US4758864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Projection exposure apparatus
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1987-08-21
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2007-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A projection exposure apparatus on which are placed a reticle whose pattern is comprised of an area transmitting a radiation therethrough and an area not transmitting the radiation therethrough and a substrate includes a projection optical system for projecting the pattern formed on the reticle onto the substrate, the projection optical system being telecentric on the substrate side, a device producing a radiation beam for alignment of the reticle and the substrate, an alignment device for supplying the radiation beam onto the substrate through the reticle and the projection optical system and detecting the relative positional relation between the reticle and the substrate through the projection optical system, a device for imparting displacement to the projection optical system to the position of incidence of the radiation beam onto the projection optical system by the alignment device, a device for outputting a position signal conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of the projection optical system and the position of incidence, and a deflecting device responsive to the position signal to deflect the angle of the principal ray of the radiation beam entering the projection optical system so that the telecentricity of the projection optical system on the substrate side is maintained.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazumasa Endo
- 👤 Yasuhisa Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F9/00; G03F9/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A projection exposure apparatus on which are placed a reticle whose pattern is comprised of an area transmitting a radiation therethrough and an area not transmitting the radiation therethrough and a substrate, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting the pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate, said projection optical system being telecentric on said substrate side; (b) means producing a radiation beam for alignment of said reticle and said substrate; (c) alignment means for supplying said radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system and detecting the relative positional relation between said reticle and said substrate through said projection optical system; (d) means for imparting displacement with respect to said projection optical system to the position of incidence of said radiation beam onto said projection optical system by said alignment means; (e) means for outputting a position signal conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of said projection optical system and said position of incidence; and (f) deflecting means responsive to said position signal to deflect the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam entering said projection optical system so that the telecentricity of said projection optical system on said substrate side is maintained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A projection exposure apparatus on which are placed a reticle whose pattern is comprised of an area transmitting a radiation therethrough and an area not transmitting the radiation therethrough and a substrate, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting the pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate, said projection optical system being telecentric on said substrate side; (b) means producing a radiation beam for alignment of said reticle and said substrate; (c) alignment means for supplying said radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system and detecting the relative positional relation between said reticle and said substrate through said projection optical system; (d) means for imparting displacement with respect to said projection optical system to the position of incidence of said radiation beam onto said projection optical system by said alignment means; (e) means for outputting a position signal conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of said projection optical system and said position of incidence; and (f) deflecting means responsive to said position signal to deflect the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam entering said projection optical system so that the telecentricity of said projection optical system on said substrate side is maintained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alignment means has an alignment optical system for directing said radiation beam to said reticle, and said deflecting means includes a plane parallel plate and means for changing the angle of inclination of said plane parallel plate in said alignment optical system in response to said position signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means includes calculating means for calculating the angle of inclination of said plane parallel plate in response to said position signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said calculating means has memory means having stored therein correction data conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of said projection optical system and said position of incidence, and calculates said angle of inclination from said correction data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said correction data conforms to the optical characteristic of said projection optical system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said alignment means has first radiation detecting means for detecting the reflected radiation from said substrate through a portion of said alignment optical system, and second radiation detecting means for detecting the reflected radiation from said reticle through a portion of said alignment optical system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said alignment means includes means responsive to the outputs of said first and second radiation detecting means to render the relative position of said reticle and said substrate into a predetermined relation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus on which a reticle and a substrate are placed, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting a pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate; (b) alignment means for supplying a radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system and detecting the positional relation between said reticle and said substrate through said projection optical system; (c) displacing means for imparting displacement between the position of incidence of said radiation beam onto said projection optical system by said alignment means and said projection optical system; (d) means for making a position signal conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of said projection optical system and said position of incidence; and (e) deflecting means responsive to said position signal to deflect the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam from said alignment means to said reticle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus on which a reticle and a substrate are placed, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting a pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate; (b) alignment means for supplying a radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system and detecting the positional relation between said reticle and said substrate through said projection optical system; (c) displacing means for imparting displacement between the position of incidence of said radiation beam onto said projection optical system by said alignment means and said projection optical system; (d) means for making a position signal conforming to the relative position of the optic axis of said projection optical system and said position of incidence; and (e) deflecting means responsive to said position signal to deflect the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam from said alignment means to said reticle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said alignment means has an alignment optical system for directing said radiation beam to said reticle, and said deflecting means includes a plane parallel plate and control means responsive to said position signal to control the angle of inclination of said plane parallel plate in said alignment optical system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus on which a reticle and a substrate are placed, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting a pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate; (b) alignment means for detecting the positional relation between said reticle and said substrate, said alignment means having an alignment optical system for supplying a radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system; and (c) deflecting means for deflecting the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam from said alignment means to said reticle so that the telecentricity of said radiation beam on said substrate side of said projection optical system is maintained.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus on which a reticle and a substrate are placed, including: (a) a projection optical system for projecting a pattern formed on said reticle onto said substrate; (b) alignment means for detecting the positional relation between said reticle and said substrate, said alignment means having an alignment optical system for supplying a radiation beam onto said substrate through said reticle and said projection optical system; and (c) deflecting means for deflecting the angle of the principal ray of said radiation beam from said alignment means to said reticle so that the telecentricity of said radiation beam on said substrate side of said projection optical system is maintained.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further having means for making a position signal conforming to the relative positional relation between the optic axis of said projection optical system and the optic axis of said alignment optical system and wherein said deflecting means is responsive to said position signal to determine said angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further having displacing means for imparting displacement between the optic axis of said alignment optical system and the optic axis of said projection optical system.
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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) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |