto the object; moving the support table along a route comprising a series of motions such that a plurality of target positions on the object pass under the projection system; projecting through the immersion space a beam onto the target portions as the target portions pass under the projection system, the projecting performed to account for a certain predetermined thermal profile in the object; and stopping application of the underpressure at a predetermined time after the immersion space moves off the object for the last time during the series of motions to at least partly induce the certain predetermined thermal profile in the object.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.

Abstract: An immersion lithography apparatus has a controller configured to control a substrate table to move along an exposure route including in order: an entry motion in which the substrate moves from an off-substrate position at which the immersion space does not overlap the substrate to an on-substrate position at which the immersion space at least partially overlaps the substrate, a transfer motion in which the substrate table changes speed and/or direction and moves for at least a transfer time after the substrate moves to the on-substrate position, and an expose motion in which the substrate is scanned and the patterned beam is projected onto the substrate, wherein throughout the transfer motion at least a part of the immersion space overlaps the substrate and wherein the patterned beam is not projected onto the substrate during the entry motion and the transfer motion.