US5715039A — Projection exposure apparatus and method which us…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

A projection exposure method for forming patterns on a substrate comprising: a) applying light of wavelength (λ) emitted from a light source, onto a mask having a pattern, through illumination optics; b) imaging the pattern on the mask onto the substrate utilizing projection optics with a reduction ratio of M:1 and a numerical aperture of NA; and c) forming an image of the mask pattern, by means of light diffracted by a first grating, positioned between the substrate and the projection optics, parallel to the substrate, interfering on a nearby substrate surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 92 words

A projection exposure method for forming patterns on a substrate comprising: a) applying light of wavelength (λ) emitted from a light source, onto a mask having a pattern, through illumination optics; b) imaging the pattern on the mask onto the substrate utilizing projection optics with a reduction ratio of M:1 and a numerical aperture of NA; and c) forming an image of the mask pattern, by means of light diffracted by a first grating, positioned between the substrate and the projection optics, parallel to the substrate, interfering on a nearby substrate surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 1 comprising inserting a second grating or an imaging optics between the mask and the illumination optics, or between the projection optics and the mask, such that the image of the mask pattern is formed at said nearby substrate surface from the interference of light diffracted by the first grating.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 46 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 1 wherein said imaging optics has a critical frequency f, when used with said first grating which is greater than the critical frequency f0 of said imaging optics without such grating, and less than twice the value of f0.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 1 wherein said first grating has a spatial pitch P1 in at least one direction and in the following range: λ(1.42*NA)<=P1<=λ/NA.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 106 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 1, wherein a first opaque pattern, which has a width in the one direction of less than Z1-NA (where Z1 is the optical path length between the first grating and the substrate) and has a spatial pitch almost equal to 2-Z1-NA, is provided between the substrate and the first grating, a second opaque pattern is provided immediately above or below the mask to shield an area on the mask almost conjugate with the first opaque pattern to limit an exposure field, and the limited exposure field is exposed either by scanning over the substrate or by moving it stepwise.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 4 wherein said first grating is a phase grating.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 80 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 2, wherein a second grating, which is parallel to the mask and has a spatial pitch P2 in one direction, is provided between the mask and the projection optics, and the mask is illuminated simultaneously with coherent beams from two different directions such that incident angles θi (angle between an incoming beam and the optical axis) in a plane containing the pitch direction and the optical axis is given by sin (θi)=± λ/(M·P1)+λ/P2!.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 7 wherein said method is carried out with an arrangement approximately satisfying the equation, Z2=M*(P2/P1)*Z1, where optical path length Z2 is the distance between the second grating and the mask, and optical path length Z1 is the distance between the grating and the substrate.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 55 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 7, comprising coherently or partially coherently illuminating the mask from above through a third grating a with spatial pitch P3 in a single direction, said third grating disposed in parallel to the mask between the mask and the illumination optics, and approximately defined by the following equation. 1/P3=1/(M·P1)+1/P2.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 9 wherein said second and third gratings are phase gratings.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 59 words

A projection exposure method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second imaging optics are disposed between the mask and the projection optics and further including inserting a second grating at a position that is approximately a conjugate of said first phase grating, and said second grating having a spatial pitch P2 in one direction described approximately as: P2=P1*M.sub.c.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A projection exposure method, as claimed in claim 1 comprising to simultaneously illuminating patterns existing in two locations on the mask, both containing the desired identical patterns, with a coherent light from at least two unique directions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 1, the wavefront aberration of the projection optics are compensated to be symmetrical with respect to the diameter, on the pupil plane, perpendicular to the direction of illumination and illuminating the mask with a pair of coherent illumination with an incident angle symmetrical with respect to the optical axis.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

A projection exposure method, according to claim 1, wherein the mask contains an alternate phase shift mask.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 1, said mask has a fine pattern in a particular direction, depending on the pitch and direction of the first grating.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 1 wherein said mask is constructed to compensate for the pattern shapes, depending on the pitch and direction of the pattern of the first grating.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

A projection exposure method according to claim 1, further including filling the gap between the first grating and the substrate with a liquid with an index of refraction n greater than 1 wherein the NA of the projection optics is in the following range: 0.5<NA<n/2.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 56 words

Projection exposure equipment, for projecting an image of a mask onto a substrate comprising: a) a light source directed onto the mask; b) projection optics to project an image of said mask; c) a diffraction grating diffracting the light from said projection optics; and d) a stage for securing the substrate disposed below said diffraction grating.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

Projection exposure equipment, for projecting an image of a mask onto a substrate comprising: a) a light source directed onto the mask; b) projection optics to project an image of said mask; c) a diffraction grating diffracting the light from said projection optics; and d) a stage for securing the substrate disposed below said diffraction grating.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 79 words

Projection exposure equipment for projecting an image of a mask having a pattern thereon onto a substrate comprising: a) a light source directed onto the mask; b) a first diffraction grating disposed to diffract the light from the pattern on the mask; c) projection optics projecting the diffracted light onto a substrate; d) a second diffraction grating disposed to diffract light from said projection optics; and e) a stage for securing the substrate disposed below said second diffraction means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 79 words

Projection exposure equipment for projecting an image of a mask having a pattern thereon onto a substrate comprising: a) a light source directed onto the mask; b) a first diffraction grating disposed to diffract the light from the pattern on the mask; c) projection optics projecting the diffracted light onto a substrate; d) a second diffraction grating disposed to diffract light from said projection optics; and e) a stage for securing the substrate disposed below said second diffraction means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 77 words

Projection exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source directed toward the mask; b) a first diffraction grating between said light source and said mask to diffract the light from said source such that it enters the mask at an oblique incident; c) projection optics to project the mask pattern onto a substrate; d) a second diffraction grating diffracting light from projection optics; and e) a stage on which to place the substrate disposed below the second diffractor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 77 words

Projection exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source directed toward the mask; b) a first diffraction grating between said light source and said mask to diffract the light from said source such that it enters the mask at an oblique incident; c) projection optics to project the mask pattern onto a substrate; d) a second diffraction grating diffracting light from projection optics; and e) a stage on which to place the substrate disposed below the second diffractor.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 170 words

Projection exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source emitting light of wavelength λ; b) a mask stage for receiving a mask; c) a substrate stage for receiving a substrate; d) illumination optics directing the light from said light source onto a mask on said mask stage; e) projection optics, having a numerical aperture (NA) and magnification (M:1) imaging patterns of the mask onto a substrate surface on said substrate stage; f) a first diffraction grating with a spatial pitch P1(λ/1.42*NA) ≦P1≦λ/NA) in at least one direction, disposed at a position Z1, where Z1 is the optical path length between the substrate and the projection optics to diffract light from said projection optics; and g) an optical element selected from the group consisting of imaging optics or a second grating disposed between the mask and the illumination optics, or between the projection optics and the mask, said optical element forming an image of the mask pattern nearby the surface of the substrate by interference of light diffracted by said first grating.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 170 words

Projection exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source emitting light of wavelength λ; b) a mask stage for receiving a mask; c) a substrate stage for receiving a substrate; d) illumination optics directing the light from said light source onto a mask on said mask stage; e) projection optics, having a numerical aperture (NA) and magnification (M:1) imaging patterns of the mask onto a substrate surface on said substrate stage; f) a first diffraction grating with a spatial pitch P1(λ/1.42*NA) ≦P1≦λ/NA) in at least one direction, disposed at a position Z1, where Z1 is the optical path length between the substrate and the projection optics to diffract light from said projection optics; and g) an optical element selected from the group consisting of imaging optics or a second grating disposed between the mask and the illumination optics, or between the projection optics and the mask, said optical element forming an image of the mask pattern nearby the surface of the substrate by interference of light diffracted by said first grating.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 75 words

Projection equipment according to claim 21 and further including, between the substrate and the first grating an opaque pattern selected from the group consisting of a pattern with a spatial pitch of approximately 2*NA*Z1 and a width, less than Z1*NA in one direction, a function that can image by scanning the imaging field, limited by the opaque patterns, on the substrate and a function that can image while moving the image field in step-like movements.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 108 words

Projection equipment according to claim 21 wherein said light source provides at least partially coherent light and further including a third grating, said grating being a phase grating through which said light is directed onto the mask from approximately above, said third grating disposed between said illumination optics and the mask and having a spatial pitch P3 of approximately equal to: 1/P3=1/(M·P1)+1/P2 in one direction, and parallel to the mask; and said imaging optics comprise a second phase grating with a spatial pitch P2 in one direction, and parallel to the mask between the mask and the projection optics, the position of second phase grating being approximately Z2=M*(P2/P1)*Z1.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 99 words

Exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source for exposure; b) a holding means for holding a mask having a specified pattern; c) a projection optics; d) a stage on which a wafer substrate is mounted; e) a second holding means disposed between the projection optics and the stage to hold a first grating that diffracts exposure light form the light source; and f) a third holding means disposed between the light source and the projection optics to hold an image forming means which forms the image of the specified pattern from the exposure light diffracted by the first grating.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 99 words

Exposure equipment comprising: a) a light source for exposure; b) a holding means for holding a mask having a specified pattern; c) a projection optics; d) a stage on which a wafer substrate is mounted; e) a second holding means disposed between the projection optics and the stage to hold a first grating that diffracts exposure light form the light source; and f) a third holding means disposed between the light source and the projection optics to hold an image forming means which forms the image of the specified pattern from the exposure light diffracted by the first grating.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 wherein said imaging means includes means to obliquely illuminate the mask with the exposure light, and a second grating disposed between the mask and the projection optics.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 wherein said imaging means includes imaging optics between the mask and the projection optics, and a second grating disposed between the imaging optics and the projection optics.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 wherein said imaging means includes means to illuminate identical patterns provided in different areas of the mask with the exposure light from different directions.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25 wherein the pitch P2 of the second grating is P2≦M·P1 where P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and M is the magnification of the projection optics.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 59 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25 wherein the equation sin (θi)=±{1/(M·P1)+1/P2} is satisfied where θi is the incident angle of the exposure light to the mask, λ is the wavelength of the exposure light, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and P2 is the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 68 words

Exposure equipment according to 25 wherein the equation Z2=M*(P2/P1)*Z1 is satisfied where Z1 is the distance between the pattern formed from the exposure light diffracted from the first grating, and the first grating, Z2 is the distance between the mask and the second grating, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and P2 the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 68 words

Exposure equipment according to 25 wherein the equation Z2=M*(P2/P1)*Z1 is satisfied where Z1 is the distance between the pattern formed from the exposure light diffracted from the first grating, and the first grating, Z2 is the distance between the mask and the second grating, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and P2 the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25 wherein said illumination means include a third grating between the light source and the mask.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 50 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 31, wherein the equation 1/P3=1/(M·P1)+1/P2 is satisfied where P3 is the pitch of the third grating, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is of the pitch of the first grating, and P2 is the pitch of the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 16 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 32 wherein said second and the third gratings are phase gratings.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 14 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24, wherein said mask is a phase shift mask.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 and further including a liquid with an index of refraction n greater than 1 filling the area between the projection optics and the stage.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 22 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 35, wherein the equation 0.5<NA<n/2 is satisfied where NA is the numerical aperture of the projection optics.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 14 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24, wherein said first grating is a phase grating.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 33 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25, and further including fourth means for securing between the first grating and the stage and a mask with an opaque pattern disposed on said fourth securing means.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 30 words

Exposure equipment in claim 38 wherein said first grating is created on a quartz substrate, and said opaque mask is created on the other side of said same quartz substrate.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 33 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25 and further including a fourth means for securing disposed between the projection optics and the light source and a masking blade disposed on said fourth securing means.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 17 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25 wherein said projection optics are constructed such as to compensate aberrations.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 24 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 41 wherein said compensation is provided by a slit filter positioned in the pupil plane of said projection optics.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 31 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 25, and further including means to compensate aberrations disposed either between the mask and the projection optics, or between the substrate stage and the projections optics.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 17 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 43 wherein said means to compensate comprise an optically flat transparent plate.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 29 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 26 wherein said second grating between the imaging optics and the projection optics is disposed in a position approximately conjugate to the first grating.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 25 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 27 wherein said means which illuminate the patterns on the mask with exposure light from different directions includes a prism.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 19 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 wherein said first securing means include a translation stage for the first grating.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 33 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24, and further including an autofocus monitor, having an output and means to control the position of the first grating depending on said output from the autofocus monitor.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 15 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 26 wherein said imaging optics include a micro lens array.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 38 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 49 and further including an opaque pattern disposed between said projection optics and said second grating, said opaque pattern, said second grating, and said micro lens array combined into a single physical unit.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 42 words

Exposure equipment according to 49, and further including an opaque pattern disposed between the projection optics and the second grating, and wherein the pitch of said micro lens array and the pitch of the exposure area of said opaque pattern are equal.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 42 words

Exposure equipment according to 49, and further including an opaque pattern disposed between the projection optics and the second grating, and wherein the pitch of said micro lens array and the pitch of the exposure area of said opaque pattern are equal.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 25 words

Exposure equipment according to claim 24 wherein said the mask is a mask removed of shape distortions formed in the peripheral area of periodic patterns.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 116 words

A pattern creation method utilizing exposure equipment including a light source for exposure, a mask support, projection optics, and a substrate stage comprising: a) supporting a mask with a prescribed pattern utilizing the mask support; b) supporting a first grating between the stage and the projection optics; c) supporting an imaging optical element which forms the image of the fixed pattern through the exposure light, from the light source, which is diffracted by the first grating, d) placing a substrate coated with a photo sensitive film onto the stage; and e) exposing the surface of the substrate with a exposure light which passes through the mask, imaging optical element, the projection optics, and the first grating.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 116 words

A pattern creation method utilizing exposure equipment including a light source for exposure, a mask support, projection optics, and a substrate stage comprising: a) supporting a mask with a prescribed pattern utilizing the mask support; b) supporting a first grating between the stage and the projection optics; c) supporting an imaging optical element which forms the image of the fixed pattern through the exposure light, from the light source, which is diffracted by the first grating, d) placing a substrate coated with a photo sensitive film onto the stage; and e) exposing the surface of the substrate with a exposure light which passes through the mask, imaging optical element, the projection optics, and the first grating.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 25 words

The pattern forming method claimed in claim 53 wherein said imaging optical element includes a second grating disposed between the mask and the projection optics.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 36 words

The pattern forming method claimed in 53 wherein said imaging optical element include imaging optics disposed between the mask and the projection optics, and a second grating disposed between the imaging optics and the projection optics.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein said mask includes identical patterns in separate areas.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 39 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54, wherein the equation P2<=M·P1 is satisfied where P2 is the pitch of the second grating, P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and M is the magnification of the projection optics.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 60 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54 wherein the equation sin (θi)=±{1/(M·P1)+1/P2} is satisfied when θi is the incident angle of the exposure light onto the mask, λ is the wavelength of the exposure light, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is the pitch of the first grating, and P2 is the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 71 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54 wherein the equation Z2=M*(P2/P1)*Z1 is satisfied where Z1 is the distance between the pattern formed from the exposure light diffracted from the first grating, and the first grating, Z2 is the distance between the mask and the second grating, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 of the pitch of the first grating, and P2 is the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54, and further including a third grating between the light source and the mask.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 48 words

The pattern forming method of claim 60, wherein the equation 1/P3=1/(M·P1)+1/P2 is satisfied where P3 is the pitch of the third grating, M is the magnification of the projection optics, P1 is of the pitch of the first grating, and P2 is the pitch of the second grating.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 17 words

The pattern forming method of claim 60, wherein the second grating and third grating are phase gratings.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein the mask is a phase shift mask.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 32 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53, and further including filling the area between the projection optics and the stage with a liquid with an index of refraction n greater than 1.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pattern forming method of claim 64, wherein the equation 0.5<NA<n/2 is satisfied where NA is the numerical aperture of the projection optics.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein the first grating is a phase grating.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 22 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54 and further including inserting an opaque mask between the first phase grating and the stage.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 34 words

The pattern forming method in claim 67 comprising creating the first phase grating on one side of a quartz substrate and creating the opaque mask on the opposite side of the same quartz substrate.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 22 words

The pattern forming method of claim 54 and further including disposing a masking blade between the projection optics and the light source.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 22 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein the exposure step includes scanning the imaging field on the surface of the substrate.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pattern forming method of claim 70, the ratio of the scanning speed of the mask to the scanning speed of the substrate materials is 1:M where M is the magnification of the projection optics.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 19 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein the photo sensitive film is a chemically amplified type resist film.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein the exposure light is a partially coherent light.

Claim 83

Dependent Claim 16 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 wherein said the first grating is a two-dimensional grating.

Claim 84

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pattern forming method in claim 74 wherein said two-dimensional grating is a checkered pattern.

Claim 85

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pattern forming method of claim 74 wherein said two-dimensional grating is a lines-and-spaces pattern.

Claim 86

Dependent Claim 32 words

The pattern forming method of claim 53 and further including, after the exposure step, rotating said first grating approximate 90 degrees; and carrying out a further exposure step to re-expose said substrate.

Claim 87

Dependent Claim 34 words

The pattern forming method in claim 53 and further including, after said exposure step, removing said first grating and said image forming means and carrying out a second exposure step to re-expose said substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-02-02	2001-08-04	2002-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-02-02	2005-08-04	2006-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-02-02	2009-08-04	2010-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Projection exposure apparatus and method which uses multiple diffraction gratings in order to produce a solid state device with fine patterns

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