IP Library Granted Patent US 7,470,501
Granted Patent B2
US 7,470,501 · App. 11/203,161 · Granted Dec 30, 2008

Pattern formation method through liquid immersion lithography

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,470,501
App. No.
11/203,161
Granted
Dec 30, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exposure system includes an exposure section provided within a chamber for irradiating a resist film formed on a wafer with exposing light through a mask with an immersion liquid provided on the resist film. It further includes a drying section for drying the surface of the resist film after the irradiation.

Claims (38)

1. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating said resist film with exposing light with an immersion liquid provided on said resist film;

blowing air against said resist film after the pattern exposure;

discharging the air to the outside of a chamber; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after blowing air against said resist film.

2. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein said air is warm air.

3. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein said immersion liquid is water or perfluoropolyether.

4. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein said exposing light is KrF excimer laser, Xe 2 laser, ArF excimer laser, F 2 laser, KrAr laser or A 2 laser.

5. The pattern formation method of claim 1 ,

wherein the step of performing pattern exposure includes the sub-step of filling said immersion liquid between said resist film and said projection lens.

6. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating said resist film with exposing light with an immersion liquid provided on said resist film;

dehumidifying an atmosphere around said resist film after the pattern exposure; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after dehumidification.

7. The pattern formation method of claim 6 ,

wherein the atmosphere is dehumidified by using a refrigerant.

8. The pattern formation method of claim 6 ,

wherein the atmosphere is dehumidified by using a drying agent.

9. The pattern formation method of claim 6 ,

wherein said immersion liquid is water or perfluoropolyether.

10. The pattern formation method of claim 6 ,

wherein said exposing light is KrF excimer laser, Xe 2 laser, ArF excimer laser, F 2 laser, KrAr laser or Ar 2 laser.

11. A pattern formation method comprising the steps of:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating said resist film with exposing light with an immersion liquid provided on said resist film;

warming said resist film in a warming vessel after the pattern exposure; and

forming a resist pattern by developing said resist film after warming said resist film.

12. The pattern formation method of claim 11 ,

wherein said resist film is warmed by warming an atmosphere around said resist film.

13. The pattern formation method of claim 11 ,

wherein said immersion liquid is water or perfluoropolyether.

14. The pattern formation method of claim 11 ,

wherein said exposing light is KrF excimer laser, Xe 2 laser, ArF excimer laser, F 2 laser, KrAr laser or Ar 2 laser.

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 Oct 24, 2005
From: ENDO, MASAYUKI; SASAGO, MASARU
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016672/0070 →