Partial coherence varier for microlithographic system

Claim 2

A partial coherence varier for a microlithographic projection imaging system including an illuminator having an illuminator optical system directing illumination to an objective imaging system, said partial coherence varier comprising: a. an illumination energy distributor arranged in said illuminator optical system; b. said energy distributor being structured for imposing a predetermined angular profile on each of a multitude of fragments of said illumination; c. said energy distributor being arranged for movement axially of said illuminator optical system upstream of a reference plane of said illuminator optical system; d. a uniformizer arranged downstream of the energy distributor and the reference plane; e. the illuminator optical system having a pupil downstream of the uniformizer; f. the optical system of the illuminator being arranged so that the reference plane is conjugate with the pupil; and g. axial movement of said energy distributor being arranged for varying the area of the energy distribution of said illumination at said pupil for varying the numerical aperture of said illuminator optical system and thereby varying said partial coherence without varying illumination uniformity or field size.

Claim 3

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 including an adjustable iris arranged at said pupil of said illuminator optical system.

Claim 4

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 including computer control of said movement of said energy distributor.

Claim 5

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said axial movement of said energy distributor is arranged for varying the size of an illuminated area of said energy distributor.

Claim 6

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said energy distributor is arranged in a region of converging illumination.

Claim 7

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said energy distributor is a diffuser.

Claim 8

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said energy distributor is a binary optic.

Claim 9

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said energy distributor is a hologram.

Claim 10

The partial coherence varier of claim 1 wherein said energy distributor is a multiple refractive element.

Claim 11

In an optical system of an illuminator directing illumination to an objective imaging system for a microlithographic projection imager, a varier for the numerical aperture of said illuminator optical system for varying the partial coherence of said microlithographic projection imager, said varier comprising: a. an energy profiler arranged for imposing a predetermined angular profile on each of a multitude of fragments of said illumination; b. said energy profiler being arranged upstream of a pupil of said illuminator optical system for movement along an optical axis of said illuminator optical system in a region where said illumination is non-collimated; c. a uniformizer arranged between the energy profiler and the pupil; d. lens elements of the illuminator optical system being arranged between the uniformizer and the pupil; e. lens elements of the illuminator optical system being arranged between the energy profiler and the uniformizer; and f. said energy profiler being arranged so that movement along said optical axis illuminates variable size regions of said energy profiler and thereby varies the energy distribution area of illumination at said pupil, to vary said numerical aperture and said partial coherence without varying uniformity or field size of the illumination as an image plane.

Claim 12

In an optical system of an illuminator directing illumination to an objective imaging system for a microlithographic projection imager, a varier for the numerical aperture of said illuminator optical system for varying the partial coherence of said microlithographic projection imager, said varier comprising: a. an energy profiler arranged for imposing a predetermined angular profile on each of a multitude of fragments of said illumination; b. said energy profiler being arranged upstream of a pupil of said illuminator optical system for movement along an optical axis of said illuminator optical system in a region where said illumination is non-collimated; c. a uniformizer arranged between the energy profiler and the pupil; d. lens elements of the illuminator optical system being arranged between the uniformizer and the pupil; e. lens elements of the illuminator optical system being arranged between the energy profiler and the uniformizer; and f. said energy profiler being arranged so that movement along said optical axis illuminates variable size regions of said energy profiler and thereby varies the energy distribution area of illumination at said pupil, to vary said numerical aperture and said partial coherence without varying uniformity or field size of the illumination as an image plane.

Claim 13

The varier of claim 10 wherein an adjustable iris is arranged in a region of said pupil.

Claim 14

The varier of claim 11 including computer control of the movement of said energy profiler and said adjustable iris.

Claim 15

The varier of claim 10 wherein said illumination in a region of movement of said energy profiler is converging toward said uniformizer.

Claim 16

The varier of claim 10 wherein said energy profiler is a diffuser.

Claim 17

The varier of claim 10 wherein said energy profiler is a binary optic.

Claim 18

The varier of claim 10 wherein said energy profiler is a hologram.

Claim 19

The varier of claim 10 wherein said energy profiler is a multiple refractive element.