US5534970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scanning exposure apparatus
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1994-06-07
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A projection exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate by a scanning exposure method, includes a light source for generating a light beam having a predetermined spatial coherence, an illumination optical system for receiving the light beam from the light source and illuminating a local area on the mask with the light beam, and a device for synchronously moving the mask and the photosensitive substrate so as to transfer the pattern on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate. A direction, corresponding to a higher spatial coherence of the light beam, is made to coincide with the direction of relative scanning an illumination area and the mask in the illumination area.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiharu Nakashima
- 👤 Masato Hamatani
- 👤 Ken Ozawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:39
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70058; G03F7/70075; H; H10; H10P; H10P76/00; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70358; G03F7/70483; G03F7/7055; G03F7/70575; G03F7/70583
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting a spatially coherent light beam; an illumination optical system for radiating the light beam from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area on a local area of the mask, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in the illumination area; and a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate, wherein a direction of relative scanning of the illumination area and the mask upon movement of the mask substantially coincides with the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting a spatially coherent light beam; an illumination optical system for radiating the light beam from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area on a local area of the mask, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in the illumination area; and a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate, wherein a direction of relative scanning of the illumination area and the mask upon movement of the mask substantially coincides with the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a pulse oscillation type laser light source for emitting a light beam in a deep ultraviolet range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a projection optical system for projecting an image of the pattern in the illumination area onto photosensitive substrate, wherein said moving device comprises a mask stage which holds the mask to be substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system, and moves substantially along the direction with the higher spatial coherence of the light beam, and a substrate stage which holds the photosensitive substrate and moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of said projection optical system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical member for receiving the light beam from said light source, and shifting an interference pattern formed in the illumination area in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of relative scanning.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said illumination optical system comprises an optical integrator for receiving the light beam, and forming a plurality of light source images, and said optical member changes an incident angle of the light beam or said optical integrator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a device for shifting an interference pattern in the illumination area along the direction of relative scanning in accordance with a moving speed of the mask and an intensity distribution, in the direction of relative scanning, of the interference pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a device for detecting spatial coherence of the light beam by receiving at least a portion of the light beam from said light source; and a controller for controlling an operation of said shifting device in accordance with the detected spatial coherence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting a spatially coherent light beam; an illumination optical system for radiating the light beam from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area on a local area of the mask; a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for shifting an interference pattern in the illumination area in accordance with a moving speed of the mask and an intensity distribution of the interference pattern while the mask and the photosensitive substrate are being synchronously moved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting a spatially coherent light beam; an illumination optical system for radiating the light beam from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area on a local area of the mask; a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for shifting an interference pattern in the illumination area in accordance with a moving speed of the mask and an intensity distribution of the interference pattern while the mask and the photosensitive substrate are being synchronously moved.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light beam has higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in the illumination area, said moving device comprises a mask stage which holds the mask and moves substantially along the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam, and a substrate stage which holds the photosensitive substrate and is movable in synchronism with movement of said mask stage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a device for detecting spatial coherence of the light beam by receiving at least a portion of the light beam from said light source; and a controller for controlling an operation of said shifting device in accordance with the detected spatial coherence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting spatially coherent pulsed light; an illumination optical system for radiating the light from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area locally on the mask; a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for shifting an interference pattern formed in the illumination area in a moving direction of the mask, wherein an accumulated light amount on the mask or the photosensitive substrate, upon radiation of a plurality of light pulses from said light source onto said mask, is uniformed by operation of said moving device and said shifting device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting spatially coherent pulsed light; an illumination optical system for radiating the light from said light source onto a mask so as to form an illumination area locally on the mask; a device for synchronously moving the mask and a photosensitive substrate so as to transfer a pattern formed on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for shifting an interference pattern formed in the illumination area in a moving direction of the mask, wherein an accumulated light amount on the mask or the photosensitive substrate, upon radiation of a plurality of light pulses from said light source onto said mask, is uniformed by operation of said moving device and said shifting device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shifting device comprises an optical member for receiving light pulses from said light source and varying a propagation direction of the light pulses, and shifts the interference pattern in the illumination area in the moving direction of the mask and a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
155 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source; an illumination optical system for illuminating a mask with a light beam from said light source, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in an illumination area on the mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern formed on the mask onto a photosensitive substrate; a mask stage which holds the mask to be substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system, and which moves substantially along the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam; a substrate stage which holds the photosensitive substrate and moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of said projection optical system; and a device for synchronously driving said mask stage and said substrate stage so as to transfer the pattern on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a light source; an illumination optical system for illuminating a mask with a light beam from said light source, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in an illumination area on the mask; a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern formed on the mask onto a photosensitive substrate; a mask stage which holds the mask to be substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system, and which moves substantially along the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam; a substrate stage which holds the photosensitive substrate and moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of said projection optical system; and a device for synchronously driving said mask stage and said substrate stage so as to transfer the pattern on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a device for shifting an interference pattern formed on the mask in a moving direction of said mask stage or in a direction crossing the moving direction, in association with the movement of said mask stage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate; a device for synchronously moving the mask and the photosensitive substrate along a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system so as to transfer the pattern on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for illuminating a local area on the mask with light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam, such that the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam substantially coincides with a moving direction of the mask.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
114 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate; a device for synchronously moving the mask and the photosensitive substrate along a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system so as to transfer the pattern on the mask onto the photosensitive substrate; and a device for illuminating a local area on the mask with light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam, such that the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam substantially coincides with a moving direction of the mask.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said illuminating device comprises a pulse laser light source for emitting the light beam, an optical member for substantially aligning the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam with the moving direction of the mask, a field stop arranged on a plane substantially conjugate with a pattern surface of the mask, and a light transmission system for guiding, to the mask, light which emerges from said optical member and passes through an aperture of said field stop.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: a device for shifting an interference pattern formed on the mask in the moving direction of the mask or a direction crossing the moving direction.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for illuminating a mask having a pattern to be transferred onto a photosensitive substrate by a scanning exposure method, comprising: a light source; a device for radiating the light beam from said light source onto the mask via an aperture of a field stop arranged on a plane substantially conjugate with a pattern surface of the mask, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in an illumination area on the mask; and an optical member for substantially aligning the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam with a scanning direction of the mask.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for illuminating a mask having a pattern to be transferred onto a photosensitive substrate by a scanning exposure method, comprising: a light source; a device for radiating the light beam from said light source onto the mask via an aperture of a field stop arranged on a plane substantially conjugate with a pattern surface of the mask, said light beam having higher spatial coherence in one direction than in another direction of a cross-section of the beam in an illumination area on the mask; and an optical member for substantially aligning the direction with higher spatial coherence of the light beam with a scanning direction of the mask.
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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) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |