US5309198A — Light exposure system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof on a second object, comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said first object; a projection optical system for projecting the pattern on said first object onto said second object; stage means for two-dimensionally moving said second object while holding said second object; a reference member mounted on said stage means; detecting means for detecting light from said reference member; and measuring means for carrying out a predetermined measurement, based on an output of said detecting means; wherein said illumination optical system comprises: light source means for supplying exposure light; off-center multiple beam producing means for producing from the exposure light from said light source means a plurality of light sources eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system; and a light condensing optical system for condensing a plurality of beams from said off-center multiple beam producing means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; and wherein said detecting means being disposed at a position where said plurality of the light sources are formed by said off-center multiple beam producing means and on said optical axis of the illumination optical system, and receiving the light from said reference member through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 222 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof on a second object, comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said first object; a projection optical system for projecting the pattern on said first object onto said second object; stage means for two-dimensionally moving said second object while holding said second object; a reference member mounted on said stage means; detecting means for detecting light from said reference member; and measuring means for carrying out a predetermined measurement, based on an output of said detecting means; wherein said illumination optical system comprises: light source means for supplying exposure light; off-center multiple beam producing means for producing from the exposure light from said light source means a plurality of light sources eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system; and a light condensing optical system for condensing a plurality of beams from said off-center multiple beam producing means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; and wherein said detecting means being disposed at a position where said plurality of the light sources are formed by said off-center multiple beam producing means and on said optical axis of the illumination optical system, and receiving the light from said reference member through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

A light exposure system according to claim 1, wherein said reference member has a reference mark formed in a predetermined pattern.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 110 words

A light exposure system according to claim 2, further comprising: a light source unit for supplying light for illuminating said reference mark; light guide means for guiding the light from the said light source unit to the vicinity of said reference mark; and a condenser lens system for condensing light from said light guide means to illuminate said reference mark; wherein said detecting means receives the light from said reference mark through said projection optical system, a mark formed on said first object, and said light condensing optical system, and wherein said measuring means performs a measurement of a position of said first object with respect to said reference mark.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

A light exposure system according to claim 3, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises four optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said illumination optical system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 142 words

A light exposure system according to claim 2, wherein said light source means comprises optical path switching means for selectively guiding light in either one direction of a first direction to said illumination optical system and a second direction different from the first direction; wherein said light exposure system further comprises light guide means for guiding light guided by said optical path switching means in said second direction to the vicinity of said reference mark, and a condenser lens system for condensing light from said light guide means to illuminate said reference mark; and wherein said detecting means receives light from said reference mark through said projection optical system, a mark formed on said first object, and said light condensing optical system, and said measuring means performs a measurement of a position of said first object with reference to said reference mark.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

A light exposure system according to claim 5, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises four optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said illumination optical system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 113 words

A light exposure system according to claim 2, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises a plurality of optical integrators disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said illumination optical system; wherein said light exposure system further comprises shutter means for permitting one of beams from said optical integrators to pass through said light condensing optical system and said projection optical system to illuminate said reference mark; and wherein said measuring means measures a balance of quantity of light among beams illuminating said first object in the oblique direction, based on respective outputs of beams from said reference mark sequentially detected by said detecting means through the operation of said shutter means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

A light exposure system according to claim 7, further comprising correction means for correcting into an optimum condition a quantity of light in each of the beams illuminating said first object in the oblique direction, based on a measurement result obtained by said measuring means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

A light exposure system according to claim 7, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises four optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said illumination optical system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 200 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof through a projection optical system on a second object, comprising: light source means for supplying exposure light; first optical means for forming from the light from said light source means a plurality of beams eccentric to an optical axis of said projection optical system; second optical means for forming from light from said first optical means a plurality of beams eccentric to the optical axis of said projection optical system; a light condensing optical system for condensing light from said second optical means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; light splitting means for splitting the plurality of beams for exposure formed by said first optical means and for splitting light from said second object through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system; first detecting means for detecting said exposure light split by said light splitting means; second detecting means for detecting the light from said second object split by said light splitting means; and controlling means for controlling an imaging characteristic of said projection optical system, based on outputs of said first and second detecting means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 200 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof through a projection optical system on a second object, comprising: light source means for supplying exposure light; first optical means for forming from the light from said light source means a plurality of beams eccentric to an optical axis of said projection optical system; second optical means for forming from light from said first optical means a plurality of beams eccentric to the optical axis of said projection optical system; a light condensing optical system for condensing light from said second optical means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; light splitting means for splitting the plurality of beams for exposure formed by said first optical means and for splitting light from said second object through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system; first detecting means for detecting said exposure light split by said light splitting means; second detecting means for detecting the light from said second object split by said light splitting means; and controlling means for controlling an imaging characteristic of said projection optical system, based on outputs of said first and second detecting means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 92 words

A light exposure system according to claim 10, wherein said light condensing optical system is located coaxial with said projection optical system, said first optical means has four first optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system, said second optical means has four second optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system, and said first optical integrator means and said second optical integrator means are disposed in parallel with the optical axis of said light condensing optical system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 158 words

A light exposure system according to claim 11, further comprising: stage means for two-dimensionally moving said second object while holding said second object; third detecting means disposed on said stage means, for detecting illumination light for illuminating said second object; and a reference reflection member disposed on said stage means, for reflecting the illumination light for illuminating said second object and for guiding reflected light thereof through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system to said second detecting means; wherein said controlling means controls the imaging characteristic of said projection optical system, based on an output related to the exposure light and obtained by said first detecting means, an output related to the reflected light from said second object and to the reflected light from said reference reflection member and obtained by said second detecting means, and an output related to the illumination light illuminating said second object and obtained from said third detecting means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

A light exposure system according to claim 12, wherein said third detecting means comprises a diffraction grating provided on said stage means and a detector for photoelectrically detecting light diffracted by said diffraction grating.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

A light exposure system according to claim 11, wherein said light splitting means has four light splitting members disposed between the first optical integrator means and the second optical integrator means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 176 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof through a projection optical system on a second object, comprising: light source means for supplying exposure light; off-center multiple beam producing means for producing from the exposure light from said light source means a plurality of light sources eccentric to an optical axis of said projection optical system; a light condensing optical system disposed coaxial with said projection optical system, for condensing light from said off-center multiple beam producing means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; reflected light detecting means disposed at a position where the plurality of eccentric light sources are formed by said off-center multiple beam producing means and on the optical axis of said light condensing optical system, for detecting reflected light from said second object through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system; and measuring means for performing a measurement relating to a reflectance of said second object, based on an output of said reflected light detecting means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 176 words

A light exposure system for exposure of a pattern on a first object to form an image thereof through a projection optical system on a second object, comprising: light source means for supplying exposure light; off-center multiple beam producing means for producing from the exposure light from said light source means a plurality of light sources eccentric to an optical axis of said projection optical system; a light condensing optical system disposed coaxial with said projection optical system, for condensing light from said off-center multiple beam producing means to illuminate said first object in an oblique direction; reflected light detecting means disposed at a position where the plurality of eccentric light sources are formed by said off-center multiple beam producing means and on the optical axis of said light condensing optical system, for detecting reflected light from said second object through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system; and measuring means for performing a measurement relating to a reflectance of said second object, based on an output of said reflected light detecting means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

A light exposure system according to claim 15, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises four optical integrator means disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 120 words

A light exposure system according to claim 15, wherein said off-center multiple beam producing means comprises: first optical means comprising a plurality of optical integrators disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system to form from the light from said optical means a plurality of light sources eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system; and second optical means comprising a plurality of optical integrators disposed eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system between said first optical means and said light condensing optical system to form from the light from said first optical means a plurality of beams eccentric to the optical axis of said light condensing optical system.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 72 words

A light exposure system according to claim 17, further comprising: light splitting means for splitting the plurality of beams for exposure formed by said first optical means; exposure light detecting means for detecting said exposure light split by said light splitting means; and controlling means for controlling an imaging characteristic of said projection optical system, based on an output from said exposure light detecting means and an output from said measuring means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 164 words

A light exposure system according to claim 18, further comprising: stage means for two-dimensionally moving said second object while holding said second object; illumination light detecting means disposed on said stage means, for detecting the illumination light for illuminating said second object; and a reference reflection member disposed on said stage means, for reflecting the illumination light for illuminating said second object and for guiding reflected light thereof through said projection optical system and said light condensing optical system to said reflected light detecting means; wherein said controlling means controls the imaging characteristic of said projection optical system, based on an output related to the exposure light and obtained by said exposure light detecting means, an output related to the reflected light from said second object and to the reflected light from said reference reflection member and obtained by said reflected light detecting means, and an output related to the illumination light illuminating said second object and obtained by said illumination light detecting means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

A light exposure system according to claim 19, wherein said third detecting means comprises a diffraction grating provided on said stage means and a detector for photoelectrically detecting light diffracted by said diffraction grating.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-05-02	1997-11-01	1998-05-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-05-02	2001-11-01	2002-05-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-05-02	2005-11-01	2006-05-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Light exposure system

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