JP2006165502A - Exposure apparatus, method of cleaning member thereof, maintenance method of exposure apparatus, maintenance device, and device manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an exposure apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy due to contamination of a member contacting a liquid in a liquid immersion region. <P>SOLUTION: The exposure apparatus EXS forms the liquid immersion region AR2 of a liquid LQ on the image face side of a projection optical system PL, and exposes a board P via the projection optical system PL and the liquid LQ of the liquid immersion region AR2. The exposure apparatus EXS is provided with an optical cleaning device 80 for irradiating the upper surface 31 etc. of a substrate stage PST in contact with the liquid LQ for forming the liquid immersion region AR2 with a predetermined irradiation light Lu having an optical cleaning effect. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate through a liquid, a cleaning method for a predetermined member constituting the exposure apparatus, a maintenance method for the exposure apparatus, maintenance equipment, and a device manufacturing method.

  Semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices are manufactured by a so-called photolithography technique in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a photosensitive substrate. An exposure apparatus used in this photolithography process has a mask stage for supporting a mask and a substrate stage for supporting a substrate, and a mask pattern is transferred via a projection optical system while sequentially moving the mask stage and the substrate stage. It is transferred to the substrate. In recent years, in order to cope with higher integration of device patterns, higher resolution of the projection optical system is desired. The resolution of the projection optical system becomes higher as the exposure wavelength used is shorter and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is larger. Therefore, the exposure wavelength used in the exposure apparatus is shortened year by year, and the numerical aperture of the projection optical system is also increasing. The mainstream exposure wavelength is 248 nm of the KrF excimer laser, but the 193 nm of the shorter wavelength ArF excimer laser is also being put into practical use. Also, when performing exposure, the depth of focus (DOF) is important as well as the resolution. The resolution R and the depth of focus δ are each expressed by the following equations.

R = k ₁ · λ / NA (1)
δ = ± k ₂ · λ / NA ² (2)
Here, λ is the exposure wavelength, NA is the numerical aperture of the projection optical system, and k ₁ and k ₂ are process coefficients. From the equations (1) and (2), it can be seen that the depth of focus δ becomes narrower when the exposure wavelength λ is shortened and the numerical aperture NA is increased in order to increase the resolution R.

If the depth of focus δ becomes too narrow, it becomes difficult to match the substrate surface with the image plane of the projection optical system, and the focus margin during the exposure operation may be insufficient. Therefore, as a method for substantially shortening the exposure wavelength and increasing the depth of focus, for example, a liquid immersion method disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has been proposed. In this immersion method, a space between the lower surface of the projection optical system and the substrate surface is filled with a liquid such as water or an organic solvent to form an immersion region, and the wavelength of exposure light in the liquid is 1 / n of that in air. (Where n is the refractive index of the liquid, which is usually about 1.2 to 1.6), the resolution is improved, and the depth of focus is expanded about n times.
International Publication No. 99/49504 Pamphlet

  By the way, when a liquid immersion region is formed on the substrate, impurities generated from the substrate, for example, may be mixed in the liquid in the liquid immersion region. When the liquid immersion area containing impurities moves on the substrate stage, the substrate stage upper surface (including the measurement unit upper surface provided on the substrate stage) may be contaminated. Further, when the upper surface of the substrate stage is contaminated by impurities, the contact angle with the liquid on the upper surface of the substrate stage may change.

  Further, not only the upper surface of the substrate stage but also various members such as a projection optical system that contacts the liquid in the liquid immersion area and a nozzle member that forms the liquid immersion area may be contaminated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is intended to provide an exposure apparatus capable of preventing performance deterioration even when the immersion method is applied, and a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus. Objective. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exposure apparatus capable of preventing performance deterioration due to contamination of a member in contact with liquid in an immersion area, and a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide a maintenance method and maintenance equipment that can prevent performance deterioration of an exposure apparatus that uses an immersion method. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for easily cleaning a member in contact with liquid in an immersion area.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention adopts the following configuration corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 17 shown in the embodiment. However, the reference numerals with parentheses attached to each element are merely examples of the element and do not limit each element.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid immersion area (AR2) of the liquid (LQ) is formed on the image plane side of the projection optical system (PL), and the projection optical system (PL) and the liquid immersion area (AR2). In the exposure apparatus that exposes the substrate (P) via the liquid (LQ), the members (2, 31, 70, 300, 400, which contact the liquid (LQ) for forming the liquid immersion area (AR2) are exposed. An exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) provided with a light cleaning device (80) for irradiating predetermined irradiation light (Lu) having a light cleaning effect to 500, 600, etc. is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the member that comes into contact with the liquid for forming the liquid immersion region is irradiated with irradiation light having a light cleaning effect using a light cleaning device, and is subjected to light cleaning. Contaminants on the member can be removed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the optical path space on the image plane side of the projection optical system (PL) is filled with the liquid (LQ), and the substrate (with the projection optical system (PL) and the liquid (LQ) is interposed ( In the exposure apparatus for exposing P), at least one of the nozzle member (70) for filling the optical path space with the liquid (LQ) and at least one of the nozzle members (70) for removing contaminants attached to the nozzle member (70). An exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) provided with a vibration mechanism that vibrates a part is provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, contaminants attached to the nozzle member can be removed by vibrating the nozzle member with the vibration mechanism.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) of the above aspect.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, high exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy can be obtained, so that a device having desired performance can be manufactured.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) of the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) that fills the optical path space of the exposure light (EL) with the liquid (LQ) and exposes the substrate (P) through the liquid (LQ). In the maintenance method, predetermined irradiation light having a light cleaning effect on a member (2, 31, 70, 300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) that contacts the liquid (LQ) in the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX). A maintenance method for irradiating (Lu, EL) is provided.

  According to the 4th aspect of this invention, the contaminant of the member can be removed by irradiating the member which contacts a liquid with the irradiation light which has a light cleaning effect, and carrying out optical cleaning. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent performance deterioration of the exposure apparatus.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) of the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) that fills the optical path space of the exposure light (EL) with the liquid (LQ) and exposes the substrate (P) through the liquid (LQ). In maintenance equipment, predetermined irradiation light having a light cleaning effect on a member (2, 31, 70, 300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) that contacts the liquid (LQ) in the exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) A maintenance device (900) including a light emitting unit (901) that generates (Lu) is provided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by using the maintenance device, the member that contacts the liquid is irradiated with the irradiation light having a light cleaning effect to perform light cleaning, thereby removing the contaminants of the member. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent performance deterioration of the exposure apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a member constituting an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate, wherein the exposure apparatus is formed on an immersion area (AR2) formed on at least the substrate (P). Immersion exposure apparatus (EXS, EX) that exposes the substrate through the liquid (LQ) of the liquid, and the member (2, 31, 70, 300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) forms the immersion region. There is provided a cleaning method for a member which is a member in contact with a liquid, and the cleaning method includes irradiating the member with predetermined irradiation light (Lu, EL).

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the member that contacts the liquid that forms the liquid immersion region of the liquid immersion exposure apparatus is irradiated with predetermined irradiation light to be washed with light, thereby easily removing contaminants on the member. It is possible to reduce the influence of contaminants and impurities in immersion exposure. When the cleaning method of the present invention can be carried out without removing the members from the exposure apparatus, maintenance is easy and the influence on the throughput of the exposure apparatus is small.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure method for exposing a substrate, wherein a member (2, 31, 70, 300, 400, 500, 600, etc.) is optically cleaned by the cleaning method, An exposure method comprising exposing (P) through a liquid (LQ) is provided.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device comprising: exposing a substrate by the exposure method of the present invention (204); developing the exposed substrate; and processing the developed substrate (205). A manufacturing method is also provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the exposure apparatus from deteriorating. In particular, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the performance of the exposure apparatus due to contamination of a member that contacts the liquid for forming the liquid immersion region.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the exposure apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a first embodiment of the exposure apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. In FIG. 1, the exposure apparatus EXS includes a main body chamber CH1 installed on a floor surface F in a clean room, and a machine room CH2 arranged adjacent to the main body chamber CH1. The exposure chamber 100 provided in the main body chamber CH1 is air-conditioned by the air conditioning system KC, and the internal environment (cleanness, temperature, pressure, etc.) is maintained substantially constant. In the present embodiment, the exposure chamber 100 is filled with clean air. In exposure chamber 100, exposure apparatus body EX is accommodated. The exposure chamber 100 is connected to an outlet 114 of a gas channel provided inside the machine chamber CH2 via an air supply channel 101 and a connection portion 102 provided inside the main body chamber CH1.

  The exposure apparatus main body EX accommodated in the exposure chamber 100 illuminates the mask stage MST for supporting the mask M, the substrate stage PST for supporting the substrate P, and the mask M supported by the mask stage MST with the exposure light EL. Illuminating optical system IL, projection optical system PL for projecting and exposing a pattern image of mask M illuminated by exposure light EL onto substrate P supported by substrate stage PST, and predetermined irradiation light Lu having a light cleaning effect And an optical cleaning device 80 for injecting water. In the present embodiment, the light cleaning device 80 emits ultraviolet light (UV light). The entire operation of the exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus body EX) is totally controlled by the control apparatus CONT.

  The “light cleaning effect” means that the member is purified by irradiating the member with predetermined light, and the member has a predetermined wavelength, particularly ultraviolet light or shorter than that. Irradiation with light such as vacuum ultraviolet light of wavelength removes, decomposes or denatures impurities or contaminants such as organic substances and carbon adhering (adsorbing) or generated on the surface of the member, and purifying the surface of the member And / or oxygen in the gas in the vicinity of the member absorbs a predetermined wavelength, in particular ultraviolet light or vacuum ultraviolet light having a wavelength shorter than that, and becomes an excited state. By chemical change, impurities or contaminants such as organic substances and carbon on the surface of the member are removed, decomposed or modified to purify the member surface. Further, it is considered that impurities and contaminants on the surface of the member are introduced from a photoresist, liquid, ambient gas, operator, or the like applied to the substrate P.

  Further, the exposure apparatus EXS includes a substrate transport system 150 that carries the substrate P in and out of the substrate stage PST at a position adjacent to the exposure chamber 100. The substrate transfer system 150 is accommodated in a substrate transfer system accommodation chamber (not shown). Similarly, although not shown, at a position adjacent to the exposure chamber 100, there is provided a mask transport system accommodation chamber for housing a mask transport system for carrying the mask M in and out of the mask stage MST. The substrate transfer system storage chamber and the mask transfer system storage chamber are provided on the opposite side of the exposure chamber 100 from the machine chamber CH2. Each of the substrate transfer system storage chamber and the mask transfer system storage chamber is maintained substantially constant in its internal environment by the air conditioning system KC, like the exposure chamber 100.

  The exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus main body EX) of the present embodiment is an immersion exposure apparatus to which an immersion method is applied in order to improve the resolution by substantially shortening the exposure wavelength and substantially increase the depth of focus. A liquid supply mechanism 10 that supplies the liquid LQ onto the substrate P and a liquid recovery mechanism 20 that recovers the liquid LQ on the substrate P are provided. In the present embodiment, pure water is used as the liquid LQ. The exposure apparatus EXS transfers at least part of the substrate P including the projection region AR1 of the projection optical system PL by the liquid LQ supplied from the liquid supply mechanism 10 while at least transferring the pattern image of the mask M onto the substrate P. A liquid immersion area AR2 that is larger than the projection area AR1 and smaller than the substrate P is locally formed. Specifically, the exposure apparatus EXS forms an optical path space between the optical element 2 at the image surface side tip of the projection optical system PL and the surface (exposure surface) of the substrate P, that is, on the image surface side of the projection optical system PL. By irradiating the exposure light EL in a state filled with the liquid LQ, and projecting the pattern image of the mask M onto the substrate P through the liquid LQ and the projection optical system PL between the projection optical system PL and the substrate P. Then, the substrate P is exposed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the pattern formed on the mask M is exposed to the substrate P while the mask M and the substrate P are synchronously moved in different directions (reverse directions) in the scanning direction (predetermined direction) as the exposure apparatus EXS. An example of using a scanning exposure apparatus (so-called scanning stepper) will be described. In the following description, the synchronous movement direction (scanning direction, predetermined direction) of the mask M and the substrate P in the horizontal plane is the X axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the X axis direction is the Y axis direction (non-scanning direction) in the horizontal plane. A direction perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis directions and coincident with the optical axis AX of the projection optical system PL is defined as a Z-axis direction. Further, the rotation (inclination) directions around the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are the θX, θY, and θZ directions, respectively. Here, the “substrate” includes a semiconductor wafer coated with a resist, and the “mask” includes a reticle on which a device pattern to be reduced and projected on the substrate is formed.

The illumination optical system IL illuminates the mask M supported by the mask stage MST with the exposure light EL, and the exposure light source, and an optical integrator and an optical integrator for uniformizing the illuminance of the light beam emitted from the exposure light source A condenser lens that collects the exposure light EL from the light source, a relay lens system, a variable field stop that sets the illumination area on the mask M by the exposure light EL in a slit shape, and the like. A predetermined illumination area on the mask M is illuminated with the exposure light EL having a uniform illuminance distribution by the illumination optical system IL. The exposure light EL emitted from the illumination optical system IL is, for example, far ultraviolet light (DUV light) such as bright lines (g line, h line, i line) and KrF excimer laser light (wavelength 248 nm) emitted from a mercury lamp. Alternatively, vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV light) such as ArF excimer laser light (wavelength 193 nm) and F ₂ laser light (wavelength 157 nm) is used. In this embodiment, ArF excimer laser light is used. As described above, the liquid LQ in the present embodiment is pure water and can be transmitted even if the exposure light EL is ArF excimer laser light. The pure water can also transmit bright ultraviolet rays (g-rays, h-rays, i-rays) and far ultraviolet light (DUV light) such as KrF excimer laser light (wavelength 248 nm).

  The mask stage MST can move while holding the mask M, can move two-dimensionally in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX of the projection optical system PL, that is, in the XY plane, and can be rotated slightly in the θZ direction. The mask stage MST is driven by a mask stage driving device MSTD such as a linear motor. The mask stage driving device MSTD is controlled by the control device CONT. A movable mirror 50 is provided on the mask stage MST. A laser interferometer 51 is provided at a position facing the moving mirror 50. The two-dimensional position and rotation angle of the mask M on the mask stage MST are measured in real time by the laser interferometer 51, and the measurement result is output to the control device CONT. The control device CONT drives the mask stage driving device MSTD based on the measurement result of the laser interferometer 51, thereby positioning the mask M supported by the mask stage MST.

  The projection optical system PL projects and exposes the pattern of the mask M onto the substrate P at a predetermined projection magnification β, and includes a plurality of optical elements including an optical element (lens) 2 provided at the front end portion on the substrate P side. These optical elements are supported by a lens barrel PK. In the present embodiment, the projection optical system PL is a reduction system having a projection magnification β of, for example, 1/4, 1/5, or 1/8. Note that the projection optical system PL may be either an equal magnification system or an enlargement system. The projection optical system PL may be any of a reflective system that does not include a refractive element, a refractive system that does not include a reflective element, and a refractive reflective system that includes a refractive element and a reflective element. Further, the optical element 2 at the tip of the projection optical system PL of the present embodiment is provided so as to be detachable (replaceable) with respect to the lens barrel PK. The optical element 2 at the tip is exposed from the lens barrel PK, and the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2 is in contact with the optical element 2. Thereby, corrosion etc. of the lens barrel PK made of metal are prevented.

  The substrate stage PST includes a Z tilt stage 52 that holds the substrate P via a substrate holder PH, and an XY stage 53 that supports the Z tilt stage 52. The substrate stage PST is driven by a substrate stage driving device PSTD such as a linear motor. The substrate stage driving device PSTD is controlled by the control device CONT. The Z tilt stage 52 can move the substrate P held by the substrate holder PH in the Z-axis direction and in the θX and θY directions (inclination directions). The XY stage 53 can move the substrate P held by the substrate holder PH in the XY direction (direction substantially parallel to the image plane of the projection optical system PL) and the θZ direction via the Z tilt stage 52. Needless to say, the Z tilt stage and the XY stage may be provided integrally.

