The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 15, 2016

Filed:

Sep. 22, 2011
Applicants:

Alex Ka Tim Poon, San Ramon, CA (US);

Leonard Wai Fung Kho, San Francisco, CA (US);

Inventors:

Alex Ka Tim Poon, San Ramon, CA (US);

Leonard Wai Fung Kho, San Francisco, CA (US);

Assignee:

NIKON CORPORATION, Tokyo, JP;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03F 7/20 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G03F 7/70341 (2013.01);
Abstract

An apparatus and method provide fluid for immersion lithography. A nozzle member that can move in a direction, is arranged to encircle a space under the optical element. The nozzle member can have an input to supply the immersion liquid to the space under the optical element during the exposure, and an output to remove the immersion liquid from a gap between the nozzle member and the wafer during the exposure. Immersion liquid can be supplied at a first rate to the space from a first portion of the nozzle member and at a second rate to the space from a second portion during the exposure. A wafer substrate is exposed by light through the immersion liquid.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…