Alignment device and method with focus detection system

Claim 2

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from an alignment mark formed in a mark area on a substrate; a detection optical system having a detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect said alignment mark through said objective optical system; and a focus detecting system for detecting a deviation of said mark area with respect to a focal plane of said detection optical system, by irradiating said detection area with a light beam through said objective optical system and receiving reflected light from said detection area through said objective optical system.

Claim 3

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a first mark formed, for alignment, in a first mark area on a substrate, and light from a second mark formed, for alignment, in a second mark area; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from said first mark through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from said second mark through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system for detecting a deviation of said first mark area, with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system and a deviation of said second mark area, with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system, by irradiating said first and second detection areas respectively with light beams and receiving reflected lights therefrom.

Claim 4

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a first mark formed, for alignment, in a first mark area on a substrate, and light from a second mark formed, for alignment, in a second mark area; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from said first mark through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from said second mark through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system for detecting a deviation of said first mark area, with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system and a deviation of said second mark area, with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system, by irradiating said first and second detection areas respectively with light beams and receiving reflected lights therefrom.

Claim 5

An alignment device according to claim 2, wherein said focus detection system is adapted to effect said irradiation with light and reception of the reflected light through said objective optical system.

Claim 6

An alignment device according to claim 2, wherein the lights irradiating said first and second detection areas are images of patterns of which shapes are determined according to said first and second marks.

Claim 7

An alignment device according to claim 2, incorporated in an exposure apparatus for transferring a mask pattern onto said substrate.

Claim 8

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a first mark or a second mark formed, for alignment, on a substrate, which bears either of said first and second marks; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from the first mark on said substrate, through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from the second mark on said substrate through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system adapted, in case said first mark is formed on said substrate, to detect a deviation of an area bearing said first mark with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system by irradiating said first detection area with a light beam and receiving reflected light therefrom, and, in case said second mark alone is formed on said substrate, to detect a deviation of an area bearing said second mark with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system by irradiating said second detection area with a light beam and receiving reflected light therefrom.

Claim 9

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a first mark or a second mark formed, for alignment, on a substrate, which bears either of said first and second marks; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from the first mark on said substrate, through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect the light from the second mark on said substrate through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system adapted, in case said first mark is formed on said substrate, to detect a deviation of an area bearing said first mark with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system by irradiating said first detection area with a light beam and receiving reflected light therefrom, and, in case said second mark alone is formed on said substrate, to detect a deviation of an area bearing said second mark with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system by irradiating said second detection area with a light beam and receiving reflected light therefrom.

Claim 10

An alignment device according to claim 6, wherein said focus detection system is adapted to effect said irradiation with light and reception of the reflected light through said objective optical system.

Claim 11

An alignment device according to claim 6, wherein the lights irradiating said first and second detection areas are images of patterns of which shapes are determined according to said first and second marks.

Claim 12

An alignment device according to claim 6, incorporated in an exposure apparatus for transferring a mask pattern onto said substrate.

Claim 13

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a mark formed, for alignment, in a mark area on a substrate; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect said mark through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect said mark through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system for detecting a deviation of said mark area with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system and a deviation of said mark area with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system, by irradiating said first and second detection areas respectively with light beams and respectively receiving reflected lights therefrom.

Claim 14

An alignment device comprising: an objective optical system for receiving light from a mark formed, for alignment, in a mark area on a substrate; a first detection optical system having a first detection area within a viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect said mark through said objective optical system; a second detection optical system having a second detection area, different from said first detection area, within the viewing field of said objective optical system and adapted to detect said mark through said objective optical system; and a focus detection system for detecting a deviation of said mark area with respect to a focal plane of said first detection optical system and a deviation of said mark area with respect to a focal plane of said second detection optical system, by irradiating said first and second detection areas respectively with light beams and respectively receiving reflected lights therefrom.

Claim 15

An alignment device according to claim 10, wherein said focus detection system is adapted to effect said irradiation with light and reception of said reflected lights through said objective optical system.

Claim 16

An alignment device according to claim 10, wherein the lights irradiating said first and second detection areas are images of patterns of which shapes are determined according to said mark.

Claim 17

An alignment device according to claim 10, incorporated in an exposure apparatus for transferring a mask pattern onto said substrate.

Claim 18

An alignment method comprising the steps of: providing a first alignment system and a second alignment system, said first and second alignment systems having a common objective optical system for receiving light from an alignment mark on a substrate, and said first and second alignment systems having respective different detection areas within a viewing field of said objective optical system; detecting at least one of a deviation between a focal plane of said first alignment system and a surface of said substrate and a deviation between a focal plane of said second alignment system and said surface of said substrate by irradiating said detection areas with light beams respectively; and aligning said surface of said substrate with at least one of said focal plane of said first alignment system and said focal plane of said second alignment system based on a result of said detecting step to detect a position of said alignment mark on said substrate.

Claim 19

An alignment method comprising the steps of: providing a first alignment system and a second alignment system, said first and second alignment systems having a common objective optical system for receiving light from an alignment mark on a substrate, and said first and second alignment systems having respective different detection areas within a viewing field of said objective optical system; detecting at least one of a deviation between a focal plane of said first alignment system and a surface of said substrate and a deviation between a focal plane of said second alignment system and said surface of said substrate by irradiating said detection areas with light beams respectively; and aligning said surface of said substrate with at least one of said focal plane of said first alignment system and said focal plane of said second alignment system based on a result of said detecting step to detect a position of said alignment mark on said substrate.

Claim 20

An alignment method according to claim 14, wherein said detecting step further includes irradiating said detection areas with light beams through said common objective optical system.