Projection exposure apparatus

Claim 2

A projection exposure apparatus selectively usable with first and second originals having patterns of different line-widths, said apparatus comprising: an illumination system providing light having a central wavelength; a projection lens system cooperable with said illumination system for projecting a pattern upon a workpiece; and a bandwidth selector operable, when the first and second originals as selectively used are irradiated with the light from said illumination system, to change the bandwidth of the light such that the first and second originals are irradiated with light of different bandwidths, but of substantially the same central wavelength.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line-width of the pattern of the first original is greater than the line-width of the pattern of the second original, wherein said bandwidth selector includes first and second bandpass filters having different bandpass characteristics such that said first bandpass filter has a greater passband than said second bandpass filter, said first and second bandpass filters being detachably mountable into a path of the light from a light source of said illumination system, and wherein said bandwidth selector further includes means for selectively introducing one of said first and second bandpass filters into said path, such that said first bandpass filter is introduced into said path when the first original is used and said second bandpass filter is introduced into said path when the second original is used.

Claim 4

A projection exposure apparatus selectively usable with first and second originals having patterns of different line-widths, said apparatus comprising: an illumination system providing first and second lights having a common central wavelength but having different bandwidths; a projection lens system cooperable with said illumination system for projecting a pattern upon a workpiece; and means for adjusting said illumination system so the first original is irradiated with the first light and the second original is irradiated with the second light.

Claim 5

A projection exposure apparatus selectively usable with first and second originals having patterns of different line-widths, said apparatus comprising: an illumination system providing first and second lights having a common central wavelength but having different bandwidths; a projection lens system cooperable with said illumination system for projecting a pattern upon a workpiece; and means for adjusting said illumination system so the first original is irradiated with the first light and the second original is irradiated with the second light.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said illumination system includes a light source, filtering means disposed in a path of the light from said light source and optical means effective to direct the light passed through said filtering means to the original, and wherein said filtering mans has a variable bandpass characteristic sc that, by changing the bandpass characteristic of said filtering means, said first and second lights are selectively supplied.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said filtering means includes first and second filter elements having different bandpass characteristics, said first and second filter elements being selectively introduced into said path to thereby change the bandpass characteristic of said filtering means.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said filtering means includes a plurality of filter elements having different wavelength selecting characteristics, said filter elements being selectively introduced in a variable combination into said path to thereby change the bandpass characteristic of said filtering means.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said illumination system includes a light source which comprises an excimer laser.

Claim 10

A projection expsoure apparatus usable with a first and second mask pattern having different line-widths, said apparatus comprising: an illumination system for providing light along a path; a movable stage for carrying a wafer threon; a reduction projection lens system, cooperable with said illumination system and said movable stage, for projecting a pattern upon the wafer; filter selector means for selectively introducing first and second filters into said path, said first and second filters providing lights of common center wavelength but of different bandwidths; and means for positioning said filter selector means into said path as the first mask pattern is to be projected upon the wafer by said lens system, and for projecting said second filter into said path as the second mask pattern is to be projected upon the wafer by said lens system.

Claim 11

A projection expsoure apparatus usable with a first and second mask pattern having different line-widths, said apparatus comprising: an illumination system for providing light along a path; a movable stage for carrying a wafer threon; a reduction projection lens system, cooperable with said illumination system and said movable stage, for projecting a pattern upon the wafer; filter selector means for selectively introducing first and second filters into said path, said first and second filters providing lights of common center wavelength but of different bandwidths; and means for positioning said filter selector means into said path as the first mask pattern is to be projected upon the wafer by said lens system, and for projecting said second filter into said path as the second mask pattern is to be projected upon the wafer by said lens system.