IP Library Granted Patent US 8,088,565
Granted Patent B2
US 8,088,565 · App. 12/749,289 · Granted Jan 3, 2012

Exposure system and pattern formation method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,088,565
App. No.
12/749,289
Granted
Jan 3, 2012
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 (54)

1. A pattern formation method comprising:

preparing a substrate including a resist film on a principal surface side of the substrate;

supplying a cleaning liquid from above the substrate to the principal surface side of the substrate;

removing the cleaning liquid from the principal surface side of the substrate;

performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating the resist film with exposing light with an immersion liquid provided on the principal surface side of the substrate, from which the cleaning liquid is removed; and

forming a resist pattern by developing the resist film after the pattern exposure.

2. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the cleaning liquid is water or ozone water.

3. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the immersion liquid is water or perfluoropolyether.

4. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the 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 supplying the cleaning liquid from above the substrate, the cleaning liquid is supplied from a nozzle.

6. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the performing pattern exposure includes

supplying the immersion liquid between the principal surface side of the substrate and a projection lens,

discharging the immersion liquid from between the principal surface side of the substrate and the projection lens, and

moving the substrate during the exposure, and

the supplying the immersion liquid, the discharging the immersion liquid, and the moving the substrate are simultaneously performed.

7. The pattern formation method of claim 6 , wherein

the supplying the immersion liquid, the discharging the immersion liquid, and the moving the substrate are continuously performed during the pattern exposure.

8. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the resist film is a chemically amplified resist film.

9. The pattern formation method of claim 1 , wherein

the cleaning liquid dissolves a surface of the resist film.

10. The pattern formation method of claim 9 , wherein

the cleaning liquid is an alkaline aqueous solution.

11. The pattern formation method of claim 10 , wherein

the alkaline aqueous solution is a developer used for developing the resist film or a diluted developer obtained by diluting the developer.

12. The pattern formation method of claim 11 , wherein

the diluted developer has a concentration not lower than 0.01 N and lower than 0.26 N.

13. A pattern formation method comprising:

forming a resist film on a substrate;

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

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

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

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

14. The pattern formation method of claim 13 , wherein

the cleaning liquid is water or ozone water.

15. The pattern formation method of claim 13 , wherein

in the supplying the cleaning liquid from above the substrate, the cleaning liquid is supplied from a nozzle.

16. A pattern formation method comprising:

preparing a substrate including a resist film on a principal surface side of the substrate;

setting the substrate on a first stage;

supplying a cleaning liquid from above the substrate to the principal surface side of the substrate which is set on the first stage;

removing the cleaning liquid from the principal surface side of the substrate;

after the step of removing the cleaning liquid, moving the substrate from the first stage to a second stage;

performing pattern exposure by selectively irradiating the resist film with exposing light with an immersion liquid provided on the principal surface side of the substrate which is on the second stage; and

forming a resist pattern by developing the resist film after the pattern exposure.

17. The pattern formation method of claim 16 , wherein

the cleaning liquid is water or ozone water.

18. The pattern formation method of claim 16 , wherein

in the supplying the cleaning liquid from above the substrate, the cleaning liquid is supplied from a nozzle.

Assignments (7)
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 054198/0029 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2020
From: RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC; RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054244/0566 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2012
From: ENDO, MASAYUKI; SASAGO, MASARU
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029525/0345 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 26, 2012
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029539/0228 →