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US4676631A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for adjusting projection magnification

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-29
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2006-05-29
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Abstract

Abstract A device for adjusting projection magnification of a projection lens usable in a process of manufacture of semiconductor devices to project an image of a pattern of a reticle onto a semiconductor wafer. The device includes at least one plane glass plate to form a substantially closed space at the semiconductor wafer side of the projection lens system. Pressure in the space is controlled to control deformation of the glass plate to thereby adjust the projection magnification.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masao Kosugi
  • 👤 Ichiro Kano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 21:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70241

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 103 words
A device for adjusting magnification in projecting an image of a pattern of a first object onto a second object, said device comprising: means for optically projecting the image of the first object onto the second object; forming means for forming a substantially closed space at a position on an optical path of said projecting means and between the first and second objects, said forming means having at least one plane glass plate contributable to form said space; and adjusting means for changing pressure in said space to deform said at least one glass plate to thereby change the magnification of image projection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 103 words
A device for adjusting magnification in projecting an image of a pattern of a first object onto a second object, said device comprising: means for optically projecting the image of the first object onto the second object; forming means for forming a substantially closed space at a position on an optical path of said projecting means and between the first and second objects, said forming means having at least one plane glass plate contributable to form said space; and adjusting means for changing pressure in said space to deform said at least one glass plate to thereby change the magnification of image projection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said forming means forms said space at a position between said projecting means and the second object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said projecting means has a lens element and wherein said glass plate of said forming means co-operates with a surface of said lens element of said projecting means to form said space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said forming means includes a plurality of plane glass plates disposed substantially in parallel to each other, and wherein said space is formed by said plane glass plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said plane glass plates have different thicknesses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said plane glass plates are supported at respective positions thereon having different radial distances from the optical axis of said projecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said forming means is arranged so that one of said glass plates supported at a larger radial distance is supported simply and another of said glass plates supported at a smaller radial distance is supported fixedly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein each of the radial distances for the support of said glass plates is 1.5 times or more larger than the radius of an effective light from said projecting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means is adapted to deform said glass plate in accordance with the difference between the pressure in said space and ambient pressure to maintain the magnification of image projection constant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said adjusting means includes a tubular member having a substantially U-shape having an end communicated with said space and another end open to the ambient pressure, and wherein liquid is contained in said tubular member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein said tubular member has a passage formed therein whose cross-sectional area is adjustable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said glass plate has a disc-like shape.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 109 words
An apparatus comprising: means for exposing, with radiation, a first object to a pattern of a second object so as to transfer the pattern of the second object onto the first object; forming means for forming a substantially closed space at a position on a path of the radiation defined by said exposing means and between the first and second objects, said forming means having at least one plane glass plate contributable to form said space; and adjusting means for deforming said glass plate with a change in pressure in said space to change magnification in the transfer of the pattern of the second object onto the first object.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 109 words
An apparatus comprising: means for exposing, with radiation, a first object to a pattern of a second object so as to transfer the pattern of the second object onto the first object; forming means for forming a substantially closed space at a position on a path of the radiation defined by said exposing means and between the first and second objects, said forming means having at least one plane glass plate contributable to form said space; and adjusting means for deforming said glass plate with a change in pressure in said space to change magnification in the transfer of the pattern of the second object onto the first object.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4084903A Cited
US4298273A Cited
US4477183A Cited
US4496239A Cited
US4506977A Cited
US4583840A Cited
JPS6028613A Cited
US4537498A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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