US4780747A — Projection exposure apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern in a predetermined projected state on a responsive substrate; adjusting means for correcting the fluctuation of the projected state of said image caused by the passage of said energy rays; exposure control means for controlling said energy rays so that the projected image of said pattern by said projection optical system is transferred onto said responsive substrate under a predetermined exposure condition; means for making information regarding the reflectivity of said responsive substrate; and main control means for controlling said adjusting means on the basis of said predetermined exposure condition of said exposure control means and said information regarding the reflectivity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern in a predetermined projected state on a responsive substrate; adjusting means for correcting the fluctuation of the projected state of said image caused by the passage of said energy rays; exposure control means for controlling said energy rays so that the projected image of said pattern by said projection optical system is transferred onto said responsive substrate under a predetermined exposure condition; means for making information regarding the reflectivity of said responsive substrate; and main control means for controlling said adjusting means on the basis of said predetermined exposure condition of said exposure control means and said information regarding the reflectivity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information making means includes a detector provided at a position conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system so as to receive said energy rays reflected from said responsive substrate and again entering said projection optical system and produce a corresponding output.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said exposure control means includes a shutter provided in the path of the energy rays from said illuminating means, and shutter control means responsive to the output of said cetector to close said shutter.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 79 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1, further including detecting means having a projection optical system provided in juxtaposed relationship with said projection optical system for projecting the light from a light source discrete from said illuminating means onto said responsive substrate, and a detector for receiving the reflected light from said responsive substrate through said second-mentioned projection optical system, said main control means being responsive to said detecting means to determine the reflectivity of said responsive substrate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 116 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern on a responsive substrate; a fiducial member having a predetermined reflectivity provided on a stage on which said responsive substrate is placed; an energy ray detector disposed at a position conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system to detect the energy rays emitted from said projection optical system and thereafter again entering said projection optical system and produce a detection output; and means for determining the reflectivity of said responsive substrate on the basis of the detection output from said energy ray detector.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 116 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern on a responsive substrate; a fiducial member having a predetermined reflectivity provided on a stage on which said responsive substrate is placed; an energy ray detector disposed at a position conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system to detect the energy rays emitted from said projection optical system and thereafter again entering said projection optical system and produce a detection output; and means for determining the reflectivity of said responsive substrate on the basis of the detection output from said energy ray detector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 59 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said fiducial member includes a first fiducial member having a relatively high reflectivity and a second fiducial member having a relatively low reflectivity and wherein said apparatus further includes means for moving said projection optical system to first and second positions opposed to said first and second fiducial members, respectively.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 184 words

A projection exposure apparatus comprising: means for generating an energy beam applied to an object; a movable stage for supporting a substrate thereon; a projection optical system provided between said object and said substrate to form the image of said object on said substrate; a fiducial member provided on said movable stage and having a surface of a predetermined reflectivity; means for moving said movable stage between positions including at least a first position at which a part of said substrate is located in the projection field of said projection optical system and a second position at which the surface of said fiducial member is located in said projection field; an energy beam detector disposed at a position substantially conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system on the side opposite to said movable stage with respect to said projection optical system for producing a detection output; and means for making information regarding the reflection of said energy beam on said substrate on the basis of said detection output produced when said movable stage is in said first position and said second position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 184 words

A projection exposure apparatus comprising: means for generating an energy beam applied to an object; a movable stage for supporting a substrate thereon; a projection optical system provided between said object and said substrate to form the image of said object on said substrate; a fiducial member provided on said movable stage and having a surface of a predetermined reflectivity; means for moving said movable stage between positions including at least a first position at which a part of said substrate is located in the projection field of said projection optical system and a second position at which the surface of said fiducial member is located in said projection field; an energy beam detector disposed at a position substantially conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system on the side opposite to said movable stage with respect to said projection optical system for producing a detection output; and means for making information regarding the reflection of said energy beam on said substrate on the basis of said detection output produced when said movable stage is in said first position and said second position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said energy beam detector has a detecting surface having a size equal at least to the image of the pupil of said projection optical system on said detecting surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 69 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said energy beam detector receives said energy beam reflected by a portion of said substrate and again entering said projection optical system when said movable stage is in said first position, and receives said energy beam reflected by the surface of said fiducial member and again entering said projection optical system when said movable stage is in said second position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 90 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern in a predetermined projected state on a responsive substrate; adjusting means for correcting the fluctuation of the projected state of said image caused by the passage of said energy rays; means for making information regarding the reflectivity of said responsive substrate; and main control means for controlling said adjusting means on the basis of said information regarding the reflectivity.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 90 words

A projection exposure apparatus including: illuminating means for applying energy rays to a mask having a predetermined pattern formed thereon; a projection optical system for forming the image of said pattern in a predetermined projected state on a responsive substrate; adjusting means for correcting the fluctuation of the projected state of said image caused by the passage of said energy rays; means for making information regarding the reflectivity of said responsive substrate; and main control means for controlling said adjusting means on the basis of said information regarding the reflectivity.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 92 words

A projection exposure apparatus comprising: holder means for supporting an object; stage means for supporting a substrate; a projection optical system provided between said holder means and said stage means to form the image of said object on said substrate; a photodetector provided on the side opposite to said stage means with respect to said projection optical system and having a light-receiving surface; and optical means provided between said projection optical system and said photodetector to render the light-receiving surface of said photodetector conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 92 words

A projection exposure apparatus comprising: holder means for supporting an object; stage means for supporting a substrate; a projection optical system provided between said holder means and said stage means to form the image of said object on said substrate; a photodetector provided on the side opposite to said stage means with respect to said projection optical system and having a light-receiving surface; and optical means provided between said projection optical system and said photodetector to render the light-receiving surface of said photodetector conjugate with the pupil of said projection optical system.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

A projection exposure apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the light-receiving surface of said photodetector is of a size equal at least to the image of the pupil of said projection optical system on said light-receiving surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-10-25	1992-04-25	1992-10-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-10-25	1996-04-25	1996-10-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-10-25	2000-04-25	2000-10-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Projection exposure apparatus

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