  A recess 32 is provided on the substrate stage PST, and the substrate holder PH is disposed in the recess 32. Then, the upper surface 31 other than the concave portion 32 of the substrate stage PST (Z tilt stage 52) is a flat surface (flat portion) that is substantially the same height (level) as the surface of the substrate P held by the substrate holder PH. ). The upper surface of the movable mirror 55 is also substantially the same height (level) as the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST. Since the upper surface 31 that is substantially flush with the surface of the substrate P is provided around the substrate P, the liquid LQ is held on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL even when the edge region of the substrate P is subjected to immersion exposure. The immersion area AR2 can be formed satisfactorily. Further, a gap of about 0.1 to 2 mm is formed between the edge portion of the substrate P and the flat surface (upper surface) 31 provided around the substrate P. The gap is caused by the surface tension of the liquid LQ. The liquid LQ hardly flows into the substrate L, and the liquid LQ can be held under the projection optical system PL by the upper surface 31 even when the vicinity of the periphery of the substrate P is exposed.

  The upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST is liquid repellent and has liquid repellency. As the liquid repellent treatment of the upper surface 31, for example, a liquid repellent material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon (registered trademark)) or a liquid repellent material such as an acrylic resin material is applied, or the liquid repellent material is used. The process which sticks a thin film is mentioned. The member itself forming the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST may be formed of a liquid repellent member such as a fluorine-based resin. By making the upper surface 31 liquid repellent, the liquid LQ can be prevented from flowing out of the substrate stage PST during the immersion exposure, and the liquid LQ remaining on the upper surface 31 can be recovered well after the immersion exposure ( Removed).

  In the present embodiment, as will be described later, the upper surface 31 is irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV light) from the light cleaning device 80, but the liquid repellency of the upper surface 31 is greatly impaired even when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Incompatible membrane material is used.

  A movable mirror 55 is provided on the substrate stage PST (Z tilt stage 52). A laser interferometer 56 is provided at a position facing the movable mirror 55. The two-dimensional position and rotation angle of the substrate P on the substrate stage PST are measured in real time by the laser interferometer 56, and the measurement result is output to the control device CONT. Based on the measurement result of the laser interferometer 56, the control device CONT supports the substrate stage PST by driving the XY stage 53 via the substrate stage driving device PSTD within the two-dimensional coordinate system defined by the laser interferometer 56. The substrate P is positioned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus body EX) has a focus / leveling detection system 60 that detects surface position information on the surface of the substrate P. The focus / leveling detection system 60 includes a projection unit 60A and a light receiving unit 60B, and projects the detection light La from the projection unit 60A through the liquid LQ onto the surface (exposed surface) of the substrate P from an oblique direction. The surface position information on the surface of the substrate P is detected by receiving the reflected light from P by the light receiving unit 60B through the liquid LQ. The control device CONT controls the operation of the focus / leveling detection system 60 and determines the position (focus position) in the Z-axis direction of the surface of the substrate P with respect to the predetermined reference plane (image plane) based on the light reception result of the light receiving unit 60B. To detect. Further, by obtaining each focus position at a plurality of points on the surface of the substrate P, the focus / leveling detection system 60 can also obtain the posture of the substrate P in the tilt direction. As the configuration of the focus / leveling detection system 60, for example, the one disclosed in JP-A-8-37149 can be used. The focus / leveling detection system 60 may detect the surface position of the substrate P without using the liquid LQ.

  The control device CONT drives the Z tilt stage 52 of the substrate stage PST via the substrate stage driving device PSTD, so that the position (focus position) of the substrate P held by the Z tilt stage 52 in the Z-axis direction, and The position in the θX and θY directions is controlled. That is, the Z tilt stage 52 operates based on a command from the control device CONT based on the detection result of the focus / leveling detection system 60, and controls the focus position (Z position) and tilt angle of the substrate P to control the substrate P. The surface (exposure surface) is adjusted to the image surface formed through the projection optical system PL and the liquid LQ.

  A substrate alignment system 350 that detects an alignment mark on the substrate P or a reference mark (measurement member) described later provided on the Z tilt stage 52 is provided in the vicinity of the tip of the projection optical system PL. . In the substrate alignment system 350 according to the present embodiment, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-65603, the substrate stage PST is stopped and illumination light such as white light from a halogen lamp is irradiated on the mark. An FIA (Field Image Alignment) method is employed in which an image of the obtained mark is captured within a predetermined imaging field by an image sensor and the position of the mark is measured by image processing.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the mask stage MST, the projection optical system PL, and the substrate stage PST are supported by the main body column 1. The main body column 1 is supported via a plurality of vibration isolation units 3 above a base plate BP installed on the bottom surface of the main body chamber CH1. The main body column 1 includes a main column 4 supported by the vibration isolation unit 3 and a support column 5 provided on the main column 4. The projection optical system PL is held on the upper surface 4A of the main column 4 via a holding member PF. The support column 5 supports at least a part of the illumination optical system IL from below.

  The mask stage MST is provided so as to be two-dimensionally movable on a mask stage base (not shown) supported by the main column 4. The substrate stage PST (XY stage 53) is provided so as to be capable of two-dimensional movement on the substrate stage base 57 formed by the bottom surface of the main column 4.

  Further, in the vicinity of the mask stage MST, a mask alignment system 360 for detecting a reference mark on a reference member (described later) provided on the Z tilt stage 52 through the mask M and the projection optical system PL is provided. . In the mask alignment system 360 of the present embodiment, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-7-176468, the mark is irradiated with light, and image data of the mark imaged by a CCD camera or the like is subjected to image processing. A VRA (visual reticle alignment) method for detecting a mark position is employed.

  Next, an air conditioning system KC that air-conditions the exposure chamber 100 containing the exposure apparatus main body EX will be described with reference to FIG.

  The air conditioning system KC includes filter units 103, 105, 118, 121, and temperature control devices 110, 111, 121, which are respectively arranged at a plurality of predetermined positions in a circulation flow path including the inside of the main body chamber CH1 and the inside of the machine room CH2. 116 is provided. The air conditioning system KC maintains the environment (cleanness, temperature, pressure, etc.) of the exposure chamber 100 in a desired state by circulating gas through the filter unit and the temperature control device. In addition, an outside air intake (OA port) 108 in which the filter unit 109 is disposed is formed at a predetermined position in the machine room CH2. In order to maintain cleanliness, the inside of the main body chamber CH1, particularly the inside of the exposure chamber 100, is maintained at a positive pressure with respect to the outside. Therefore, gas leaks from the inside of the main body chamber CH1 to the outside. The OA port 108 is provided to take in the leaked gas from the outside.

  A chemical filter or the like for removing chemical contaminants in the gas by chemical adsorption and physical adsorption is provided at one end portion (end portion on the machine chamber CH2 side) of the air supply channel 101 provided in the main body chamber CH1. A filter unit 103 is provided. One end of the air supply channel 101 is connected to an outlet 114 of a gas channel provided inside the machine chamber CH2 via a connection unit 102. On the other hand, the other end of the air supply channel 101 is connected to an opening (air supply port) 104 provided in the upper part of the exposure chamber 100. The air supply port 104 is provided with a filter unit 105 including an ULPA filter (ultra low penetration air-filter) that is a particle filter for removing particles in the gas flowing into the exposure chamber 100. The air conditioning system KC supplies gas from the air supply port 104 to the upper space of the exposure chamber 100 in the lateral direction, in the present embodiment, in the −X direction.

  An exhaust unit (return unit) 106 is provided at the bottom of the exposure chamber 100. The return unit 106 is connected to an opening 107A formed on the floor surface of the machine room CH2 via an exhaust passage (return duct) 107. The gas inside the exposure chamber 100 is exhausted from the exhaust unit 106 and sent to the machine chamber CH2.

  A filter unit 109 provided with a chemical filter or the like is provided at an OA port 108 provided at a predetermined position in the machine room CH2. A cooling device (temperature control device) 110 is provided in the gas flow path inside the machine chamber CH2. Above the cooling device 110, a heating device (temperature control device) 111 is arranged at a predetermined distance. An air supply fan 112 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet 114 of the machine room CH2 provided above the heating device 111. A drain pan 122 is disposed below the cooling device 110. The gas whose temperature is adjusted by the temperature control devices 110 and 111 is supplied to the main body chamber CH1 through the outlet 114.

  One end portion of a branch passage 113 into which a part of the gas (for example, about 1/5) that has passed through the cooling device 110 from the lower side to the upper side flows is connected to the lower side of the heating device 111 inside the machine chamber CH2. An extendable bellows-like member 113a is provided at one end of the branch path 113, and one end of the branch path 113 and the inside of the machine room CH2 are connected via the bellows-like member 113a. On the other hand, an opening (air supply port) 115 provided at the other end of the branch path 113 is disposed in the vicinity of the substrate stage PST. As shown in FIG. 1, most of the branch path 113 is provided inside the exposure chamber 100.

  A heating device 116 is provided inside the branch path 113. An air supply fan 117 is provided in the vicinity of the air supply port 115 in the branch path 113. The air supply port 115 is provided on the side wall on the −X side of the main column 4. The air supply port 115 is provided with a filter unit 118 including a chemical filter and a ULPA filter. The gas whose temperature has been adjusted by the temperature control devices 110 and 116 passes through the air supply port 115 into the space (air-conditioned space) 125 in the vicinity of the substrate stage PST including a part of the projection optical system PL in the exposure chamber 100. Supplied. In the following description, a space including a part of the projection optical system PL and the substrate stage PST and surrounded by the main column 4 will be described as an air-conditioned space 125.

  The air conditioning system KC supplies gas from the air supply port 115 to the space (air conditioning space) 125 in the vicinity of the substrate stage PST including a part of the projection optical system PL, in the present embodiment, in the + X direction. The air-conditioned space 125 is air-conditioned. That is, in the air-conditioned space 125, the gas flow formed by the air-conditioning system KC is set substantially in the + X direction.

  On the other hand, an exhaust port 120 that is one end portion of an exhaust flow path (return duct) 119 is disposed on the opposite side of the air supply port 115 with respect to the substrate stage PST. The exhaust port 120 is provided on the side wall on the + X side of the main column 4, and the air supply port 115 and the exhaust port 120 face each other. On the other hand, the other end of the return duct 119 is connected to an opening 119A formed on the floor surface of the machine room CH2. A filter unit 121 including a chemical filter or the like is provided in the openings 107A and 119A formed on the floor surface of the machine room CH2. The gas in the air-conditioned space 125 in the exposure chamber 100 is exhausted from the exhaust port 120 and sent to the machine chamber CH2.

  Next, the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The liquid supply mechanism 10 is for supplying a predetermined liquid LQ to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. And a supply pipe 13 to be connected. The liquid supply unit 11 includes a tank that stores the liquid LQ, a pressure pump, a filter unit that removes foreign matters and bubbles contained in the liquid LQ, and the like. The liquid supply operation of the liquid supply unit 11 is controlled by the control device CONT. When forming the liquid immersion area AR2 on the substrate P, the liquid supply mechanism 10 supplies the liquid LQ onto the substrate P.

  The liquid recovery mechanism 20 is for recovering the liquid LQ on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL, and has a liquid recovery part 21 that can recover the liquid LQ and one end connected to the liquid recovery part 21. And a recovery pipe 23. The liquid recovery unit 21 includes, for example, a vacuum system (a suction device) such as a vacuum pump, a gas-liquid separator that separates the recovered liquid LQ and gas, and a tank that stores the recovered liquid LQ. Note that at least a part of the vacuum system, the gas-liquid separator, the tank, etc. may not be provided in the exposure apparatus EXS, but the equipment of the factory where the exposure apparatus EXS is arranged may be used. The liquid recovery operation of the liquid recovery unit 21 is controlled by the control device CONT. In order to form the immersion area AR2 on the substrate P, the liquid recovery mechanism 20 recovers a predetermined amount of the liquid LQ on the substrate P supplied from the liquid supply mechanism 10.

  Of the plurality of optical elements constituting the projection optical system PL, a nozzle member 70 is disposed in the vicinity of the optical element 2 in contact with the liquid LQ. The nozzle member 70 is for filling the optical path space through which the exposure light EL on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL passes with the liquid LQ, and above the substrate P (substrate stage PST), the side surface of the optical element 2. It is the annular member provided so that it might surround. A gap is provided between the nozzle member 70 and the optical element 2, and the nozzle member 70 is supported by a predetermined support mechanism so as to be vibrationally separated from the optical element 2. Further, the liquid LQ is prevented from entering the gap, and the bubbles are not mixed into the liquid LQ from the gap. The nozzle member 70 is made of, for example, stainless steel or titanium.

  The nozzle member 70 includes a supply port 12 provided above the substrate P (substrate stage PST) and disposed so as to face the surface of the substrate P. In the present embodiment, the nozzle member 70 has two supply ports 12A and 12B. The supply ports 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B are provided on the lower surface 70 </ b> A of the nozzle member 70.

  A supply flow path through which the liquid LQ supplied onto the substrate P flows is formed inside the nozzle member 70. One end of the supply flow path of the nozzle member 70 is connected to the other end of the supply pipe 13, and the other end of the supply flow path is connected to each of the supply ports 12A and 12B. Here, the other end portion of the supply flow path formed inside the nozzle member 70 is branched from the middle so that it can be connected to each of the plurality (two) of supply ports 12A and 12B.

  The nozzle member 70 includes a recovery port 22 provided above the substrate P (substrate stage PST) and disposed so as to face the surface of the substrate P. In the present embodiment, the recovery port 22 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the optical element 2 (projection region AR1) of the projection optical system PL and the supply port 12 on the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70.

  In addition, a recovery flow path through which the liquid LQ recovered via the recovery port 22 flows is formed inside the nozzle member 70. One end of the recovery flow path of the nozzle member 70 is connected to the other end of the recovery pipe 23, and the other end of the recovery flow path is connected to the recovery port 22. Here, the recovery channel formed inside the nozzle member 70 includes an annular channel corresponding to the recovery port 22 and a manifold channel for collecting the liquid LQ flowing through the annular channel.

  In the present embodiment, the nozzle member 70 constitutes a part of each of the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20. Supply ports 12A and 12B constituting the liquid supply mechanism 10 are provided at respective positions on both sides in the X-axis direction across the projection area AR1 of the projection optical system PL, and the recovery ports 22 constituting the liquid recovery mechanism 20 are The liquid supply ports 12A and 12B of the liquid supply mechanism 10 are provided outside the projection area AR1 of the projection optical system PL. In the present embodiment, the projection area AR1 of the projection optical system PL is set in a rectangular shape in plan view with the Y-axis direction as the long direction and the X-axis direction as the short direction.

  The operation of the liquid supply unit 11 is controlled by the control device CONT. The control device CONT can control the liquid supply amount per unit time by the liquid supply unit 11. When supplying the liquid LQ onto the substrate P, the control device CONT sends out the liquid LQ from the liquid supply unit 11 and above the substrate P via the supply channel formed inside the supply pipe 13 and the nozzle member 70. The liquid LQ is supplied onto the substrate P from the supply ports 12A and 12B provided in. The liquid LQ is supplied from both sides of the projection area AR1 via the supply ports 12A and 12B.

  The liquid recovery operation of the liquid recovery unit 21 is controlled by the control device CONT. The control device CONT can control the liquid recovery amount per unit time by the liquid recovery unit 21. The liquid LQ on the substrate P recovered from the recovery port 22 provided above the substrate P is recovered by the liquid recovery unit 21 via the recovery flow path formed inside the nozzle member 70 and the recovery pipe 23. .

  Note that the configuration of the nozzle member 70 (position, shape, number, etc. of the supply port and the recovery port) is not limited to the above-described configuration, and the immersion area AR2 can be maintained so as to be filled with the liquid LQ in the optical path of the exposure light EL. If it is. For example, the supply ports 12A and 12B may be arranged on both sides in the Y-axis direction with respect to the projection area AR1 of the projection optical system PL, or the nozzle member 70 may be configured by a plurality of members.

The lower surface (liquid contact surface) 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL and the lower surface (liquid contact surface) 70A of the nozzle member 70 are lyophilic (hydrophilic). In the present embodiment, the optical element 2 is formed of fluorite having high affinity with pure water. The optical element 2 may be quartz having high affinity with water. Further, the liquid contact surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the liquid contact surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 may be hydrophilized (lyophilic) so as to further increase the affinity with the liquid LQ. Examples of the lyophilic treatment include a treatment in which a lyophilic material such as MgF ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , or SiO ₂ is provided on the liquid contact surface. Alternatively, since the liquid LQ in the present embodiment is water having a high polarity, a thin film may be provided using a substance having a molecular structure with a high polarity such as alcohol as a lyophilic process (hydrophilization process). By making the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 lyophilic, the immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ can be changed into the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the nozzle member using the surface tension of the liquid LQ. 70 can be satisfactorily formed between the lower surface 70A of the substrate 70 and the upper surface of the substrate P and / or the upper surface of the substrate stage PST.

  In the present embodiment, the nozzle member 70 is arranged so that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 are substantially flush with each other, but the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 There may be a step on the lower surface 70A. For example, the distance between the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the upper surface of the substrate P and / or the upper surface of the substrate stage PST is greater than the distance between the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the upper surface of the substrate P and / or the upper surface of the substrate stage PST. You may arrange | position the nozzle member 70 so that it may become small.

  Next, the optical cleaning device 80 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The light cleaning device 80 emits irradiation light Lu having a light cleaning effect. The optical cleaning device 80 includes a light source 82 and a casing 81 that holds the light source 82. In the present embodiment, the light cleaning device 80 emits ultraviolet light (UV light) downward. As the light source 82, an Xe2 excimer laser (wavelength 172 nm), a KrCl excimer laser (wavelength 222 nm), an XeCl excimer laser (wavelength 308 nm), or the like is used. The optical cleaning device 80 is provided inside the air-conditioned space 125 that houses the optical element 2 at the tip of the projection optical system PL, the nozzle member 70, and the substrate stage PST and is aligned with the projection optical system PL. Yes. Specifically, the light cleaning device 80 is inside the air-conditioned space 125 and is separated by a predetermined distance on the + X side with respect to the projection optical system PL (optical path of the exposure light EL) in the ceiling surface 4B of the main column 4. It is attached at the position. Here, as described above, in the air-conditioned space 125, the gas supplied from the air supply port 115 flows in the + X direction. Accordingly, the optical cleaning device 80 is provided on the downstream side of the flow of gas (air) formed by the air conditioning system KC with respect to the projection optical system PL.

  In the present embodiment, a substrate transfer system 150 for loading (loading) and unloading (unloading) the substrate P with respect to the substrate stage PST is disposed outside the + X side of the air-conditioned space 125. When the control device CONT loads / unloads the substrate P with respect to the substrate stage PST, the control device CONT moves the substrate stage PST to the + X side of the air-conditioned space 125 to a position near the substrate transport system 150 (load / unload position). Deploy. The optical cleaning device 80 is provided above the load / unload position, and the substrate stage PST is configured to be movable directly below the optical cleaning device 80.

  Further, a detector 84 (84A, 84B) that detects a gas component in the conditioned space 125 is provided inside the conditioned space 125. In the present embodiment, the detector 84 is configured by an oxygen concentration meter that can detect the oxygen concentration in the conditioned space 125. Although the number of detectors 84 may be one, in this embodiment, detectors 84A and 84B are provided at each of a plurality of predetermined positions in the conditioned space 125. Specifically, the detector 84 </ b> A is attached to the ceiling surface 4 </ b> B of the main column 4 at a position aligned with the light cleaning device 80. The detector 84 </ b> B is provided in the vicinity of the optical path of the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light cleaning device 80.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the Z tilt stage 52 of the substrate stage PST as viewed from above. In FIG. 3, the substrate P is virtually illustrated by a broken line. A movable mirror 55 is disposed on two mutually perpendicular edges of the Z tilt stage 52 that is rectangular in plan view. In addition, a recess 32 is formed substantially at the center of the Z tilt stage 52, and a substrate holder PH that holds the substrate P is disposed in the recess 32.

  The substrate holder PH includes a substantially annular peripheral wall portion 33 and a plurality of pin-shaped support portions 34 that are disposed inside the peripheral wall portion 33 and hold (support) the substrate P. Each of the pin-shaped support portions 34 holds the substrate P with its upper surface 34A in contact with the back surface of the substrate P. In the figure, the support portion 34 is shown to be relatively large, but actually, a very small number of pin-like support portions are formed inside the peripheral wall portion 33.

  The peripheral wall portion 33 is disposed around the support portion 34, and the support portion 34 is uniformly disposed inside the peripheral wall portion 33. As described above, a predetermined gap is formed between the side surface of the substrate P held by the substrate holder PH and the upper surface 31 of the Z tilt stage 52. In the drawing, the upper end surface of the peripheral wall portion 33 has a relatively wide width, but actually has a width of about 0.1 to 2 mm.

  A plurality of suction ports 41 are provided on the upper surface of the substrate holder PH other than the support portion 34. The suction port 41 is connected to a vacuum system (not shown) including a vacuum pump provided outside the substrate stage PST via a flow path. The control device CONT drives the vacuum system and sucks the gas (air) inside the space 38 formed between the substrate holder PH including the peripheral wall portion 33 and the support portion 34 and the substrate P supported by the support portion 34. The substrate P is sucked and held on the support portion 34 by sucking from the port 41 and making the space 38 have a negative pressure. That is, the substrate holder PH in the present embodiment has a so-called pin chuck mechanism.

  On the substrate stage PST, a reference member (measurement member) 300 is disposed as a light measurement unit at a predetermined position outside the substrate P. The reference member 300 is provided with a reference mark PFM detected by the substrate alignment system 350 and a reference mark MFM detected by the mask alignment system 360 in a predetermined positional relationship. The upper surface of the reference member 300 is a substantially flat surface, and is provided at substantially the same height (level) as the surface of the substrate P held by the substrate stage PST and the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST. The upper surface of the reference member 300 can also serve as a reference surface for the focus / leveling detection system 60.

  Further, an illuminance unevenness sensor 400 as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-117238, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-14005 is provided as a light measurement unit at a predetermined position on the substrate stage PST. An aerial image measuring sensor 500 as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-168816, an irradiation amount sensor (illuminance sensor) 600 as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-16816, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-183522. Various optical measurement units such as a reflection member (measurement member) (not shown) are provided.

  In addition, the upper surface of each optical measurement unit is substantially flush with the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST and is covered with a light-transmitting liquid repellent material. In this embodiment, pure water is used as the liquid LQ, and the upper surface of each optical measurement unit is covered with a water-repellent CYTOP (registered trademark, manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.).

  In addition, the liquid repellent material on the upper surface of each optical measurement unit is a material that does not easily lose its liquid repellency even when irradiated with exposure light EL or ultraviolet light (UV light) from the optical cleaning device 80. When the liquid repellency is deteriorated or when impurities are adhered and contaminated, the members forming the upper surface of each optical measuring unit may be replaced.

  Further, it is not necessary to provide all of the reference member 300 and the sensors 400, 500, 600 on the substrate stage PST, and at least one of them may be omitted.

  The upper surface of each optical measurement unit may be formed integrally with the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, or may be formed on a member different from the member forming the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST.

  Next, a method for exposing the pattern image of the mask M onto the substrate P using the exposure apparatus EX having the above-described configuration will be described.

  In order to perform the exposure processing of the substrate P, first, the control apparatus CONT supplies and recovers the liquid LQ by the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20 while supporting the substrate P on the substrate stage PST, and performs projection. A liquid immersion area AR2 for the liquid LQ is formed on the image plane side of the optical system PL.

  The controller CONT performs various measurement operations using the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600 before performing the exposure processing of the substrate P, and performs alignment processing of the substrate P and projection optics based on the measurement results. An imaging characteristic adjustment (calibration) process of the system PL is performed. For example, when performing a measurement operation using the optical measurement unit 400, the control device CONT moves the substrate stage PST relative to the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ by moving the substrate stage PST in the XY direction. Then, the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ is disposed on the optical measurement unit 400, and the measurement operation via the liquid LQ is performed in that state. Similarly, when performing a measurement operation using the optical measurement unit 300 and a measurement operation using the optical measurement units 500 and 600, the substrate stage PST is moved relative to the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ. Then, the measurement operation through the liquid LQ is performed in a state where the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ is disposed on the optical measurement units 300, 500, and 600.

  After performing the alignment process and the calibration process, the control device CONT collects the liquid LQ on the substrate P by the liquid recovery mechanism 20 in parallel with the supply of the liquid LQ to the substrate P by the liquid supply mechanism 10. The pattern of the mask M while moving the substrate stage PST supporting the substrate P in the X-axis direction (scanning direction) while locally forming the immersion area AR2 smaller than the substrate P and larger than the projection area AR1. The image is projected and exposed onto the substrate P via the liquid LQ between the projection optical system PL and the substrate P and the projection optical system PL.

  The exposure apparatus EX in the present embodiment projects and exposes the pattern image of the mask M onto the substrate P while moving the mask M and the substrate P in the X-axis direction (scanning direction). A pattern image of a part of the mask M is projected into the projection area AR1 via the liquid LQ in the area AR2 and the projection optical system PL, and is synchronized with the movement of the mask M in the −X direction (or + X direction) at the velocity V. Then, the substrate P moves in the + X direction (or −X direction) with respect to the projection area AR1 at the speed β · V (β is the projection magnification). A plurality of shot areas are set on the substrate P, and after the exposure to one shot area is completed, the next shot area is moved to the scanning start position by the stepping movement of the substrate P. Hereinafter, step-and-scan The scanning exposure process for each shot area is sequentially performed while moving the substrate P by the method. Depending on the structure of the projection optical system PL, the mask M and the substrate P are moved in the same direction (for example, + X direction) to expose each shot area.

  When exposing the shot region set in the central region of the substrate P, the immersion region AR2 is disposed on the substrate P. On the other hand, when the shot area set in the edge area of the substrate P is exposed, the immersion area AR2 is arranged so as to straddle the substrate P and the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST.

  After the immersion exposure of the substrate P, the control device CONT stops the liquid supply by the liquid supply mechanism 10 and then uses the liquid recovery mechanism 20 to use the upper surface 31 of the substrate P or the substrate stage PST, or the optical measurement unit, The liquid LQ remaining on 300, 400, 500, 600 is recovered. Next, the control device CONT carries out (unloads) the substrate P that has been subjected to the exposure processing, and carries in (loads) the unexposed substrate P that has not been exposed to the substrate stage PST as shown in FIG. Further, the substrate stage PST is moved to the + X side with respect to the projection optical system PL, and is arranged at the + X side of the air-conditioned space 125, that is, at a position near the substrate transport system 150 (load / unload position). As described above, the optical cleaning device 80 is provided above the load / unload position.

  The control device CONT unloads the substrate P, which has been subjected to the exposure processing by the substrate transport system 150, from the substrate stage PST, and before loading the unexposed substrate P onto the substrate stage PST, there is no substrate P on the substrate stage PST. In this state, the substrate stage PST is moved and disposed immediately below the optical cleaning device 80. In this state, the control device CONT drives the light cleaning device 80 and emits the ultraviolet light Lu downward from the light cleaning device 80. The ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the optical cleaning device 80 is applied to the substrate stage PST. The optical cleaning device 80 irradiates the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, 600 provided on the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, and the substrate holder PH with ultraviolet light Lu for a predetermined time. Note that the optical cleaning device 80 may irradiate the upper surface of the movable mirror 55 with ultraviolet light Lu.

  Irradiation with the ultraviolet light Lu can vaporize (remove) impurities (organic matter) on the upper surface of the substrate stage PST. Further, in the vicinity of the upper surface of the substrate stage PST, oxygen in the air absorbs the ultraviolet light Lu to be in an excited state, chemically changes to ozone or the like having increased oxidizing power, and impurities (organic matter) adhering to the upper surface of the substrate stage PST are oxidized. Disassembled.

  In the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2, for example, impurities (foreign matter) generated from the photosensitive agent applied on the substrate P may be mixed. The impurities generated from the photosensitizer include debris of the photosensitizer and electrolyte deposits contained in the photosensitizer. Since the photosensitive agent contains an organic substance, impurities containing the organic substance may be mixed into the liquid LQ in the immersion area AR2. As described above, the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ moves on the surface of the substrate P and the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST including the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, 600, but the liquid immersion area AR2 is moved to the substrate stage PST. By relatively moving above, impurities (organic substances) may adhere to the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, 600, etc. provided on the substrate stage PST. In addition, impurities (organic substances) floating in the air may adhere to the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, 600, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, organic substances adhering to the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the optical measuring units 300, 400, 500, 600, and the substrate holder PH are removed by the ultraviolet light Lu in an atmosphere with enhanced oxidizing power. Is done. In this manner, the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the upper surfaces of the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600, and the substrate holder PH are optically cleaned, and the formation of adhesion marks of the liquid LQ can be suppressed.

  In addition, after the immersion exposure of the substrate P, the liquid LQ on the substrate stage PST may not be collected and the liquid LQ may remain on the substrate stage PST. If the remaining liquid LQ is allowed to stand, after the liquid LQ has dried, the liquid LQ adheres to the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the upper surfaces of the optical measuring units 300, 400, 500, 600, etc. ) May be formed. Further, when the liquid LQ enters the back side of the substrate P and adheres to the substrate holder PH, there is a possibility that an adhesion trace (watermark) of the liquid LQ may be formed on the substrate holder PH. Further, even if the liquid LQ on the substrate stage PST is completely recovered after the immersion exposure of the substrate P, if the impurities (organic substances) are left on the substrate stage PST for a long time, they will adhere. A mark (watermark) may be formed.

  In the present embodiment, the optical cleaning device 80 irradiates the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST, the upper surfaces of the optical measuring units 300, 400, 500, and 600, and the substrate holder PH with ultraviolet light, thereby achieving the optical cleaning effect. Removal of adhesion marks (watermarks) can also be expected.

  After finishing the optical cleaning process of the substrate stage PST, the control device CONT loads the unexposed substrate P onto the optically cleaned substrate stage PST. If impurities (organic substances) are attached to the substrate holder PH, or if adhesion marks (watermarks) are formed, they act as foreign matters, and the substrate holder PH cannot be satisfactorily held by adsorption, or The flatness (flatness) of the held substrate P deteriorates, and there is a disadvantage that good exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy cannot be obtained. In the present embodiment, before the unexposed substrate P is held by the substrate holder PH, the substrate holder PH can be optically washed to prevent the above-described inconvenience.

  In addition, as described above, when performing the measurement process using the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600 before exposing the substrate P, before performing the measurement process, the optical measurement units 300, By photo-cleaning 400, 500, and 600, it is possible to prevent deterioration in measurement accuracy due to attached impurities (organic matter) and attached traces (watermarks).

  As described above, when the edge region of the substrate P is subjected to immersion exposure, a part of the immersion region AR2 is disposed on the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST. By optically cleaning the upper surface 31 of the PST, changes in the contact angle with the liquid LQ on the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST caused by adhered impurities (organic matter) and adhesion marks (watermarks), and the optical measuring units 300 and 400 , 500 and 600 can be prevented from changing the contact angle with the liquid LQ. For example, when the contact angle of the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST with the liquid LQ changes, the pressure of the liquid LQ in the immersion area LQ changes, and accordingly, the optical elements of the substrate P, the substrate stage PST, and the projection optical system PL. The force of liquid LQ on 2 also changes. Then, inconveniences such as deformation of the substrate P and the substrate stage PST that supports the substrate P, and fluctuation of the position of the optical element 2 may occur, and the exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy may deteriorate. Further, when the force of the liquid LQ exerted on the substrate P or the like changes, the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2 flows out of the substrate P, bubbles are generated in the liquid immersion area AR2, or the upper surface 31 and the substrate P Inconveniences such as liquid LQ entering the gap with the edge portion are likely to occur. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST is optically cleaned before performing immersion exposure, thereby preventing a change in the contact angle of the upper surface 31 with the liquid LQ and preventing the above-described inconvenience. Can do.

