IP Library Granted Patent US 7,465,943
Granted Patent B2
US 7,465,943 · App. 11/296,701 · Granted Dec 16, 2008

Controlling the flow through the collector during cleaning

Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,465,943
App. No.
11/296,701
Granted
Dec 16, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lithographic apparatus includes a collector configured to collect radiation from a radiation source, the collector including a plurality of shells forming separate compartments, and a cleaning arrangement including a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the cleaning arrangement being configured to clean surfaces of the plurality of shells by guiding a gas flow from the inlet through the compartments to the outlet. The cleaning arrangement includes a distribution system configured to divide the gas flow into several sub flows, each of the sub flows corresponding to one or more of the compartments, and a control system configured to control the relative amount of the sub flows.

Claims (41)

1. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:

a collector configured to collect radiation from a radiation source, said collector comprising a plurality of shells forming separate compartments; and

a cleaning arrangement configured, during use, to be removably arranged at a position adjacent to an entrance or an exit of the collector and comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet, said arrangement being configured to clean surfaces of said plurality of shells by guiding a gas flow from said inlet through said compartments to said outlet, wherein said cleaning arrangement comprises:

a distribution system configured to divide said gas flow into several sub flows, each of said sub flows corresponding to one or more of said compartments, and

a control system configured to control the relative amount of each of said sub flows.

2. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control system further comprises valves configured to control said sub flows.

3. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control system further comprises a diaphragm, said diaphragm being configured to control one of said sub flows.

4. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said control system further comprises a ring configured to control at least part of one of said sub flows.

5. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said distribution system comprises tubes configured to direct said sub flows into the compartments.

6. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said gas comprises H radicals.

7. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cleaning arrangement comprises a H radical source at an entrance of each compartment.

8. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said collector comprises a plurality of substantially tubular shells forming separate compartments, and said collector further comprises cross walls extending in a radial direction and subdividing said compartments.

9. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution system is provided on one of an upstream side or a downstream side of the collector.

10. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are provided on opposite ends of the collector.

11. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the gas flow is guided from said inlet through said compartments to said outlet so that the gas flows between opposite ends of the collector.

12. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:

a collector configured to collect radiation from a radiation source, said collector comprising a plurality of shells forming separate compartments;

an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam;

a support configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device being configured to impart the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam;

a substrate table configured to hold a substrate;

a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate; and

a cleaning arrangement configured, during use, to be removably arranged at a position adjacent to an entrance or an exit of the collector and comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet, said cleaning arrangement being configured to clean surfaces of said plurality of shells by guiding a gas flow from said inlet through said compartments to said outlet, wherein said cleaning arrangement further comprises:

a distribution system configured to divide said gas flow into several sub flows, each of said sub flows corresponding to one or more of said compartments, and

a control system configured to control the relative amount of each of said sub flows.

13. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising an EUV radiation source.

14. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said EUV source is a Sn source.

15. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the distribution system is provided on one of an upstream side or a downstream side of the collector.

16. A lithographic apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are provided on opposite ends of the collector.

17. A collector for a lithographic apparatus, said collector comprising a plurality of substantially tubular shells forming separate compartments each compartment being configured to guide a gas flow through said collector, wherein said collector further comprises cross walls extending fully between adjacent shells in a radial direction and subdividing said compartments, wherein at least one compartment extends substantially radially to a center of the collector.

18. A cleaning arrangement comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet, said cleaning arrangement configured, during use, to be removably arranged at a position adjacent an entrance or an exit of a collector of a lithographic apparatus and being configured to clean surfaces of shells of the collector by guiding a gas flow from said inlet through compartments of said collector to said outlet, wherein said cleaning arrangement further comprises:

a distribution system configured to divide said gas flow into several sub flows, each of said sub flows corresponding to one or more of said compartments; and

a control system configured to control the relative amount of each of said sub flows.

19. A cleaning arrangement according to claim 18 , wherein the distribution system is provided on one of an upstream side or a downstream side of the collector.

20. A method of cleaning a collector of a lithographic apparatus, said collector comprising a plurality of collector shells forming separate compartments configured to receive radiation at a first open end of said collector and to deliver radiation at a second open end of said collector, said method comprising:

removably arranging a cleaning arrangement at a position adjacent an entrance or an exit of the collector, the cleaning arrangement configured to provide a gas flow;

guiding the gas flow through said compartments in order to clean surfaces of said plurality of shells;

dividing said gas flow into several sub flows, each of said sub flows corresponding to one of said compartments; and

controlling the relative amount of each of said sub flows.

21. A method of cleaning a collector according to claim 20 , wherein said compartments are divided into sub compartments by cross walls extending in a radial direction and crossing said shells.

22. A method of cleaning a collector according to claim 20 , wherein the cleaning arrangement comprises a gas inlet that is provided on one of the first end or second end of the collector.

23. A cleaning arrangement according to claim 19 , wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are provided on opposite ends of the collector.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2006
From: BANINE, VADIM YEVGENYEVICH; SKELLY, SONIA MARGART; KLUNDER, DERK JAN WILFRED; VEN HERPEN, MAARTEN MARINUS JOHANNES WILHELMUS
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 017695/0528 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070131878A1 · Jun 14, 2007