IP Library Granted Patent US 7,713,685
Granted Patent B2
US 7,713,685 · App. 11/143,666 · Granted May 11, 2010

Exposure system and pattern formation method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,713,685
App. No.
11/143,666
Granted
May 11, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exposure system includes a cleaning unit for cleaning a surface of a resist film formed on a wafer with a cleaning fluid and an exposure unit for performing pattern exposure with an immersion liquid provided between the resist film and a projection lens.

Claims (46)

1. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

cleaning a surface of said resist film;

after the step of cleaning said resist film, performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating said resist film with exposing light with a liquid provided on said resist film whose surface has been cleaned; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after the pattern exposure,

wherein in the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film, said resist film is cleaned by a cleaning fluid supplied from above onto the surface of said resist film.

2. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning fluid is water or ozone water.

3. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein said liquid is water or perfluoropolyether.

4. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein said exposing light is KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, F 2 laser, Xe 2 laser, Ar 2 laser or ArKr laser.

5. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein in the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film, the cleaning fluid is supplied from a nozzle.

6. The pattern formation method of claim 5 , wherein the cleaning fluid is dropped from the nozzle.

7. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein the step of performing pattern exposure includes the steps of;

supplying the liquid between the substrate and a projection lens;

discharging the liquid between the substrate and the projection lens; and

moving the substrate during the exposure,

wherein the step of supplying the liquid, the step of discharging the liquid and the step of moving the substrate are simultaneously performed.

8. The pattern formation method of claim 7 , wherein the step of supplying the liquid, the step of discharging the liquid and the step of moving the substrate are successively performed.

9. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film includes the steps of:

supplying the cleaning fluid; and

rotating the substrate.

10. The pattern formation method of claim 9 , wherein the step of supplying the cleaning fluid and the step of rotating the substrate are simultaneously performed.

11. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein said resist film is a chemically amplified resist film.

12. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

cleaning a surface of said resist film;

after the step of cleaning said resist film, performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating, with exposing light, said resist film whose surface has been cleaned; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after the pattern exposure,

wherein in the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film, said resist film is cleaned by a cleaning fluid supplied from above onto the surface of said resist film.

13. The pattern formation method of claim 12 , wherein the cleaning fluid is water or ozone water.

14. The pattern formation method of claim 12 , wherein said exposing light is KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, F 2 laser, Xe 2 laser, Ar 2 laser or ArKr laser.

15. The pattern formation method of claim 12 , wherein in the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film, the cleaning fluid is supplied from a nozzle.

16. The pattern formation method of claim 15 , wherein the cleaning fluid is dropped from the nozzle.

17. The pattern formation method of claim 12 ,

wherein the step of cleaning the surface of said resist film includes the steps of:

supplying the cleaning fluid; and

rotating the substrate.

18. The pattern formation method of claim 17 , wherein the step of supplying the cleaning fluid and the step of rotating the substrate are simultaneously performed.

19. The pattern formation method of claim 12 , wherein said resist film is a chemically amplified resist film.

20. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

cleaning said substrate on which said resist film has been formed;

after the step of cleaning said resist film, performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating said resist film with exposing light with a liquid provided on said substrate which has been cleaned; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after the pattern exposure,

wherein in the step of cleaning said substrate, said substrate is cleaned by a cleaning fluid supplied from above onto the surface of said substrate on which said resist film has been formed.

Assignments (9)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: RPX CORPORATION; RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068328/0674 →
RELEASE OF LIEN ON PATENTS Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: BARINGS FINANCE LLC
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068328/0278 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054486/0422 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2020
From: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC; RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054244/0566 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2020
From: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC; RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054198/0029 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2018
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 046486/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2013
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029756/0053 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0671 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2005
From: ENDO, MASAYUKI; SASAGO, MASARU
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016660/0764 →