  Further, since the adhesion mark (watermark) formed on the substrate stage PST or the like acts as a foreign substance, the foreign substance floats in the air and adheres to the substrate P, for example, and exposure processing is performed in that state. This causes a pattern defect on the substrate P. In the present embodiment, the optical cleaning device 80 irradiates the ultraviolet light Lu so that the adhesion trace (watermark) is not formed on the substrate stage PST, and therefore suppresses the formation of the adhesion trace (watermark). The occurrence of inconveniences such as pattern defects can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the light cleaning device 80 is provided at a position aligned with the projection optical system PL. With this arrangement, when the exposure process is not performed, the substrate stage PST can be immediately moved directly below the light cleaning device 80, and the time for the light cleaning process can be shortened.

  By the way, since the optical cleaning device 80 (light source 82) is a heat source, if it is too close to the projection optical system PL, it causes fluctuations in the imaging characteristics of the projection optical system PL, and the exposure accuracy and the projection optical system PL are passed through. Degradation of measurement accuracy. Further, foreign matter (impurities) scattered in the air by the optical cleaning of the optical cleaning device 80 may affect the exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the optical cleaning device 80 at a position away from the projection optical system PL (optical path of the exposure light EL) by a predetermined distance.

  In the present embodiment, the optical cleaning device 80 is provided on the downstream side of the flow of gas (air) formed by the air conditioning system KC with respect to the projection optical system PL. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the heat generated in the optical cleaning device 80 from being transmitted to the projection optical system PL (the optical path of the exposure light EL). Further, even if foreign matter (impurities) decomposed by light cleaning by the light cleaning device 80 is scattered in the air, it can be discharged from the exhaust port 120 without flowing to the projection optical system PL side.

  In this way, by setting the installation position of the optical cleaning device 80 in consideration of the direction of the flow of gas formed by the air conditioning system KC, it is possible to prevent deterioration in exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy due to the optical cleaning device 80. can do.

The irradiation light Lu emitted from the optical cleaning device 80 is vacuum ultraviolet light (for example, ArF excimer laser light (wavelength 193 nm) and F ₂ laser light (wavelength 157 nm)) as long as it is irradiation light having a light cleaning effect. VUV light) or the like. Alternatively, a mercury lamp, a deuterium lamp, or the like can be used. In this case, the cost of the optical cleaning device 80 can be reduced.

  By the way, as described above, the optical cleaning enhances the oxidizing power of the atmosphere in the vicinity of the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu based on the absorption of the ultraviolet light Lu by oxygen, oxidizes and decomposes impurities (organic substances), and removes them. Although it is a structure to promote, oxygen in the atmosphere in the vicinity of the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu is not necessarily required. On the other hand, since oxygen acts as a light-absorbing substance for the ultraviolet light Lu, if the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is too high, the ultraviolet light Lu is not irradiated with sufficient light intensity. Therefore, it is desirable to optimally set the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere according to the wavelength of the ultraviolet light Lu to be irradiated.

Therefore, the control device CONT detects the oxygen concentration in the air-conditioned space 125 including the optical path of the ultraviolet light Lu using the detector 84 (84A, 84B), and performs optical cleaning based on the detection result of the detector 84. The oxygen concentration of the space including at least the optical path of the ultraviolet light Lu in the conditioned space 125 may be adjusted. For example, when the oxygen concentration detected by the detector 84 is lower than the desired concentration, the control device CONT adds oxygen to the gas supplied to the conditioned space 125 from the air supply port 115 of the air conditioning system KC. As a result, the oxygen concentration in the conditioned space 125 can be increased. On the other hand, when the oxygen concentration detected by the detector 84 is higher than the desired concentration, the control device CONT sets the gas supplied from the air supply port 115 of the air conditioning system KC to the air conditioned space 125, such as nitrogen. By adding the active gas, the oxygen concentration in the air-conditioned space 125 can be lowered.
The gas in the conditioned space 125 is collected from the exhaust port 120.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, in the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted.

  As described above, since the light cleaning device 80 (light source 82) serves as a heat source, it may be disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125 as shown in FIG. By doing so, it is possible to more effectively prevent the heat generated in the optical cleaning device 80 from being transmitted to the projection optical system PL (the optical path of the exposure light EL). In FIG. 5, the light cleaning device 80 is provided on the upper surface 4 </ b> A of the main column 4, and is disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125. A transmission window 83 capable of transmitting the ultraviolet light Lu is provided on a part of the upper wall of the main column 4, and the light cleaning device 80 is provided on the transmission window 83. The transmission window 83 is made of a material that absorbs less ultraviolet light Lu, such as quartz glass, fluorite, or magnesium fluoride. The optical cleaning device 80 emits ultraviolet light Lu downward. The ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light cleaning device 80 passes through the transmission window 83 and is then irradiated onto the substrate stage PST disposed immediately below the light cleaning device 80 and the transmission window 83.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the light cleaning device 80 is disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125, the degree of freedom in designing the gas flow in the air-conditioned space 125 formed by the air-conditioning system KC is expanded. be able to.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment. In FIG. 6, the light cleaning device 80 is disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125 and has a light source 82 that emits ultraviolet light Lu, and a substrate stage in which the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light source 82 is disposed inside the air-conditioned space 125. And an optical system 86 for guiding the light onto the PST. The optical system 86 is provided on a part of the side wall on the + X side of the main column 4, and is disposed inside the conditioned space 125 through the transmission window 83 that can transmit the ultraviolet light Lu, and the ultraviolet light Lu that has passed through the transmission window 83. And a reflection mirror 85 for bending the optical path. As described above, the transmission window 83 is made of a material that absorbs less ultraviolet light Lu, such as quartz glass, fluorite, or magnesium fluoride. The light source 82 is accommodated in the housing 81 and is disposed near the transmission window 83 on the outer side of the main column 4 on the + X side. The ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light source 82 passes through the transmission window 83, is reflected by the reflection mirror 85, and is applied to the substrate stage PST. The reflection mirror 85 may be a convex surface or a concave surface. By making the reflecting mirror 85 convex, a wide area of the substrate stage PST can be collectively irradiated with ultraviolet light Lu. On the other hand, by making the reflecting mirror 85 concave, it is possible to irradiate the substrate stage PST after the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light source 82 is collected by the reflecting mirror 85. Further, by providing the reflecting mirror 85 to be movable (swingable) and moving the reflecting mirror 85, the ultraviolet light Lu reflected by the reflecting mirror 85 can be irradiated to a desired position of the substrate stage PST. Instead of the reflection mirror 85 or in addition to the reflection mirror 85, an optical element such as a lens or a prism that deflects or condenses the ultraviolet light Lu may be used.

  Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the light source 82 serving as a heat generation source is disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125, so that the heat generated by the light source 82 of the light cleaning device 80 is generated by the projection optical system PL (exposure light). It is possible to more effectively prevent transmission to the EL optical path).

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 as well, since the light source 82 of the light cleaning device 80 is disposed outside the air-conditioned space 125, freedom in designing the gas flow in the air-conditioned space 125 formed by the air-conditioning system KC. Can expand the degree. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, two air supply openings 115 (115 </ b> A and 115 </ b> B) for supplying gas to the air-conditioned space 125 are provided on the upper wall of the main column 4. As in the above-described embodiment, filter units 118 (118A and 118B) are provided in the air supply ports 115A and 115B, respectively. In the present embodiment, the air conditioning system KC supplies gas in the vertical direction, in the present embodiment, in the −Z direction, from the air supply ports 118A and 118B to the conditioned space 125. Further, exhaust ports 120 (120A, 120B) for exhausting the gas in the air-conditioned space 125 are provided at the lower portions of the side walls of the main column 4 on the + X side and the −X side, respectively.

  4 to 6 (first to third embodiments), the substrate stage PST is moved from the position below the projection optical system PL to the predetermined position in the X direction, and the ultraviolet light Lu is emitted at the predetermined position. The substrate stage PST was irradiated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and ultraviolet light Lu is projected from the projection optical system PL using a reflecting mirror or other optical member as shown in FIG. 6 while the substrate stage PST is maintained at a position below the projection optical system PL. You may guide to the substrate stage PST located below.

  4 to 6 (first to third embodiments) When the air conditioning system KC maintains the oxygen concentration in the air-conditioned space 125 in a state where it can be washed with light, the detector 84 is omitted. Thus, it is not necessary to positively adjust the oxygen concentration based on the detection result of the detector 84.

  Here, in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2 and the like, the gas flow in the air-conditioned space 125 is in the lateral direction, so the distance that the gas flows becomes long, and the temperature difference between the upstream portion and the downstream portion. Is likely to occur. Therefore, a temperature distribution is generated with respect to the irradiation direction of the measurement beam of the laser interferometer 56, and the possibility that the optical path of the measurement beam fluctuates increases. As a result, the position measurement accuracy of the substrate stage PST by the laser interferometer 56 decreases. There is also a risk. On the other hand, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, since the direction of gas flow in the conditioned space 125 is the vertical direction, the gas flow distance can be shortened, and the temperature difference between the upstream portion and the downstream portion. The inconvenience that occurs can be suppressed. Further, since the direction of the gas flow is substantially orthogonal to the measurement beam irradiation direction of the laser interferometer 56, it is possible to suppress inconvenience that a temperature distribution occurs in the measurement beam irradiation direction. Therefore, the position measurement accuracy of the substrate stage PST by the laser interferometer 56 can be maintained.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the configuration in which the oxygen concentration of the entire conditioned space 125 is adjusted using the air conditioning system KC as in the first to third embodiments described above, it takes time to replace the entire conditioned space 125 with a desired oxygen concentration. there is a possibility. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical cleaning device 80 sucks and collects a gas, and a gas supply system 87 that supplies a predetermined gas to the vicinity of an irradiation region irradiated with the ultraviolet light Lu in the substrate stage PST. It is good to set it as the structure provided with the gas recovery system 88. FIG. The supply port 87A of the gas supply system 87 and the recovery port 88A of the gas recovery system 88 are provided in the vicinity of the substrate stage PST, and are arranged to face each other with the substrate stage PST interposed therebetween.

  When the control device CONT detects the oxygen concentration in the conditioned space 125 including the optical path of the ultraviolet light Lu using the detector 84 (84A, 84B) and performs optical cleaning, based on the detection result of the detector 84, the gas The gas component (oxygen concentration) supplied from the supply system 87 is adjusted. For example, when the oxygen concentration detected by the detector 84 is lower than the desired concentration, the control device CONT adds oxygen to the gas supplied from the gas supply system 87 to the irradiation region, thereby The oxygen concentration in the vicinity of the irradiation region can be increased. On the other hand, when the oxygen concentration detected by the detector 84 is higher than the desired concentration, the control device CONT adds an inert gas such as nitrogen to the gas supplied from the gas supply system 87 to the irradiation region. As a result, the oxygen concentration in the vicinity of the irradiation region can be lowered.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to quickly set only a relatively small space in the vicinity of the light cleaning target region (the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu) to an environment suitable for light cleaning, and shorten the light cleaning processing time. can do. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, since the recovery port 88A of the gas recovery system 88 is provided in the vicinity of the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu, even if a foreign matter is generated on the substrate stage PST, the foreign matter is generated. Can be collected by suction. For example, when the substrate stage PST is optically cleaned, the organic matter adhering to the substrate stage PST may be vaporized and float, but the vaporized organic matter can be quickly recovered by the gas recovery system 88 to achieve air conditioning. The cleanliness of the space 125 can be maintained. The gas supply system 87 can also supply an oxidation promoting gas (photocleaning promoting gas) such as ozone gas. By doing so, the space (atmosphere) in the vicinity of the light cleaning target region (irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu) can be filled with ozone gas, and the impurities (on the substrate stage PST in the atmosphere with enhanced oxidizing power) Organic matter) can be oxidatively decomposed with ultraviolet light Lu and washed with light.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The optical cleaning device 80 shown in FIG. 8 irradiates the optical element 2 closest to the image plane and the nozzle member 70 among the plurality of optical elements constituting the projection optical system PL, and performs optical cleaning. The optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 are members that are in contact with the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2, and the optical cleaning device 80 is a liquid that is in contact with the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2 of the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70. The contact surfaces 2A and 70A are irradiated with at least ultraviolet light Lu. The optical cleaning device 80 is provided in a predetermined position of the substrate stage PST other than the substrate holder PH, the reference member, and the optical measurement unit. The light source 82 of the optical cleaning device 80 is provided inside a recess 59 provided at a predetermined position of the substrate stage PST, and the opening of the recess 59 is blocked by a transmission window 83 that can transmit the ultraviolet light Lu. Yes. The light source 82 of the optical cleaning device 80 emits ultraviolet light Lu upward. The ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light source 82 irradiates the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 after passing through the transmission window 83.

  In FIG. 8, a detection device 90 that detects contamination of the lower surface 2 </ b> A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70 </ b> A of the nozzle member 70 is provided. The detection device 90 can detect impurities (organic substances) adhering to the lower surfaces 2A and 70A. In addition, the impurities referred to here are, as described above, the adhesion mark (watermark) of the liquid LQ and the foreign matter generated from the photosensitive agent (photoresist) of the substrate P (debris of the photosensitive agent and the deposit of the electrolyte contained in the photosensitive agent). Etc.). In the following description, the case of detecting contamination (foreign matter) on the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 will be described. However, detection of contamination (foreign matter) on the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 can also be detected by the same procedure. It is.

  In FIG. 8, the detection device 90 is provided on the substrate stage PST (Z stage 52) and has a predetermined angle from below with respect to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL (or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70). A light emitting unit 91 that emits detection light, a branching mirror 93 disposed on the optical path connecting the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the light emitting unit 91, and a substrate stage PST are provided on the basis of irradiation from the light emitting unit 91. The first light receiving unit 92 for receiving the reflected light from the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the branched light from the branching mirror 93 based on the irradiation from the light emitting unit 91 are received above the substrate stage PST. And a second light receiving portion 94 for the purpose. The light emitting unit 91, the first light receiving unit 92, and the like constituting the detection device 90 are provided on the substrate stage PST at positions other than the substrate holder PH, the reference member, and the optical measurement unit. And the light reception result of the 1st, 2nd light-receiving parts 92 and 94 is output to the control apparatus CONT. The control device CONT obtains the light reflectivity of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 based on the light reception results of the first and second light receiving units 92 and 94, the obtained light reflectivity, and the predetermined reflection stored in advance. And the contamination (degree of contamination) of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is detected (measured) based on the comparison result. That is, if a foreign substance is attached to the optical element 2, scattered light is generated due to the foreign substance, the reflectance is changed, and the amount of light received by the first light receiving unit 92 is changed. The control device CONT uses the light on the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 measured when the present device is completed and / or after the previous light cleaning, assuming that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is not contaminated so as to affect the optical characteristics. The reflectance is stored in advance as a predetermined reflectance.

  When detecting contamination of the optical element 2, the control device CONT moves the substrate stage PST and arranges the detection device 90 under the projection optical system PL. Then, when predetermined detection light is irradiated from the light emitting unit 91, the detection light transmitted through the branch mirror 93 among the detection light is irradiated on the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and then reflected on the lower surface 2A, and the reflected light. Is received by the first light receiving unit 92. On the other hand, the detection light (branched light) branched by the branch mirror 93 is received by the second light receiving unit 94 without reaching the lower surface 2 </ b> A of the optical element 2. And the light reception result of both the light-receiving parts 92 and 94 is output to the control apparatus CONT. The control device CONT obtains the light reflectance of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 based on the light reception result of the first light receiving unit 92 and the light reception result of the second light receiving unit 94, and the obtained light reflectance is the predetermined reflectance. It is determined whether or not the value is greater than the allowable value. That is, when the obtained light reflectance is less than the allowable value with respect to the predetermined reflectance, the control device CONT determines that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is not contaminated. On the other hand, when the obtained light reflectance is equal to or greater than the allowable value with respect to the predetermined reflectance, the control device CONT determines that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is contaminated.

  The control device CONT controls the operation of the light cleaning device 80 based on the detection result of the detection device 90. Specifically, when it is determined that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is not contaminated based on the detection result of the detection device 90, the control device CONT does not perform the light cleaning process by the light cleaning device 80, and performs the exposure operation. Continue. By doing so, unnecessary light cleaning processing is not performed, so that throughput (operation rate of the exposure apparatus) can be improved. On the other hand, when it is determined that the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is contaminated based on the detection result of the detection device 90, the control device CONT performs a light cleaning process by the light cleaning device 80. If the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL is contaminated and a liquid adhesion mark or the like is formed, the amount of exposure light or measurement light passing through the projection optical system PL or the illuminance distribution may change. As a result, exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy may be degraded. In the present embodiment, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is optically cleaned using the optical cleaning device 80, so that the exposure process and the measurement process are performed using the contaminated optical element 2. Can be prevented. Further, by performing optical cleaning treatment on the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 using the optical cleaning device 80, the lyophilicity (liquid) of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 is obtained. LQ contact angle can be maintained at 20 degrees or less), and the liquid LQ can be maintained well between the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 and the substrate stage PST (substrate P). In addition, since contaminants (foreign matter) adhering to the supply port 12 and the recovery port 22 of the nozzle member 70 can be removed, liquid supply and recovery to the optical path space on the image plane side of the optical element 2 can be performed stably. As a result, the immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ can be maintained well.

  In this embodiment, when the optical cleaning device 80 is used to optically clean the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70, the optical lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 are optically cleaned. The space between the device 80 may be filled with the liquid LQ. In this case, even if the supply operation of the liquid supply device 10 and the recovery operation of the liquid recovery device 20 are not performed, the space between the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the light cleaning device 80 is filled with the liquid LQ. Although it is possible to continue, the liquid LQ removes impurities (contaminants) removed from the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 by performing optical cleaning while performing the liquid supply operation and the recovery operation. Can be collected together.

  In order to detect contamination of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2, a mask alignment system 360 can be used as the detection device 90. Further, the contamination state of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 may be determined from the change in the transmittance of the exposure light of the projection optical system PL using an optical measurement unit arranged on the substrate stage PST. Alternatively, an observation system (such as a camera) is opposed to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70, and the observation system is used to form the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70. It may be determined whether or not to perform light cleaning. In the fifth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 8, after the contamination state of the lower surface 2 </ b> A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70 </ b> A of the nozzle member 70 is confirmed using the detection device 90, the light by the light cleaning device 80 is used. Although the cleaning process is performed, the optical cleaning process can be performed every predetermined time or every predetermined number of substrates, for example, without the detection device 90.

  In the fifth embodiment, both the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 are optically cleaned, but only one of them may be performed.

<Sixth Embodiment>
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In each of the first to fifth embodiments described above, the exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus main body EX) is configured to include one substrate stage PST. The present invention is also applicable to an exposure apparatus having two stages as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. -135400.

  The exposure apparatus main body EX shown in FIG. 9 has a substrate holder PH for holding the substrate P, and is provided at a position aligned with the substrate stage PST1 that can be moved while holding the substrate P, and the above-described light beam. And a measurement stage PST2 including measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600. In the present embodiment, the substrate stage PST1 is not provided with a reference member (measurement member) and an optical measurement unit. The measurement stage PST2 is a stage dedicated to measurement and does not hold the substrate P. The substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 each have a stage drive device including a linear motor and the like, and can move two-dimensionally independently from each other in the XY plane. Further, the positions of the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 in the XY directions are measured by a laser interferometer.

  When performing various measurement processes, the measurement stage PST2 is disposed below the projection optical system PL, and an immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ is formed on the measurement stage PST2. Then, measurement processing using the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600 is performed via the liquid LQ in the immersion area AR2. While performing the measurement process using the measurement stage PST2, the unexposed substrate P is loaded on the substrate stage PST1.

  Then, after finishing the measurement process, the control device CONT moves the liquid immersion area AR2 of the liquid LQ formed on the measurement stage PST2 onto the substrate stage PST1 supporting the substrate P. In the case where the liquid immersion area AR2 is moved from the measurement stage PST2 onto the substrate stage PST1, the controller CONT brings the liquid LQ close to each other so that the liquid LQ does not leak from between the measurement stage PST2 and the substrate stage PST1, for example. Thus, the measurement stage PST2 and the substrate stage PST1 are moved together with respect to the immersion area AR2 formed on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. Then, after moving the immersion area AR2 onto the substrate stage PST1, the control device CONT performs alignment processing of the substrate P and imaging of the projection optical system PL based on the measurement result measured using the measurement stage PST2. After performing the characteristic adjustment (calibration) process, the substrate P on the substrate stage PST1 is subjected to immersion exposure.

  Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, since the liquid LQ immersion area AR2 is formed on both the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2, the upper surface of the substrate stage PST1 and the upper surface of the measurement stage PST2 are formed. There is a possibility that impurities (organic substances) may adhere to each of them, or an adhesion mark (watermark) of the liquid LQ may be formed, but the optical cleaning device 80 as described in the first to fourth embodiments is used. It is possible to perform optical cleaning of the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2. For example, the control device CONT may perform optical cleaning by irradiating the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 with ultraviolet light Lu at each predetermined time interval (every predetermined number of processed substrates) using the optical cleaning device 80, respectively. it can. Alternatively, the control device CONT uses the detection device 90 to detect contamination of the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2, and controls the operation of the light cleaning device 80 based on the detection result. In addition, the measurement stage PST2 can be optically cleaned using the optical cleaning device 80 during the exposure of the substrate P on the substrate stage PST1. Alternatively, the substrate stage PST1 may be optically cleaned while the measurement operation is being performed on the measurement stage PST2. Further, in the case of the exposure apparatus provided with the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 as described above, the optical cleaning device 80 as shown in the fifth embodiment is provided in the measurement stage PST2, The lower surface 2A and / or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 can be optically cleaned. In this case, at least a part of the detection system for detecting the contamination state of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and / or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 may be provided on the measurement stage.

  The present invention is also applicable to a twin stage type exposure apparatus having a plurality of substrate stages disclosed in JP-A-10-163099, JP-A-10-214783, JP-T 2000-505958, and the like. it can. In the case of the twin stage type exposure apparatus as described above, the light cleaning apparatus 80 as shown in the fifth embodiment or the like may be provided on either one of the substrate stages or on both. . In such a twin stage type exposure apparatus, it is possible to perform optical cleaning of another substrate stage while the substrate on one substrate stage is being exposed or while the alignment operation is being performed.

  In the fifth and sixth embodiments described above, the optical cleaning device 80 is fixed to the substrate stage PST and the measurement stage PST2. However, the optical cleaning device 80 is fixed to the substrate stage PST and the measurement stage PST2. It can also be set as the structure which can be attached or detached to stage PST2. In this case, at the time of maintenance of the exposure apparatus EX performed at a predetermined timing, the operator may attach / detach the optical cleaning apparatus 80 to / from the substrate stage PST and the measurement stage PST2, or the exposure apparatus EX The optical cleaning device 80 may be installed in the exposure apparatus EX using a predetermined transport mechanism or tool disposed in the exposure apparatus EX.

  The optical cleaning device 80 provided on the movable body (substrate stage PST and measurement stage PST2) movable on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL applies light to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70. A member to be cleaned, but impurities or droplets floating in the air-conditioned space 125 normally do not come into contact with the liquid LQ, for example, the substrate alignment system 350 disposed in the vicinity of the liquid immersion area AR2. If there is a possibility of adhering to a part (such as an objective lens) or a part of the focus / leveling detection system 60, the optical cleaning device 80 is used to light a member disposed near the liquid immersion area AR2. You may make it wash-process.

  In the fifth embodiment described above, the optical cleaning device 80 is provided on the substrate stage PST. However, separately from the substrate stage PST, it is two-dimensionally in the XY direction under the projection optical system PL (on the image plane side). It is also possible to dispose a movable body that can be moved, and to arrange the light cleaning device 80 on the movable body. As such a movable body, as described above, the measurement stage PST2 as in the sixth embodiment can be used.

  In the first to fourth embodiments and the sixth embodiment described above, a liquid LQ supply mechanism and a recovery mechanism are provided separately from the mechanism for forming the liquid immersion area AR2 in the vicinity of the optical cleaning device 80. For example, when optical cleaning of the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST is performed, the liquid LQ is supplied to and recovered from the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu on the upper surface 31 in parallel with the irradiation operation of the ultraviolet light Lu by the optical cleaning device 80. An operation may be performed. Also by doing so, the foreign matter generated from the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST can be collected together with the liquid LQ.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, ArF excimer laser light having a light cleaning effect is used as the exposure light EL, so that the substrate P is exposed as irradiation light for light cleaning. Exposure light EL may be used. When the substrate stage PST is optically cleaned, the substrate stage PST is disposed directly below the projection optical system PL and projected onto the substrate stage PST without the substrate P on the substrate stage PST to be optically cleaned. The exposure light EL (irradiation light) from the illumination optical system IL may be irradiated via the optical system PL. Further, in the exposure apparatus equipped with the measurement stage, when the measurement stage is optically cleaned, the measurement stage is disposed immediately below the projection optical system PL, and the exposure light EL ( Irradiation light) may be irradiated. Further, by passing the exposure light EL through the projection optical system PL, the optical element 2 in contact with the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2 can also be optically cleaned. Also in this case, for example, the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20 may be used together when the upper surface of the substrate stage PST and the upper surfaces of the optical measuring units 300, 400, 500, and 600 are optically cleaned. .

  In the above-described first to fourth and sixth embodiments, the diameter of the light beam of the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the optical cleaning device 80 is relatively large, and the entire region of the substrate stage PST (or measurement stage) is batched. However, the diameter of the light beam of the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the optical cleaning device 80 is reduced, and at least one of the light beam and the substrate stage PST is relatively moved while the entire region of the substrate stage PST is moved. Or you may make it irradiate ultraviolet light Lu to a predetermined part area | region. By doing so, the optical cleaning device 80 can be miniaturized and space saving can be realized. Further, the optical cleaning device 80 does not have to optically clean the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST (or the measurement stage), the upper surfaces of the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, 600, and the upper surface of the substrate holder PH every time. Also, the irradiation time of the ultraviolet light Lu may be different. For example, a specific region on the substrate stage PST, such as the upper surface of the optical measurement unit 400, may be irradiated with ultraviolet light Lu in a focused manner (long time). Also in the fifth embodiment, the diameter of the light beam of the ultraviolet light Lu emitted from the light cleaning device 80 is reduced, and at least one of the light beam and the substrate stage PST on which the light cleaning device 80 is mounted is relative. The entire area of the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 or a predetermined part of the area may be irradiated with the ultraviolet light Lu.

  In the first to fourth and sixth embodiments described above, the substrate stage PST is optically cleaned after unloading the substrate P after the exposure processing from the substrate stage PST and before loading the unexposed substrate P. Although the optical cleaning process is performed using the apparatus 80, the optical cleaning process may be performed every predetermined time interval or every predetermined number of processing substrates. In that case, the control device CONT moves the substrate stage PST to a position immediately below the optical cleaning device 80 without the substrate P on the substrate stage PST. The optical cleaning device 80 starts irradiation of the ultraviolet light Lu with the movement of the substrate stage PST under the control of the control device CONT. Then, the control device CONT only needs to return to the exposure operation again after irradiating the substrate stage PST with the ultraviolet light Lu for a predetermined time using the optical cleaning device 80. In addition, if the time interval is too long or the number of processed substrates is too large, the probability that a liquid LQ adhesion mark (watermark) is formed on the substrate stage PST or the like increases. What is necessary is just to determine suitably the time interval (processing board | substrate number) which irradiates the ultraviolet light Lu by the optical cleaning apparatus 80 so that the adhesion trace (watermark) of the liquid LQ may not be formed.

In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the light source that emits the irradiation light Lu for performing the light cleaning process partially overlaps the above description, but an Ar ₂ excimer lamp (wavelength 126 nm), Ar ₂ excimer laser (wavelength 126 nm), Kr ₂ excimer lamp (wavelength 146 nm), Kr ₂ excimer laser (wavelength 146 nm), _{F 2} Daimaranpu (wavelength 157 nm), _{F 2} Daimareza (wavelength 157 nm), Xe ₂ excimer lamp (wavelength 172 nm) Xe ₂ excimer laser (wavelength 172 nm), ArF excimer lamp (wavelength 193 nm), ArF excimer laser (wavelength 193 nm), KrCl excimer lamp (wavelength 222 nm), KrCl excimer laser (wavelength 222 nm), KrF excimer lamp (wavelength 248 nm), KrF excimer laser 248 nm), XeCl excimer lamp (wavelength 308 nm), XeCl excimer laser (wavelength 308 nm), low-pressure mercury lamp (simultaneously emitting light of wavelengths 185 nm and 254 nm), deuterium lamp (having a wide wavelength range from vacuum ultraviolet to visible) Light) or the like.

  Using these light sources, the irradiation light Lu may be continuously irradiated, or may be intermittently irradiated as pulsed light. Further, the power and irradiation time of the irradiation light Lu can be appropriately adjusted according to the degree of contamination, the object of light cleaning, and the like. In addition, a plurality of light sources can be used, or a wavelength variable laser can be used to irradiate a member in contact with the liquid with a plurality of wavelengths of light.

<Seventh Embodiment>
Next, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus main body EX) shown in FIG. 10 includes two stages as in the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, a reflecting member 700 is provided as an optical member on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. The reflecting member 700 is made of, for example, glass, and its upper surface is a reflecting surface that can reflect light. In the present embodiment, the reflecting member 700 is disposed on the measurement stage PST2 that can move on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. The control device CONT drives the measurement stage PST2 to irradiate the reflection member 700 with the exposure light EL through the projection optical system PL in a state where the reflection member 700 is disposed below the projection optical system PL. The reflective member 700 irradiated with the exposure light EL from the projection optical system PL reflects the exposure light EL to generate light having the same wavelength as the exposure light EL. Reflected light having the same wavelength as the exposure light EL generated from the reflecting member 700 is irradiated to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 that are in contact with the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2. Also in the present embodiment, ArF excimer laser light having a light cleaning effect is used as the exposure light EL. In the present embodiment, a porous member (or mesh member) 22P is disposed in the recovery port 22 formed in the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70. The porous member 22P constitutes a part of the lower surface 70A, and the reflected light generated from the reflecting member 700 is also applied to the porous member 22P. As described above, the reflecting member 700 functioning as a part of the optical cleaning device is arranged on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL, and the exposure light EL having the optical cleaning effect is sent to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 through the reflective member 700. Alternatively, by irradiating the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 including the porous member 22P, the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 (porous member 22P) can be optically cleaned. Thereby, the lyophilicity of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 can be maintained (enhanced).

  The optical member 700 disposed on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL is not limited to the reflecting member that reflects the irradiated light (exposure light EL), and has a scattering surface that scatters the irradiated light. It may be. By using a scattering member as the optical member 700, the exposure light EL applied to the scattering member is scattered and reaches the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70. Irradiation light having the same wavelength as that of the exposure light EL having a light cleaning function can be applied to a relatively wide area of the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70. Furthermore, a diffractive member having a diffractive surface that diffracts the irradiated light may be used as the optical member 700, and even in this case, a relatively wide area on the lower surface 2 </ b> A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70 </ b> A of the nozzle member 70. Further, it is possible to irradiate irradiation light having the same wavelength as that of the exposure light EL having a light cleaning action.

  In addition, when irradiating the exposure light EL to the optical member (reflection member, diffraction member, scattering member) 700 disposed on the measurement stage PST2, the exposure light is applied to the optical member 700 while moving the measurement stage PST2 in the XY direction. You may make it irradiate EL. Alternatively, the direction of irradiation light (exposure light) from the optical member 700 may be changed by making the optical member 700 movable. By doing so, irradiation light (exposure light) can be irradiated to a relatively wide area of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70, and the light can be cleaned well.

  Further, the lower surface 70A (including the porous member 22P) of the nozzle member 70 may be coated with a material 701 having a photocatalytic action. An example of such a material is titanium oxide. When the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 is coated with titanium oxide 701, the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 is irradiated with light having the same wavelength as the exposure light EL having a light cleaning action, so that contaminants such as organic matter are removed. Since it is oxidatively decomposed by the photocatalytic reaction, it can be washed more effectively. Further, since the lyophilicity of the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 is improved by the photocatalytic reaction, an effect that the liquid immersion area AR2 can be favorably formed under the nozzle member 70A can be expected.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, during the optical cleaning, the control device CONT uses the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20 to place the substrate P between the projection optical system PL and the optical member 700. The optical member 700 may be irradiated with the exposure light EL through the projection optical system PL and the liquid LQ in a state where the same liquid LQ as that used for immersion exposure is filled. Light having the same wavelength as the exposure light EL generated from the optical member 700 is applied to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 via the liquid LQ in the liquid immersion area AR2. By performing optical cleaning while supplying and recovering the liquid LQ using the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20, the foreign matter generated from the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 by the optical cleaning is recovered together with the liquid LQ. be able to.

  By the way, the liquid LQ used when the substrate P is subjected to immersion exposure is deaerated before being supplied to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL for the purpose of preventing bubbles in the immersion area AR2. . That is, the liquid supply mechanism 10 (liquid supply unit 11) includes a deaeration device for reducing dissolved oxygen (dissolved gas) in the liquid LQ, and is supplied before being supplied to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. After degassing the liquid LQ, the degassed liquid LQ is supplied to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. On the other hand, in light cleaning, contaminants (organic matter) can be oxidatively decomposed by irradiating light having a light cleaning effect. Therefore, when light cleaning is performed, oxygen of a predetermined concentration is present in the liquid LQ ( It is desirable to have dissolved. Therefore, when the optical member 700 is irradiated with the exposure light EL in a state where the liquid LQ is filled between the projection optical system PL and the optical member 700 to optically wash the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70, the control device CONT. The oxygen concentration of the liquid LQ supplied to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL may be made larger than the oxygen concentration of the liquid LQ when the substrate P is exposed. That is, when performing optical cleaning, the control device CONT supplies, for example, a liquid LQ that is not subjected to deaeration processing to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL. Alternatively, when the optical member 700 is irradiated with the exposure light EL in a state where the liquid LQ is filled between the projection optical system PL and the optical member 700 to optically wash the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70, the control device CONT. For example, hydrogen peroxide water different from the liquid (pure water) used for exposure of the substrate P may be supplied to the image plane side of the projection optical system PL.

  In this embodiment, the installation position of the optical member (reflecting member, diffractive member, scattering member) 700 is not limited to the measurement stage PST2, and for example, in the upper surface of the substrate stage PST1, a region other than the substrate P is disposed. You may arrange in. Furthermore, it may be supported by a member arranged on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL, which is different from the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2. Further, the optical member 700 can be detachable from the substrate stage PST and the measurement stage PST2. Alternatively, a dummy substrate having at least one of a reflection surface, a diffraction surface, and a scattering surface may be arranged on the substrate holder of the substrate stage PST, and the dummy substrate may be irradiated with the exposure light EL. In the case of using a dummy substrate, the dummy substrate can be easily mounted on the substrate stage PST (substrate holder PH) using the substrate transport system 150.

  Needless to say, when the optical member 700 is disposed on the substrate stage PST or a dummy substrate having a diffractive surface or the like is mounted on the substrate stage PST, the present invention can also be applied to a twin-stage type exposure apparatus as described above. Absent.

  In addition, a part of the substrate alignment system 350 and a part of the focus / leveling detection system 60 disposed near the liquid immersion area AR2 are subjected to a light cleaning process with light having a light cleaning action from the optical member 700. Also good. By doing so, it is possible to prevent deterioration in measurement accuracy caused by impurities and droplets adhering to a part of the substrate alignment system 350 and the focus / leveling detection system 60.

  In the seventh embodiment, the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 is coated with a lyophilic (hydrophilic) material having a photocatalytic action such as titanium oxide (titanium dioxide), but the nozzle member 70 itself, Or you may make it form the part (part which contacts a liquid) with the material which has a photocatalytic action.

  Alternatively, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 may be coated with a material such as titanium oxide having a photocatalytic action, and light cleaning may be performed with light from the optical member 700. By doing in this way, contamination of the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 can be prevented more reliably.

  Even when the optical cleaning device 80 described in the fifth embodiment is used, the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 may be coated with a material such as titanium oxide.

  Further, at least a part of the upper surface of the substrate stage PST1 and the upper surface of the measurement stage PST2 (including the upper surface of the optical measurement unit) may be formed of a material having a photocatalytic action such as titanium oxide as necessary. Also in this case, the contamination of the upper surfaces of the substrate stage PST and the measurement stage PST2 can be prevented by using the optical cleaning device 80 as in the first to fourth embodiments and the sixth embodiment.

  Further, a member that contacts the liquid LQ, such as the nozzle member 70 and the stage (PST1, PST2), may be formed of a material containing titanium or zinc dioxide. Since titanium and zinc dioxide have a passive film with photocatalytic action formed on the surface, the surface contaminants (organic matter) can be removed by performing a photo-cleaning treatment in the same manner as titanium oxide coating. .

<Eighth Embodiment>
Next, an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The exposure apparatus EXS (exposure apparatus body EX) shown in FIG. 11 includes a vibration mechanism 800 that vibrates the nozzle member 70. In the present embodiment, the vibration mechanism 800 is configured by an ultrasonic transducer and is attached to a predetermined position of the nozzle member 70. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the ultrasonic transducer 800 is attached to the side surface of the nozzle member 70. Examples of the ultrasonic vibrator include a piezoelectric element and an electromagnetic vibrator. The ultrasonic transducer 800 is for removing the contaminants attached to the nozzle member 70 including the porous member 22P and the side surfaces thereof, and is attached to the contaminants by vibrating the nozzle member 70. The nozzle member 70 is washed. Further, the ultrasonic vibrator 800 is used to vibrate the nozzle member 70 to remove contaminants adhering to the vicinity of the supply port 12 and the supply flow path formed inside the nozzle member 70 connected to the supply port 12. It is also possible to remove contaminants attached to the recovery passage formed in the vicinity of the recovery port 22, the porous member 22 </ b> P disposed in the recovery port 22, and the nozzle member 70 connected to the recovery port 22. You can also. The cleaning operation using the ultrasonic transducer 800 can be performed when the substrate P is replaced or between lots.

  Further, in a state where the nozzle member 70 is vibrated using the ultrasonic vibrator 800, the control device CONT uses the liquid supply mechanism 10 and the liquid recovery mechanism 20 to perform upper surfaces of the projection optical system PL and the substrate stage PST. The optical path space between them may be filled with the same liquid LQ as that used when the substrate P is subjected to immersion exposure. By doing so, the contaminants removed (separated) from the nozzle member 70 can be collected together with the liquid LQ. As the liquid filling the optical path space between the projection optical system PL and the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST when the nozzle member 70 is vibrated using the ultrasonic vibrator 800, the substrate P is immersed in the liquid. For example, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide water may be used other than the liquid (pure water) used. Further, the cleaning operation using the ultrasonic vibrator 800 and the cleaning operation using the optical cleaning device 80 of the fifth embodiment and the optical member 700 of the seventh embodiment may be used in combination.

  In the above-described first to third and fifth to eighth embodiments, the gas supply system 87 and the gas recovery system 88 as described in the fourth embodiment are provided, and the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 are provided. Among these, the space (atmosphere) near the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light Lu may be set to an environment suitable for light cleaning.

  In the first to fourth and sixth to eighth embodiments described above, the detection device 90 as in the fifth embodiment is provided, and the detection device 90 uses the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST and the optical measurement unit 300. , 400, 500, 600, and substrate holder PH may be detected. Based on the detection result of the detection device 90, the control device CONT can determine whether or not the substrate stage PST is contaminated, and can control the operation of the optical cleaning device 80. In this case, the substrate alignment system 350 and the mask alignment system 360 can also be used as the detection device 90.

  Further, the projection optical system PL in the first to eighth embodiments described above is configured to fill the optical path space on the lower surface 2A side of the optical element 2 with the liquid LQ. However, in the pamphlet of International Publication No. 2004/019128. As disclosed, it is also possible to employ a projection optical system in which the optical path space on the mask M side of the optical element 2 is filled with a liquid. In this case, the optical member (optical element 2) at the end of the projection optical system PL using the exposure light EL from the illumination optical system IL and the light cleaning device 80 described in the fifth and seventh embodiments. The upper surface side of the optical member and the lower surface of the optical member on the mask M side of the terminal optical member may be subjected to light cleaning treatment.

  In the above-described first to eighth embodiments, it has been described that the cleaning operation is performed at the time of replacing the substrate. However, in the case where maintenance of the exposure apparatus is performed at predetermined intervals, As one of the maintenance items, a process of irradiating with irradiation light having the above optical cleaning effect to perform optical cleaning may be added.

<Ninth Embodiment>
Next, a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the light cleaning process of the exposure apparatus EXS is performed by a maintenance device 900 provided separately from the exposure apparatus EXS. In FIG. 12, the maintenance device 900 includes a light emitting unit 901 that generates predetermined irradiation light Lu having a light cleaning effect on a member that contacts the liquid LQ in the exposure apparatus EXS. The light emitting unit 901 has a light source, and as the light source, the same light source (Xe2 excimer laser, KrCl excimer laser, XeCl excimer laser, etc.) as in the above-described embodiment can be used. In addition, the maintenance device 900 according to the present embodiment includes a support mechanism 902 that supports the light emitting unit 901 in a movable manner. The support mechanism 902 is capable of moving the light emitting unit 901 between the inside and the outside of the exposure apparatus EX. The support base 903 supports the light emitting unit 901, the stage 904 supports the support base 903 movably, and the stage. And a connecting member 906 that connects 904 and the carriage 905. The stage 904 has a drive mechanism such as an actuator, and the support base 903 that supports the light emitting unit 901 is movable on the stage 904 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Note that the stage 904 may be capable of moving the support base 903 in the Z-axis direction.

  In a part of the main column 4 of the exposure apparatus EXS, an opening 120C through which the light emitting unit 901 can be taken in and out of the air-conditioned space 125 is formed. The maintenance device 900 can move the light emitting unit 901 to the inside of the air-conditioned space 125 in the exposure apparatus EXS through the opening 120C.

  In the present embodiment, a light cleaning process using the maintenance device 900 is performed during maintenance of the exposure apparatus EXS. When performing the optical cleaning process using the maintenance device 900, for example, an operator transports the maintenance device 900 to the vicinity of the opening 120C of the exposure apparatus EXS. Since the maintenance device 900 includes the carriage 905, the operator can easily transport the maintenance device 900. Then, the stage 904 supported at the tip of the connecting member 906 and the support base 903 on the stage 904 are moved into the air-conditioned space 125 together with the light emitting unit 901 through the opening 120C. The light emitting unit 901 is disposed at a position below the projection optical system PL and the nozzle member 70. At this time, the substrate stage PST is retracted to a predetermined retracted position other than the position below the projection optical system PL. Then, the maintenance device 900 drives the stage 904 to position the light emitting unit 901 supported by the support base 903 with respect to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL. The light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 faces upward and faces the lower surface 2 </ b> A of the optical element 2. In this state, the maintenance device 900 emits the irradiation light Lu from the light emitting unit 901. The lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 is optically cleaned by being irradiated with the irradiation light Lu. In addition, the maintenance device 900 can position the light emitting unit 901 with respect to the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 by driving the stage 904, and in that state, by emitting the irradiation light Lu from the light emitting unit 901, The lower surface 70 </ b> A of the nozzle member 70 can be cleaned with good light. Thus, in the maintenance method and the maintenance device of the present embodiment, it is possible to optically wash only such a member in the exposure apparatus without removing the member to be cleaned from the exposure apparatus in the exposure apparatus. Maintenance can be completed in a shorter time than when the member is removed from the exposure apparatus. As described above, in order to satisfactorily form the liquid immersion area AR2, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 are preferably lyophilic (hydrophilic). By applying irradiation light (ultraviolet light) Lu, lyophilicity can be imparted to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70.

  In addition, the maintenance device 900 can clean the other members such as the substrate alignment system 350 and the focus / leveling detection system 60 with good light by driving the stage 904 and moving the light emitting unit 901.

  In addition, the maintenance device 900 can optically wash the upper surface 31 of the substrate stage PST and the optical measurement units 300, 400, 500, and 600 on the substrate stage PST with the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 facing downward. Alternatively, the maintenance device 900 can emit the irradiation light Lu with the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 facing upward, and can guide the irradiation light Lu emitted from the light emitting unit 901 to the substrate stage PST using a reflecting member. . That is, when the maintenance device 900 includes the reflecting member, the irradiation light Lu emitted from the light emitting unit 901 can be guided in a predetermined direction.

  Also in this embodiment, the light cleaning process may be performed while filling the space between the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 with the liquid LQ.

<Tenth Embodiment>
Next, a tenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A maintenance device 900A illustrated in FIG. 13 includes a light emitting unit 901 and a support member 908 having a support surface 908A that supports the light emitting unit 901. The support member 908 includes a connection portion 909 that can be connected to the nozzle member 70. On the side surface of the nozzle member 70, a connected portion 70S connected to the connecting portion 909 of the supporting member 908 is provided, and the supporting member 908 and the nozzle member 70 are connected by connecting the connecting portion 909 and the connected portion 70S. And connect. Then, by connecting the nozzle member 70 and the support member 908 via the connection portion 909, the light emitting portion 901 on the support surface 908A of the support member 908, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL, and the nozzle member The lower surface 70A of 70 is opposed. In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 901 is provided so as to be movable in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction on the support surface 908A.

  When performing the optical cleaning process using the maintenance device 900A, the support member 908 that supports the light emitting unit 901 and the nozzle member 70 are connected by, for example, an operator. At this time, the substrate stage PST is retracted to a predetermined retracted position other than the position below the projection optical system PL. Then, in a state where the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 are opposed to the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901, the irradiation light Lu is emitted from the light emitting unit 901, thereby The lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70A is irradiated with the irradiation light Lu and is optically cleaned. Further, since the light emitting unit 901 is movable on the support surface 908A, the irradiation light Lu is emitted in a state where the light emitting unit 901 is positioned at a desired position with respect to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70A. Can be irradiated.

  Also in this embodiment, the light cleaning process may be performed while filling the space between the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 with the liquid LQ.

  In the ninth and tenth embodiments described above, the maintenance of the exposure apparatus provided with one substrate stage PST is described. However, the exposure apparatus provided with the measurement stage and the substrate stage as described above, The maintenance equipment of the ninth and tenth embodiments can also be applied to an exposure apparatus provided with a plurality of substrate stages.

<Eleventh embodiment>
Next, an eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The exposure apparatus EXS shown in FIG. 14 includes a substrate stage PST1 and a measurement stage PST2 that can move on the image plane side of the projection optical system PL, as in the embodiments of FIGS. A maintenance device 900B shown in FIG. 14 includes a light emitting unit 901 and a support member 912 that supports the light emitting unit 901. The support member 912 includes a connection portion 913 that can be connected to the measurement stage PST2. The measurement stage PST2 is provided with a connected portion 914 that is connected to the connection portion 913 of the support member 912. By connecting the connection portion 913 and the connected portion 914, the support member 912 and the measurement stage PST2 are connected. Connecting.

  In the case where the optical cleaning process is performed using the maintenance device 900B, for example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the support member 912 supporting the light emitting unit 901 and the measurement stage PST2 are connected via the connection unit 913 by an operator. Connected. Then, as shown in FIG. 14B, the measurement stage PST2 is moved so that the light emitting unit 901 is disposed at a position below the projection optical system PL, and the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 The light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 is opposed. In this state, by emitting the irradiation light Lu from the light emitting unit 901, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70A are irradiated with the irradiation light Lu and are optically cleaned. In addition, since the light emitting unit 901 can move as the measurement stage PST2 moves, the light emitting unit 901 is positioned at desired positions with respect to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70A. Irradiation light Lu can be irradiated.

  Maintenance device 900B is not limited to measurement stage PST2, and may be connected to substrate stage PST1. By providing the support member 912 of the maintenance device 900B with a connection portion that can be connected to the substrate stage PST1, the maintenance device 900B and the substrate stage PST1 can be connected.

  Also in the present embodiment, the light cleaning process may be performed while the space between the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 and the light emitting surface of the light emitting unit 901 is filled with the liquid LQ.

<Twelfth Embodiment>
Next, a twelfth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A maintenance device 900C illustrated in FIG. 15 includes a light emitting unit 901 and a support member 915 that supports the light emitting unit 901. The support member 915 includes a connection portion 916 that can be connected to a stage base (base member) 57 that movably supports the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2. The stage base 57 is provided with a connected portion 917 that is connected to the connecting portion 916 of the supporting member 915. By connecting the connecting portion 916 and the connected portion 917, the supporting member 915 and the stage base 57 are connected. Connecting. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the stage base 57 and the surface of the maintenance device 900C (light emitting unit 901) connected to the stage base 57 are substantially flush with each other. Thereby, the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 can move on the surface of the maintenance device 900C (light emitting unit 901), and the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage on the stage base 57 by providing the maintenance device 900C on the stage base 57. The movement range of PST2 is not constrained. Then, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL and the lower surface of the nozzle member 70 are emitted from the light emitting portion 901 on the support member 915 connected to the stage base 57 via the connection portion 916. 70A can be light washed.

  In the present embodiment, the maintenance device 900 </ b> C can be resident in the base member 57. In addition, the maintenance device 900C (light emitting unit 901) is arranged so as to be movable up and down with respect to the base member 57, and the maintenance device 900 (light emitting unit 901) is brought close to the optical element 2 and the nozzle member 70 to perform the light cleaning process. It can also be done.

  In the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above, the maintenance apparatus of the exposure apparatus including the substrate stage PST1 and the measurement stage PST2 is described. However, the exposure apparatus including only one or a plurality of substrate stages. In addition, the maintenance devices of the eleventh and twelfth embodiments can also be used.

<13th Embodiment>
Next, a thirteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 shows an example of the substrate stage PST. In FIG. 16, the substrate stage PST is guided in the X-axis direction by the X guide member 920 and moved in the X-axis direction by the X linear motor 921. The X linear motor 921 includes a movable element 921M provided on the substrate stage PST and a stator 921C provided on the X guide member 920. The substrate stage PST has a frame member 930 provided so as to surround the X guide member 920, and an air bearing for supporting the substrate stage PST in a non-contact manner on the lower surface 934 with respect to the upper surface of the stage base 57. 935 is provided. The air bearing 935 supports the substrate stage PST including the frame member 930 in a non-contact manner with respect to the stage base 57, and the gap in the Z-axis direction between the frame member 930 and the X guide member 920 is maintained. An air bearing 935 is provided on the inner side surface of the frame member 930, and the air bearing 935 maintains a gap in the Y axis direction between the inner side surface of the frame member 930 and the X guide member 920.

  The X guide member 920 is guided to move in the Y axis direction by the guide portions 923B at the upper end portions of the substantially L-shaped support members 923 provided on the both sides of the stage base 57 in the X axis direction. Guide portions 923B (support members 923) are provided at positions corresponding to both ends of the X guide member 920, and guided portions corresponding to the guide portions 923B are provided at both ends of the X guide member 920, respectively. 924 is provided. An air bearing is interposed between the guide portion 923B and the guided portion 924, and the guided portion 924 is supported in a non-contact manner with respect to the guide portion 923B. The X guide member 920 is provided so as to be movable in the Y axis direction by a Y linear motor 922. The substrate stage PST can move in the Y-axis direction together with the X guide member 920 by driving a Y linear motor 922. The Y linear motor 922 includes a mover 922M provided at each of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the X guide member 920, and an air bearing on the flat portion 923A of the support member 923 so as to correspond to the mover 922M. And a stator 922C that is supported in a non-contact manner. When the mover 922M of the Y linear motor 922 is driven relative to the stator 922C, the X guide member 920 moves in the Y axis direction together with the substrate stage PST. Further, by adjusting the driving of each of the Y linear motors 922 and 922, the X guide member 920 can be rotated and moved also in the θZ direction. Therefore, the Y linear motors 922 and 922 allow the substrate stage PST to move in the Y axis direction and the θZ direction almost integrally with the X guide member 920.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the light emitting unit 901 constituting the maintenance device 900D is supported on a support member 919 connected to the guide unit 923B. The support member 919 has connection portions 918 that can be connected to the guide portions 923 </ b> B provided on both sides of the stage base 57 in the X-axis direction. At the time of maintenance, the substrate stage PST is retracted to a predetermined retract position other than the position below the projection optical system PL. Then, the support member 919 of the maintenance device 900D is supported by the guide portion 923B. At this time, the support member 919 is supported by the guide portion 923B so that the light emitting portion 901 is disposed at a position below the projection optical system PL. In this state, the light emitting unit 901 emits the irradiation light Lu, whereby the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70 can be optically cleaned.

  The light emitting unit 901 of the maintenance device 900D is installed on the X guide member 920, the light emitting unit 901 installed on the X guide member 920 is opposed to the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 and the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70, The irradiation light Lu may be emitted from the light emitting unit 901 to irradiate the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2 or the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70.

  In the present embodiment, the maintenance of the exposure apparatus provided with one substrate stage PST is described. However, the exposure apparatus provided with the measurement stage and the substrate stage as described above, and the exposure provided with a plurality of substrate stages. The maintenance device of this embodiment can also be applied to the apparatus.

  In the above tenth to thirteenth embodiments, the maintenance device is connected to the nozzle member, the stage, and the base member. However, the connection position (attachment position) for connecting the maintenance device to the exposure apparatus EXS. ) May be, for example, the main column 4 (see FIG. 1 and the like).

  In the maintenance devices of the tenth to thirteenth embodiments described above, the irradiation light Lu emitted from the light emitting unit 901 is reflected by the reflecting member, and the reflected light is irradiated to the optical element 2, the nozzle member 70, or the stage. You may make it do.

  Also in the ninth to thirteenth embodiments, as described in the seventh embodiment, it is desirable that a film having a photocatalytic action is formed on the surface of a member that performs optical cleaning.

  In the above-described maintenance device, the light source is built in the light emitting unit 901. However, the light source is provided at a position away from the light emitting unit 901 (for example, outside the exposure apparatus EXS) and emitted from the light source. The irradiation light Lu may be transmitted to the light emitting unit 901 by an optical fiber or the like.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the stage reference member, the optical measurement unit, the lower surface 2A of the optical element 2, the lower surface 70A of the nozzle member 70, and the like are optically cleaned. However, all of these need to be optically cleaned. However, if necessary, light cleaning may be performed on at least a part of these.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the member mounted on the exposure apparatus EXS is optically cleaned has been described. However, the member that contacts the liquid LQ is incorporated into the exposure apparatus EXS or removed from the exposure apparatus EXS. It is also effective to perform light cleaning.

  As described above, the liquid LQ in the present embodiment is composed of pure water. Pure water has an advantage that it can be easily obtained in large quantities at a semiconductor manufacturing factory or the like, and has no adverse effect on the photoresist, optical element (lens), etc. on the substrate P. In addition, pure water has no adverse effects on the environment, and since the impurity content is extremely low, it can be expected to clean the surface of the substrate P and the surface of the optical element provided on the front end surface of the projection optical system PL. . When the purity of pure water supplied from a factory or the like is low, the exposure apparatus may have an ultrapure water production device.

  The refractive index n of pure water (water) with respect to the exposure light EL having a wavelength of about 193 nm is said to be about 1.44, and when ArF excimer laser light (wavelength 193 nm) is used as the light source of the exposure light EL On the substrate P, the wavelength is shortened to 1 / n, that is, about 134 nm, and a high resolution is obtained. Furthermore, since the depth of focus is expanded to about n times, that is, about 1.44 times compared with that in the air, the projection optical system can be used when it is sufficient to ensure the same depth of focus as that used in the air. The numerical aperture of PL can be further increased, and the resolution is improved also in this respect.

  As described above, when the liquid immersion method is used, the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system may be 0.9 to 1.3. When the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system becomes large in this way, the imaging performance may deteriorate due to the polarization effect with random polarized light conventionally used as exposure light. desirable. In that case, linearly polarized illumination is performed in accordance with the longitudinal direction of the line pattern of the mask (reticle) line-and-space pattern. From the mask (reticle) pattern, the S-polarized light component (TE-polarized light component), that is, the line pattern It is preferable that a large amount of diffracted light having a polarization direction component is emitted along the longitudinal direction. When the space between the projection optical system PL and the resist applied on the surface of the substrate P is filled with a liquid, the space between the projection optical system PL and the resist applied on the surface of the substrate P is filled with air (gas). Compared with the case where the transmittance of the diffracted light of the S-polarized component (TE-polarized component) contributing to the improvement of the contrast is high on the resist surface, the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system exceeds 1.0. Even in this case, high imaging performance can be obtained. Further, it is more effective to appropriately combine a phase shift mask and an oblique incidence illumination method (particularly a dipole illumination method) or the like according to the longitudinal direction of the line pattern as disclosed in JP-A-6-188169.

  Further, for example, an ArF excimer laser is used as the exposure light, and a fine line and space pattern (for example, a line and space of about 25 to 50 nm) is formed on the substrate by using the projection optical system PL with a reduction magnification of about 1/4. When exposing on P, depending on the structure of the mask M (for example, the fineness of the pattern and the thickness of chrome), the mask M acts as a polarizing plate due to the Wave guide effect, and the P-polarized component (TM polarized light) that lowers the contrast. Since the diffracted light of the S-polarized component (TE-polarized component) is emitted from the mask M more than the diffracted light of the component), it is desirable to use the above-mentioned linearly polarized illumination, but the mask M is illuminated with random polarized light Even when the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system PL is as large as 0.9 to 1.3, high resolution performance can be obtained. When an extremely fine line-and-space pattern on the mask M is exposed on the substrate P, the P-polarized component (TM-polarized component) is larger than the S-polarized component (TE-polarized component) due to the Wire Grid effect. For example, an ArF excimer laser is used as exposure light, and a line and space pattern larger than 25 nm is exposed on the substrate P using the projection optical system PL with a reduction magnification of about 1/4. In this case, since the diffracted light of the S polarization component (TE polarization component) is emitted from the mask M more than the diffracted light of the P polarization component (TM polarization component), the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system PL is 0.9. High resolution performance can be obtained even when the value is as large as -1.3.

  Furthermore, not only linearly polarized illumination (S-polarized illumination) matched to the longitudinal direction of the line pattern of the mask (reticle) but also a circle centered on the optical axis as disclosed in JP-A-6-53120. A combination of the polarization illumination method that linearly polarizes in the tangential (circumferential) direction and the oblique incidence illumination method is also effective. In particular, when a mask (reticle) pattern includes not only a line pattern extending in a predetermined direction but also a plurality of line patterns extending in different directions, the same is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-53120. In addition, by using the polarization illumination method that linearly polarizes in the tangential direction of the circle centered on the optical axis and the annular illumination method, high imaging performance can be obtained even when the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system is large. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the optical element 2 is attached to the tip of the projection optical system PL, and the optical characteristics of the projection optical system PL, for example, aberration (spherical aberration, coma aberration, etc.) can be adjusted by this lens. The optical element attached to the tip of the projection optical system PL may be an optical plate used for adjusting the optical characteristics of the projection optical system PL. Alternatively, it may be a plane parallel plate that can transmit the exposure light EL. In this case, the liquid LQ may be arranged on both the mask M side and the substrate P side of the plane parallel plate. In particular, when the numerical aperture NA of the projection optical system PL is 1 or more, liquid is also required on the mask M side of the plane parallel plate.

  When the pressure between the optical element at the tip of the projection optical system PL generated by the flow of the liquid LQ and the substrate P is large, the optical element is not exchangeable but the optical element is moved by the pressure. It may be fixed firmly so that there is no.

  In the present embodiment, the space between the projection optical system PL and the surface of the substrate P is filled with the liquid LQ. However, for example, the liquid with the cover glass made of a plane-parallel plate attached to the surface of the substrate P is used. The structure which satisfy | fills LQ may be sufficient.

  An exposure apparatus to which the above-described immersion method is applied is configured to expose the substrate P by filling the optical path space on the emission side of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL with liquid (pure water). As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004/019128, the optical path space on the incident side of the optical element 2 of the projection optical system PL may be filled with liquid (pure water). In this case, the member in contact with the liquid in the optical path space on the incident side of the optical element 2 may be subjected to the light cleaning process as described above. Moreover, you may use for the disinfection of the liquid of the incident side of the optical element 2 using the irradiation light Lu required for a light cleaning process.

The liquid LQ of the present embodiment is water, but may be a liquid other than water. For example, when the light source of the exposure light EL is an F ₂ laser, the F ₂ laser light does not pass through water. The liquid LQ may be, for example, a fluorinated fluid such as perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) or fluorinated oil that can transmit F ₂ laser light. In this case, the lyophilic treatment is performed by forming a thin film with a substance having a molecular structure having a small polarity including fluorine, for example, at a portion in contact with the liquid LQ. In addition, as the liquid LQ, the liquid LQ is transmissive to the exposure light EL, has a refractive index as high as possible, and is stable with respect to the photoresist applied to the projection optical system PL and the surface of the substrate P (for example, Cedar). Oil) can also be used. Also in this case, the surface treatment is performed according to the polarity of the liquid LQ to be used.

  The substrate P in each of the above embodiments is not only a semiconductor wafer for manufacturing a semiconductor device, but also a glass substrate for a display device, a ceramic wafer for a thin film magnetic head, or an original mask or reticle used in an exposure apparatus. (Synthetic quartz, silicon wafer) or the like is applied.

  As the exposure apparatus EX, in addition to the step-and-scan type scanning exposure apparatus (scanning stepper) that scans and exposes the pattern of the mask M by moving the mask M and the substrate P synchronously, the mask M and the substrate P Can be applied to a step-and-repeat type projection exposure apparatus (stepper) in which the pattern of the mask M is collectively exposed while the substrate P is stationary and the substrate P is sequentially moved stepwise.

  In the above-described embodiment, a light transmissive mask (reticle) in which a predetermined light shielding pattern (or phase pattern / dimming pattern) is formed on a light transmissive substrate is used. Instead of this reticle, for example, the United States As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6,778,257, an electronic mask that forms a transmission pattern, a reflection pattern, or a light emission pattern based on electronic data of a pattern to be exposed may be used.

  Further, as disclosed in International Publication No. 2001/035168, an exposure apparatus (lithography system) that forms a line and space pattern on a wafer W by forming interference fringes on the wafer W. The present invention can also be applied.

  Further, as the exposure apparatus EX, a reduced image of the first pattern is projected with the first pattern and the substrate P being substantially stationary (for example, a refraction type projection optical system that does not include a reflecting element at 1/8 reduction magnification). The present invention can also be applied to an exposure apparatus that performs batch exposure on the substrate P using the above. In this case, after that, with the second pattern and the substrate P substantially stationary, a reduced image of the second pattern is collectively exposed onto the substrate P by partially overlapping the first pattern using the projection optical system. It can also be applied to a stitch type batch exposure apparatus. Further, the stitch type exposure apparatus can be applied to a step-and-stitch type exposure apparatus in which at least two patterns are partially transferred on the substrate P, and the substrate P is sequentially moved.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an exposure apparatus that locally fills the liquid between the projection optical system PL and the substrate P is employed. However, the present invention is disclosed in JP-A-6-124873 and JP-A-10. The present invention can also be applied to an immersion exposure apparatus in which the entire surface of a substrate to be exposed is covered with a liquid as disclosed in JP-A-303114.

  The type of the exposure apparatus EX is not limited to an exposure apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor element that exposes a semiconductor element pattern on the substrate P, but an exposure apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element or a display, a thin film magnetic head, an image sensor (CCD). ) Or an exposure apparatus for manufacturing reticles or masks.

  When using a linear motor (see USP5,623,853 or USP5,528,118) for the substrate stage PST and mask stage MST, use either an air levitation type using air bearings or a magnetic levitation type using Lorentz force or reactance force. Also good. Each stage PST, MST may be a type that moves along a guide, or may be a guideless type that does not have a guide.

  As a driving mechanism for each stage PST, MST, a planar motor that drives each stage PST, MST by electromagnetic force with a magnet unit having a two-dimensionally arranged magnet and an armature unit having a two-dimensionally arranged coil facing each other is provided. It may be used. In this case, either one of the magnet unit and the armature unit may be connected to the stages PST and MST, and the other of the magnet unit and the armature unit may be provided on the moving surface side of the stages PST and MST.

  As described in JP-A-8-166475 (USP 5,528,118), the reaction force generated by the movement of the substrate stage PST is not transmitted to the projection optical system PL, but mechanically using a frame member. You may escape to the floor (ground).

  As described in JP-A-8-330224 (US S / N 08 / 416,558), a frame member is used so that the reaction force generated by the movement of the mask stage MST is not transmitted to the projection optical system PL. May be mechanically released to the floor (ground).

  As described above, the exposure apparatus EX according to the present embodiment maintains various mechanical subsystems including the respective constituent elements recited in the claims of the present application so as to maintain predetermined mechanical accuracy, electrical accuracy, and optical accuracy. Manufactured by assembling. In order to ensure these various accuracies, before and after assembly, various optical systems are adjusted to achieve optical accuracy, various mechanical systems are adjusted to achieve mechanical accuracy, and various electrical systems are Adjustments are made to achieve electrical accuracy. The assembly process from the various subsystems to the exposure apparatus includes mechanical connection, electrical circuit wiring connection, pneumatic circuit piping connection and the like between the various subsystems. Needless to say, there is an assembly process for each subsystem before the assembly process from the various subsystems to the exposure apparatus. When the assembly process of the various subsystems to the exposure apparatus is completed, comprehensive adjustment is performed to ensure various accuracies as the entire exposure apparatus. The exposure apparatus is preferably manufactured in a clean room where the temperature, cleanliness, etc. are controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a microdevice such as a semiconductor device includes a step 201 for designing a function / performance of the microdevice, a step 202 for manufacturing a mask (reticle) based on the design step, and a substrate which is a base material of the device. Manufacturing step 203, exposure processing step 204 for exposing the mask pattern onto the substrate by the exposure apparatus EX of the above-described embodiment, device assembly step (including dicing process, bonding process, packaging process) 205, inspection step 206, etc. It is manufactured after.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a top view of a substrate stage. It is a figure which shows an example of operation | movement of the exposure apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 7th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the maintenance apparatus which concerns on 9th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the maintenance apparatus which concerns on 10th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the maintenance apparatus which concerns on 11th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the maintenance apparatus which concerns on 12th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the maintenance apparatus which concerns on 13th Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows an example of the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Optical element, 12 ... Supply port, 22 ... Recovery port, 31 ... Upper surface, 57 ... Stage base (base member), 70 ... Nozzle member, 80 ... Light washing apparatus, 82 ... Light source, 84 (84A, 84B) ... Detector: 86 ... Optical system, 87 ... Gas supply system, 88 ... Gas recovery system, 90 ... Detection device, 125 ... Air-conditioned space, 300 ... Reference member (measurement member), 400, 500, 600 ... Optical measurement unit, 700 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Optical member, 800 ... Vibration mechanism, 900 ... Maintenance apparatus, 901 ... Light emission part, AR1 ... Projection area, AR2 ... Liquid immersion area, CONT ... Control apparatus, EL ... Exposure light, EX ... Exposure apparatus main body, EXS ... Exposure apparatus , KC ... air conditioning system, LQ ... liquid, Lu ... irradiation light (ultraviolet light), P ... substrate, PH ... substrate holder, PL ... projection optical system, PST (PST1) ... substrate stage, PST2 ... measurement stage

Claims (81)

In an exposure apparatus that forms a liquid immersion region on the image plane side of the projection optical system and exposes the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid in the immersion region.
An exposure apparatus provided with a light cleaning device that irradiates a predetermined contact light having a light cleaning effect on a member that contacts the liquid for forming the liquid immersion region. A stage movable on the image plane side;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates the irradiation light onto the upper surface of the stage. The stage has a substrate holder for holding the substrate,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates the substrate holder with the irradiation light. The stage can hold the substrate,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light cleaning apparatus irradiates the irradiation light in a state where the substrate is not present on the stage.   The exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates an optical measurement unit provided on the stage with the irradiation light.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates the irradiation light to an optical element closest to an image plane among a plurality of optical elements constituting the projection optical system. A nozzle member that is disposed in the vicinity of the image plane side of the projection optical system and has at least one of a supply port for supplying the liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates the nozzle member with the irradiation light. A gas supply system for supplying a gas to the vicinity of an irradiation region irradiated with the irradiation light among the members;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gas recovery system that recovers the gas. A detector for detecting a gas component in a space including the optical path of the irradiation light;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the gas supply system adjusts a gas component to be supplied based on a detection result of the detector. Containing at least a part of the projection optical system, and having an air-conditioned space that is air-conditioned by an air-conditioning system;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device is provided downstream of a gas flow formed by the air conditioning system with respect to the projection optical system. The light cleaning device is disposed outside the air-conditioned space, and a light source that emits the irradiation light;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: an optical system that guides the irradiation light emitted from the light source to a member disposed in the conditioned space. A detection device for detecting contamination of the member;
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control device that controls an operation of the light cleaning device based on a detection result of the detection device.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device removes organic substances attached to the member.   The exposure according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates the predetermined irradiation light so that an adhesion trace is not formed on the member after the liquid on the member is dried. apparatus.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning device increases lyophilicity of a liquid contact surface of the member by irradiating the member with irradiation light. The liquid is pure water,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light cleaning apparatus irradiates the predetermined irradiation light so that a watermark is not formed on the member.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein exposure light for exposing the substrate is used as the irradiation light.   The optical cleaning device includes an optical member that is disposed on an image plane side of the projection optical system and generates light having the same wavelength as the exposure light as the irradiation light by irradiation of the exposure light from the projection optical system. Item 18. The exposure apparatus according to Item 17. The optical member includes a reflective member,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the irradiation light includes reflected light generated from the reflecting member by irradiation of the exposure light. The optical member includes a diffractive member,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the irradiation light includes diffracted light generated from the diffraction member by irradiation of the exposure light. The optical member includes a scattering member,
The exposure apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the irradiation light includes scattered light generated from the scattering member by irradiation of the exposure light.   The exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the optical member is disposed on a movable member movable on the image plane side of the projection optical system.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the member that contacts the liquid is coated with a material having a photocatalytic action.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the material includes titanium oxide.   The exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes a material on which a film having a photocatalytic action is formed.   26. The exposure apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the material on which the film having a photocatalytic action is formed contains titanium.   The said optical cleaning apparatus irradiates the said irradiation light to the member which contacts the said liquid in the state with which the liquid was filled between the said projection optical system and the said optical member. Exposure equipment.   28. The exposure apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the liquid between the projection optical system and the optical member contains oxygen.   28. The exposure apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the liquid between the projection optical system and the optical member is a liquid used for exposure of the substrate.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least a part of the member that contacts the liquid is formed of a material that provides a photocatalytic action.   The exposure apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the light cleaning device irradiates a member in contact with the liquid with the irradiation light in a state where the liquid is filled between the projection optical system and the optical member.   32. The exposure apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the light cleaning device increases lyophilicity of the liquid contact surface of the member by irradiating the member with irradiation light. In an exposure apparatus that fills an optical path space on the image plane side of the projection optical system with a liquid and exposes the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid,
A nozzle member for filling the optical path space with a liquid;
An exposure apparatus comprising: a vibration mechanism that vibrates at least a part of the nozzle member in order to remove contaminants attached to the nozzle member.   34. The exposure apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the vibration mechanism vibrates at least a part of the nozzle member in a state where the optical path space is filled with a liquid.   35. The exposure apparatus according to claim 34, wherein when the nozzle member is vibrated by the vibration mechanism, the liquid supplied to the optical path space is a liquid used for exposure of the substrate.   36. The exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the vibration mechanism includes an ultrasonic transducer.   37. A device manufacturing method using the exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 36. In an exposure apparatus maintenance method for filling an optical path space of exposure light with a liquid and exposing the substrate through the liquid,
A maintenance method for irradiating a member in contact with the liquid in the exposure apparatus with predetermined irradiation light having a light cleaning effect.   The maintenance method according to claim 38, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes a nozzle member having at least one of a supply port for supplying the liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid.   40. The maintenance method according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the member in contact with the liquid has a film having a photocatalytic action formed on a surface thereof.   41. The maintenance method according to claim 40, wherein the member that contacts the liquid contains titanium.   The maintenance method according to any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein an organic substance attached to the member in contact with the liquid is removed by irradiating the member in contact with the liquid with irradiation light.   43. The maintenance method according to any one of claims 38 to 42, wherein the lyophilicity of the liquid contact surface of the member that contacts the liquid is enhanced by irradiating the member that contacts the liquid with irradiation light.   44. The maintenance method according to claim 43, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes a nozzle member having at least one of a supply port for supplying the liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid. The exposure apparatus is an exposure apparatus that irradiates the substrate with exposure light through the liquid and an optical member,
45. The maintenance method according to claim 43 or 44, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes the optical member.   The maintenance method according to any one of claims 38 to 45, wherein the irradiation light is irradiated to a member that contacts the liquid in a state where the member that contacts the liquid is in contact with the liquid. Bring a predetermined optical element into the exposure apparatus,
47. The optical element according to any one of claims 38 to 46, wherein the optical element is irradiated with the exposure light, and light from the optical element is irradiated onto a member that contacts the liquid as irradiation light having the light cleaning effect. Maintenance method.   The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system, fills an optical path space on the image plane side of the projection optical system with a liquid, irradiates the substrate with exposure light through the projection optical system and the liquid, The maintenance method according to any one of claims 38 to 47, wherein exposure is performed. In an exposure apparatus maintenance apparatus that fills the optical path space of exposure light with a liquid and exposes the substrate through the liquid,
Maintenance equipment comprising a light emitting unit that generates predetermined irradiation light having a light cleaning effect on a member that contacts the liquid in the exposure apparatus.   50. The maintenance apparatus according to claim 49, further comprising a connection portion connectable to an object in the exposure apparatus.   51. The maintenance device according to claim 50, wherein the connection unit is connectable to a stage movable on the image plane side of the projection optical system in the exposure apparatus.   52. The maintenance device according to claim 50, wherein the connection unit is connectable to a base member that supports a stage movable on the image plane side of the projection optical system in the exposure apparatus.   The connection unit can be connected to a nozzle member having at least one of a supply port for supplying a liquid for filling the optical path space and a recovery port for recovering the liquid in the exposure apparatus. 52. The maintenance device according to any one of 52.   The maintenance device according to any one of claims 49 to 53, further comprising a support mechanism that movably supports the light emitting unit.   55. The maintenance device according to claim 54, wherein the support mechanism moves the light emitting unit between the inside and the outside of the exposure apparatus.   The maintenance device according to any one of claims 49 to 55, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes a nozzle member having at least one of a supply port for supplying the liquid and a recovery port for recovering the liquid.   57. The maintenance device according to claim 49, wherein the member in contact with the liquid has a film having a photocatalytic action formed on a surface thereof.   58. The maintenance device according to claim 57, wherein the member in contact with the liquid includes titanium.   59. The maintenance device according to any one of claims 49 to 58, wherein an organic substance attached to the member in contact with the liquid is removed by irradiating the member in contact with the liquid with irradiation light.   60. The maintenance device according to any one of claims 49 to 59, wherein lyophilicity of a liquid contact surface of a member that contacts the liquid is enhanced by irradiating the member that contacts the liquid with irradiation light.   61. The member that contacts the liquid is irradiated with light generated from the light emitting unit as irradiation light having the light cleaning effect by irradiating the light emitting unit with the exposure light. Maintenance equipment as described in the paragraph. The light emitting unit includes an optical surface,
The maintenance device according to claim 61, wherein the exposure light is irradiated onto the optical surface, so that the light generated from the optical surface is irradiated onto the member in contact with the liquid as irradiation light having the light cleaning effect. The exposure apparatus has a substrate stage for holding the substrate,
The maintenance device according to claim 62, wherein the optical surface is mounted on the substrate stage.   64. The maintenance method according to any one of claims 49 to 63, wherein the exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system and exposes the substrate through the projection optical system and the liquid. A method for cleaning a member constituting an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate,
The exposure apparatus is an immersion exposure apparatus that exposes a substrate through liquid in an immersion area formed on at least the substrate,
The member is a member in contact with the liquid forming the immersion region;
A cleaning method for a member constituting an exposure apparatus, wherein the cleaning method includes irradiating the member with predetermined light.   66. The cleaning method according to claim 65, wherein the member is irradiated with ultraviolet light as the predetermined light without removing the member from the exposure apparatus.   The cleaning method according to claim 65 or 66, wherein the exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system including a plurality of optical elements, and the member is an optical element at an end portion on the image plane side of the projection optical system.   The cleaning method according to any one of claims 65 to 67, wherein the predetermined light is applied to the member by an optical element. Further comprising checking the contamination status of the member;
69. The cleaning method according to claim 65, wherein irradiation of the predetermined light is controlled based on a contamination state of the member.   70. The cleaning method according to claim 69, wherein the control includes whether to irradiate the member with the predetermined light.   The cleaning method according to any one of claims 65 to 70, wherein the exposure apparatus includes a nozzle member for supplying and / or recovering a liquid, and the member irradiated with the predetermined light is the nozzle member. . In the exposure apparatus, the nozzle member is arranged to face the substrate,
72. The cleaning method according to claim 71, wherein the liquid can be held between the nozzle member and the substrate.   The cleaning method according to claim 71 or 72, wherein a surface of the nozzle member that contacts the liquid is hydrophilic.   The cleaning method according to any one of claims 71 to 73, wherein a surface of the nozzle member that comes into contact with the liquid is formed of a material that provides a photocatalytic action.   The cleaning method according to any one of claims 71 to 74, wherein the exposure apparatus includes an optical member, the predetermined light is exposure light, and the exposure light is irradiated toward the nozzle member using the optical member. .   The cleaning method according to claim 75, wherein the optical member is irradiated with exposure light through the liquid while the liquid is present between the nozzle member and the optical member.   The cleaning method according to claim 76, further comprising adjusting an oxygen concentration in the liquid.   78. The cleaning method according to any one of claims 65 to 77, wherein the member is irradiated with the predetermined light in an oxidation promoting atmosphere. An exposure method for exposing a substrate,
Cleaning the member by the cleaning method according to any one of claims 65 to 78;
An exposure method comprising exposing the substrate through a liquid.   80. The exposure method according to claim 79, wherein the member is optically washed before or after the substrate is exposed through a liquid. Exposing the substrate by the exposure method of claim 79 or 80;
Developing the exposed substrate;
A method for manufacturing a device, comprising processing a developed substrate.

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