Patent US5892573A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5892573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Exposure apparatus and method with multiple light receiving means
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-30
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2016-09-30
Abstract
Abstract An exposure apparatus including an illumination optical system, a first light receiving system for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system, a movable reticle stage having a transmitting portion for transmitting exposure light, and a second light receiving system for receiving the exposure light transmitted through the transmitting portion. Accordingly, the exposure apparatus is able to correct the sensitivity of the first light receiving system without unloading a reticle.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Takahashi
- 👤 Takahisa Shiozawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/20; G03F7/70; G03F7/70483; G03F7/7055; G03F7/70558; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70358; G03F7/708; G03F7/7085; G03F7/70908; G03F7/70941
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An exposure apparatus, comprising: an illumination optical system; first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from said illumination optical system; a movable reticle stage having a transmitting portion, defined at a position other than a location where the reticle is to be placed, for transmitting exposure light; and second light receiving means for receiving the exposure light transmitted through said transmitting portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An exposure apparatus, comprising: an illumination optical system; first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from said illumination optical system; a movable reticle stage having a transmitting portion, defined at a position other than a location where the reticle is to be placed, for transmitting exposure light; and second light receiving means for receiving the exposure light transmitted through said transmitting portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a projection optical system, wherein said second light receiving means receives the exposure light having passed through at least a portion of said projection optical system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a movable wafer stage, wherein said second light receiving means is provided on said wafer stage and has a light receiving surface disposed at a position optically conjugate with a wafer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storing means for storing correction information related to correction of the sensitivity of said first light receiving means based on detection through said first and second light receiving means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction information is based on a ratio between detected values of said first and second light receiving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure apparatus is a scanning exposure apparatus for performing an exposure process while scanning a reticle and a wafer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an excimer laser for providing exposure light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
An exposure method for use with an exposure apparatus having an illumination optical system, first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system, a projection optical system, and second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system, wherein a reticle is illuminated with the illumination optical system so that a pattern of the reticle is transferred to a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, and a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; detecting a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
An exposure method for use with an exposure apparatus having an illumination optical system, first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system, a projection optical system, and second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system, wherein a reticle is illuminated with the illumination optical system so that a pattern of the reticle is transferred to a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, and a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; detecting a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein a detected value of the first light receiving means is detected on a plane optically conjugate with the reticle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the exposure light comprises excimer laser light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
An exposure apparatus, comprising: an illumination optical system; first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system; a projection optical system; second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system; correcting means for correcting a sensitivity of a detected value of said first light receiving means, said correcting means is serviceable (i) to detect a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, (ii) to detect a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light, (iii) to detect a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light, and (iv) to correct a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
An exposure apparatus, comprising: an illumination optical system; first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system; a projection optical system; second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system; correcting means for correcting a sensitivity of a detected value of said first light receiving means, said correcting means is serviceable (i) to detect a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, (ii) to detect a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light, (iii) to detect a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light, and (iv) to correct a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a first reflection surface having a first reflectivity and a second reflection surface having a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity, wherein the first and second reflection surfaces are disposed substantially at the same level as a surface of a wafer to be exposed, and wherein said second light receiving means receives exposure light reflected by the first and second reflection surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second light receiving means has a light receiving surface disposed substantially at the same level as a surface of a wafer to be exposed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A device manufacturing method including transferring a pattern of a reticle onto a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a light quantity of a portion of exposure light from an illumination optical system, by use of first light detecting means; detecting, by use of second light receiving means, a light quantity of exposure light passed through a transmitting portion of a movable reticle stage defined at a position thereon other than a location where the reticle is to be placed; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light detecting means, on the basis of detected values of the first and second light receiving means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
106 words
A device manufacturing method including transferring a pattern of a reticle onto a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a light quantity of a portion of exposure light from an illumination optical system, by use of first light detecting means; detecting, by use of second light receiving means, a light quantity of exposure light passed through a transmitting portion of a movable reticle stage defined at a position thereon other than a location where the reticle is to be placed; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light detecting means, on the basis of detected values of the first and second light receiving means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the second light receiving means receives exposure light passed through at least a portion of a projection optical system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the second light receiving means is provided on a wafer stage and has a light receiving surface disposed at a position optically conjugate with the wafer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the sensitivity of the first light receiving means is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the detected values of the first and second light receiving means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 14, further comprising performing an exposure process while scanning the reticle and the wafer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the exposure light comprises excimer laser light.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
198 words
A device manufacturing method for use with an exposure apparatus having an illumination optical system, first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system, a projection optical system, and second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system, wherein a reticle is illuminated with the illumination optical system so that a pattern of the reticle is transferred to a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, and a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; detecting a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
198 words
A device manufacturing method for use with an exposure apparatus having an illumination optical system, first light receiving means for receiving a portion of exposure light from the illumination optical system, a projection optical system, and second light receiving means for receiving exposure light transmitted through at least a portion of the projection optical system, wherein a reticle is illuminated with the illumination optical system so that a pattern of the reticle is transferred to a wafer, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a first ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is not disposed on a path of exposure light, and a second ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state in which the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; detecting a third ratio between detected values of the first and second light receiving means in a state, after at least one exposure processes, the reticle is disposed on the path of exposure light; and correcting a sensitivity of the first light receiving means on the basis of the first, second and third ratios.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein a detected value of the first light receiving means is detected on a plane optically conjugate with the reticle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the exposure light comprises excimer laser light.
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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) | 2002-04-05 | 2002-10-05 | 2003-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-05 | 2006-10-05 | 2007-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-05 | 2010-10-05 | 2011-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |