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US4977426A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Projection exposure apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1988-06-24
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2008-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract A projection exposure apparatus for projecting, through a refracting optical system, a pattern formed on an original such as a mask or reticle onto a wafer. The projection exposure apparatus includes a light source for providing an excimer laser beam to illuminate the original. The refracting optical system includes a plurality of lenses each of which is made of fused silica (SiO 2 ) or calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ).

Inventors

  • 👤 Ryusho Hirose

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 07:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70241

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 86 words
A projection exposure apparatus, comprising: a light source device providing a band-narrowed excimer laser beam; a projection lens system for projecting a pattern of an original on a wafer, said projection lens system including a plurality of non-cemented lens elements made of different materials having sufficient transmissibility with respect to the excimer laser beam; and means for supporting the original and the wafer so that the pattern of the original can be projected on the wafer by said projection lens system with the excimer laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 86 words
A projection exposure apparatus, comprising: a light source device providing a band-narrowed excimer laser beam; a projection lens system for projecting a pattern of an original on a wafer, said projection lens system including a plurality of non-cemented lens elements made of different materials having sufficient transmissibility with respect to the excimer laser beam; and means for supporting the original and the wafer so that the pattern of the original can be projected on the wafer by said projection lens system with the excimer laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens elements of said projection lens system are made of fused silica and calcium fluoride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said projection lens system provides a reduction imaging system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light source device includes an injection-locked excimer laser.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2983193A Cited
US3633985A Cited
US3779788A Cited
US4132479A Cited
EP0066053A1 Cited
FR2519156A1 Cited
US4461546A Cited
US4493555A Cited
US4811055A Cited
US4703166A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-10 1994-06-11 1994-12-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-10 1998-06-11 1998-12-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-10 2002-06-11 2002-12-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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