US4357100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for projection copying masks on to a work piece
Assignee: MERCOTRUST AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT A CORP OF LIECOTENSTEIN
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Filing: 1980-01-02
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Granted: 1982-11-02
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Expires: 2000-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for projection copying of masks onto a workpiece, in particular onto a semiconductor substrate for producing integrated circuits, wherein the images of the patterns of the masks are formed by a projection lens on a photosensitive layer on the workpiece. The projection lens is completely corrected at the exposure wavelength used, and alignment patterns of the mask are aligned relative to adjustment marks on the workpiece, after images of the alignment pattern and the adjustment mark have been formed in the same plane, with adjustment exposure, by the projection lens and possibly an auxiliary optical means. The formation of the images of the adjustment marks in the plane of the alignment pattern or the alignment pattern in the plane of the adjustment marks is effected by means of the projection lens and possibly the auxiliary optical means, with an image defect which changes points to lines extending sagittally or meridionally with respect to the optical axis, and that the adjustment marks and the alignment pattern include lines which correspondingly extend sagittally and meridionally respectively with respect to the optical axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert E. Mayer
- 👤 Ernst W. Lobach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:43
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F9/00; G03F9/70; G03F9/7073; G03F9/7076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In an apparatus for the projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure, electromagnetic radiation passing through said mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: means for the adjustment exposure of the marks at one of said surfaces; and means including said lens and a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, and wherein: said marks of said surfaces include lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In an apparatus for the projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure, electromagnetic radiation passing through said mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: means for the adjustment exposure of the marks at one of said surfaces; and means including said lens and a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, and wherein: said marks of said surfaces include lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an apparatus for the projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure, electromagnetic radiation passing through said mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: means for the adjustment exposure of the marks at one of said surfaces; and means including said lens and auxiliary optical means defining a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, and wherein: said marks of said surfaces include lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an apparatus for the projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure, electromagnetic radiation passing through said mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: means for the adjustment exposure of the marks at one of said surfaces; and means including said lens and auxiliary optical means defining a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, and wherein: said marks of said surfaces include lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a method of projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure electromagnetic radiation passing through sad mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: subjecting the marks at one of said surfaces to adjustment exposure; and projecting an image of the adjustment-exposed marks through said lens and auxiliary optical means defining a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, said marks of said surfaces including lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said optical axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a method of projection copying of an image of a mask onto a workpiece, the mask having an alignment pattern of marks at a surface thereof, said workpiece having adjustment marks on a surface thereof provided with a photosensitive layer, a beam of exposure electromagnetic radiation passing through sad mask and a projection lens along an optical axis thereof onto said workpiece, said lens being completely corrected at the wavelength of said exposure electromagnetic radiation, the improvement which comprises: subjecting the marks at one of said surfaces to adjustment exposure; and projecting an image of the adjustment-exposed marks through said lens and auxiliary optical means defining a path formed with a stigmatic defect changing an object point to a line image extending with selectively a sagittal and a meridional orientation with respect to said optical axis for projecting the adjustment-exposed marks onto a plane coplanar with the other of said surfaces for positioning of the projected images of said marks relative to the marks on said other of said surfaces, said marks of said surfaces including lines which extend with the same orientation pattern with respect to said optical axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-01 | 1986-05-03 | 1986-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-01 | 1990-05-03 | 1990-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-01 | 1994-05-03 | 1994-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |