US5335044A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Projection type exposure apparatus and method of exposure
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1993-02-22
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2013-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A projection type exposure apparatus comprises: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with the illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other; the illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of the mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of the mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of the illumination light through the Fourier transform plane to an annular zone with center on an optical axis of the illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing the plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of the first pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of the second pattern in the annular zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Naomasa Shiraishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70058; G03F7/70091; G03F7/701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to an annular zone with center on an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said first pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said second pattern in said annular zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to an annular zone with center on an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said first pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said second pattern in said annular zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion shaped to follow an arrangement of optical elements constituting said fly eye type integrator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stop member is located near an entrance plane, on an exit side focal plane, or on a plane conjugate therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to a partial region around an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said first pattern distributed on a periphery of said partial region is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said second pattern distributed on a periphery of said partial region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
188 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to a partial region around an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said first pattern distributed on a periphery of said partial region is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution of said second pattern distributed on a periphery of said partial region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion shaped to follow an arrangement of optical elements constituting said fly eye type integrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said stop member is located near an entrance plane, on an exit side focal plane, or on a plane conjugate therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution and a focal depth of said first periodic pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution and a focal depth of said second periodic pattern in said local regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
188 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for restricting passage of said illumination light through said Fourier transform plane to local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution and a focal depth of said first periodic pattern is substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution and a focal depth of said second periodic pattern in said local regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion shaped to follow an arrangement of optical elements constituting said fly eye type integrator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said stop member is located near an entrance plane, on an exit side focal plane, or on a plane conjugate therewith.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said stop member has four light transmitting portions determined by said light shielding or reducing portion such that barycenters of light amount distribution in said local regions are equally distant from the optical axis of said illumination optical system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion for making a ratio of number of light source images contributing to a focal depth of said first periodic pattern to a number of other light source images substantially equal to ratio of number of light source images contributing to a focal depth of said second periodic pattern to number of other light source images in each of said local regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
204 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a distribution of light amount from said plurality of images of the light source takes a maximum for each of local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and that when an XY rectangular coordinate system is set with coordinate origin on the optical axis of said illumination optical system and in said Fourier transform plane, a barycenter of the distribution of light amount in each local region takes X, Y coordinates, absolute values of which are substantially equal to each other, on the XY coordinate system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
204 words
A projection type exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for radiating illumination light for exposure; an illumination optical system for irradiating with said illumination light a mask having a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern extending perpendicular to each other; said illumination optical system having a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of the light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of the patterns of said mask on a photosensitive substrate; and a stop member for partially shielding or reducing said plurality of images of the light source such that a distribution of light amount from said plurality of images of the light source takes a maximum for each of local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and that when an XY rectangular coordinate system is set with coordinate origin on the optical axis of said illumination optical system and in said Fourier transform plane, a barycenter of the distribution of light amount in each local region takes X, Y coordinates, absolute values of which are substantially equal to each other, on the XY coordinate system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion shaped to follow an arrangement of optical elements constituting said fly eye type integrator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said stop member is located near an entrance plane, on an exit side focal plane, or on a plane conjugate therewith.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said stop member has four light transmitting portions determined by said light shielding or reducing portion such that barycenters of light amount distribution in said local regions are equally distant from the optical axis of said illumination optical system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
A projection type exposure apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said stop member has a light shielding or reducing portion for partially shielding or reducing said light source images such that said each local region comprises at least one light source image which is not contributing to the focal depths of said first periodic pattern and said second periodic pattern.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of exposure in which a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other on a mask are projected for exposure through a projection optical system on a photosensitive substrate, comprising: positioning a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask in an illumination optical system for irradiating said mask with illumination light from the light source; and shielding or reducing at least one image of the light source located in a periphery of a partial region around on optical axis of said illumination optical system, whereby a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution or a focal depth of said first pattern is made substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution or a focal depth of said second pattern.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of exposure in which a first pattern and a second pattern extending perpendicular to each other on a mask are projected for exposure through a projection optical system on a photosensitive substrate, comprising: positioning a fly eye type integrator for forming a plurality of images of light source on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of said mask in an illumination optical system for irradiating said mask with illumination light from the light source; and shielding or reducing at least one image of the light source located in a periphery of a partial region around on optical axis of said illumination optical system, whereby a number of images of the light source contributing to a resolution or a focal depth of said first pattern is made substantially identical with that of images of the light source contributing to a resolution or a focal depth of said second pattern.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of exposure according to claim 17, wherein shielded or reduced is illumination light incident into an optical element corresponding to said at least one image of the light source among optical elements constituting said fly eye type integrator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of exposure according to claim 17, wherein said at least one image of the light source is shielded or reduced in said Fourier transform plane or on a plane conjugate therewith.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of exposure in which a distribution of light amount on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of a mask in an illumination optical system takes a maximum for each of local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and in which a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern arranged perpendicular to each other on said mask are projected for exposure through a projection optical system on a photosensitive substrate, comprising: arranging a barycenter of the distribution of light amount in each local region such that when an XY rectangular coordinate system is set with coordinate origin on the optical axis of said illumination optical system and in said Fourier transform plane, absolute values of X, Y coordinates of said barycenter are substantially equal to each other.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of exposure in which a distribution of light amount on or near a Fourier transform plane to a pattern surface of a mask in an illumination optical system takes a maximum for each of local regions eccentric to an optical axis of said illumination optical system and in which a first periodic pattern and a second periodic pattern arranged perpendicular to each other on said mask are projected for exposure through a projection optical system on a photosensitive substrate, comprising: arranging a barycenter of the distribution of light amount in each local region such that when an XY rectangular coordinate system is set with coordinate origin on the optical axis of said illumination optical system and in said Fourier transform plane, absolute values of X, Y coordinates of said barycenter are substantially equal to each other.
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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) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |