US5963324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exposure apparatus and method responsive to light beam wavelength variation
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-11
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2016-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An exposure apparatus is provided with temperature sensors (25 and 26) to measure temperatures of air around laser beams from a reticle-side laser interferometer (22a) and a wafer-side laser interferometer (23a), together with an environmental sensor (31) for measuring an atmospheric pressure, humidity, and so forth. A main control system (13) as a host CPU instructs a reticle stage control system (27) and a wafer stage control system (28) to move a reticle and a wafer, respectively (step 201). During the reticle and wafer moving period, measured values by the temperature sensors (25 and 26) and the environmental sensor (31) are read, and a variation of the laser wavelength due to a change in the environmental data is corrected (step 202), and during subsequent scanning exposure, position control of the reticle and wafer stages is effected by using the corrected laser wavelength. Thus, the laser wavelength of the laser interferometers is corrected without an increase in the cost or a reduction of the throughput.
Inventors
- 👤 Minoru Murata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/20; G01; G01B; G01B9/00; G01B9/02; G01B9/02055; G01B9/0207; G01B9/02062; G01B9/02067; G03F7/70; G03F7/70691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a projection system, disposed between a mask and a substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof, a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system, which moves said substrate; an interferometer, optically connected with said substrate stage, which measures a position of said substrate stage by using a light beam for measurement; a sensor to detect a change in an environment of an optical path of said light beam used by said interferometer; and a stage control system, connected to said sensor which obtains at least one of a first variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure operation for transferring a pattern formed on said mask onto a shot area on said substrate, and a second variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a driving operation for moving said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area after the scanning exposure operation for said shot area, and said stage control system performs at least one of a first driving operation to drive said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area on the basis of said amount of the first variation amount and a value measured by said interferometer, and a second driving operation to drive said substrate stage during a scanning exposure operation for the subsequent shot area on the basis of said second variation amount and a value measured by said interferometer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A scanning exposure apparatus comprising: a projection system, disposed between a mask and a substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof, a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system, which moves said substrate; an interferometer, optically connected with said substrate stage, which measures a position of said substrate stage by using a light beam for measurement; a sensor to detect a change in an environment of an optical path of said light beam used by said interferometer; and a stage control system, connected to said sensor which obtains at least one of a first variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure operation for transferring a pattern formed on said mask onto a shot area on said substrate, and a second variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a driving operation for moving said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area after the scanning exposure operation for said shot area, and said stage control system performs at least one of a first driving operation to drive said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area on the basis of said amount of the first variation amount and a value measured by said interferometer, and a second driving operation to drive said substrate stage during a scanning exposure operation for the subsequent shot area on the basis of said second variation amount and a value measured by said interferometer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A scanning exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stage control system has: a first control device to control at least one of said substrate stage driving operation and said exposure operation for transferring the pattern formed on said mask onto said shot area, and a second control device to obtain said amount of the variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the result of the detection by said sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A scanning exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mask stage moves said mask in a predetermined direction, and wherein said mask stage and said substrate stage are synchronously moved during scanning exposure for transferring the pattern formed on said mask onto each shot area on said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A scanning exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor detects at least one of an atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature in surroundings of the optical path of said light beam for measurement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
252 words
A scanning exposure method employing an exposure apparatus having a mask stage to position a mask having a pattern for transfer formed thereon, a substrate stage to position a substrate, an interferometer to measure a position of said substrate stage by using a light beam for measurement, and a stage control system to drive said substrate stage on the basis of a value measured by said interferometer and a wavelength of said light beam, the pattern on said mask is transferred onto each shot area on said substrate by scanning exposure, said scanning exposure method comprising: detecting a change in an environment of an optical path of said light beam used by said interferometer; obtaining at least one of a first variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected change in the environment during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate, and a second variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected change in the environment during a driving operation for moving said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area after the scanning exposure operation for said shot area; and at least one of a first driving operation which drives said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area on the basis of said first variation amount, and a second driving operation which drives said substrate stage during a scanning exposure operation for the subsequent shot area on the basis of said second variation amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
252 words
A scanning exposure method employing an exposure apparatus having a mask stage to position a mask having a pattern for transfer formed thereon, a substrate stage to position a substrate, an interferometer to measure a position of said substrate stage by using a light beam for measurement, and a stage control system to drive said substrate stage on the basis of a value measured by said interferometer and a wavelength of said light beam, the pattern on said mask is transferred onto each shot area on said substrate by scanning exposure, said scanning exposure method comprising: detecting a change in an environment of an optical path of said light beam used by said interferometer; obtaining at least one of a first variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected change in the environment during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate, and a second variation amount of a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected change in the environment during a driving operation for moving said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area after the scanning exposure operation for said shot area; and at least one of a first driving operation which drives said substrate stage to a subsequent shot area on the basis of said first variation amount, and a second driving operation which drives said substrate stage during a scanning exposure operation for the subsequent shot area on the basis of said second variation amount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 5, wherein said mask stage moves said mask in a predetermined direction, and wherein said mask stage and said substrate stage are synchronously moved during the scanning exposure operation to transfer the pattern formed on said mask onto each shot area on said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 5, wherein said amount of the variation in wavelength of said light beam is obtained by said stage control system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
168 words
A scanning exposure apparatus in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a projection system, disposed between said mask and said substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof, a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system which moves said substrate; an interferometer system, optically connected with said substrate stage and said mask stage, which measures position data of said substrate stage and said mask stage by using a light beam; a sensor which detects data related to a refractive index of an optical path of said light beam, and a control system, connected to said interferometer and said sensor, which obtains an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
A scanning exposure apparatus in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a projection system, disposed between said mask and said substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof, a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system which moves said substrate; an interferometer system, optically connected with said substrate stage and said mask stage, which measures position data of said substrate stage and said mask stage by using a light beam; a sensor which detects data related to a refractive index of an optical path of said light beam, and a control system, connected to said interferometer and said sensor, which obtains an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scanning exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said data related to a refractive index includes at least one of an atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A scanning exposure method comprising: detecting data related to a refractive index of an optical path of said light beam; and obtaining an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected data during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A scanning exposure method comprising: detecting data related to a refractive index of an optical path of said light beam; and obtaining an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected data during a scanning exposure operation for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 10, wherein said detected data related to a refractive index includes an environmental information on said optical path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 11, wherein said environmental information on said optical path includes at least one of an atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 10, wherein said mask and substrate move synchronously with each other during said scanning exposure operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 10, wherein said obtained amount of said variation in wavelength of said light beam is used after said scanning exposure operation for said shot area and before a scanning exposure operation for a next shot area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 10, wherein said interferometer system measures position data of said mask and said substrate during scanning exposure operation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 15, wherein said mask and said substrate are moved synchronously based on the measured position data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A scanning exposure method according to claim 10, further comprising: obtaining an amount of a variation in a wavelength of said light beam on the basis of the detected data, after said scanning exposure operation for said shot area and before a scanning exposure operation for a next shot area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method for making a substrate device by using a method defined by claim 10.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for making a scanning exposure apparatus in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a substrate, the method comprising: providing a projection system, disposed between said mask and said substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof; providing a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; providing a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system, which moves said substrate; providing an interferometer system, optically connected with said substrate stage and said mask stage, which is used for moving said mask stage and said substrate stage synchronously; providing a sensor which detects data related to a reflective index of an optical path of a light beam used by said interferometer system; providing a control system, connected to said interferometer and said sensor, which obtains an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for making a scanning exposure apparatus in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a substrate, the method comprising: providing a projection system, disposed between said mask and said substrate, which projects a pattern image on one side thereof; providing a mask stage, disposed on the other side of said projection system, which moves said mask; providing a substrate stage, disposed on the one side of said projection system, which moves said substrate; providing an interferometer system, optically connected with said substrate stage and said mask stage, which is used for moving said mask stage and said substrate stage synchronously; providing a sensor which detects data related to a reflective index of an optical path of a light beam used by said interferometer system; providing a control system, connected to said interferometer and said sensor, which obtains an amount of a variation in wavelength of said light beam on the basis of a result of the detection obtained by said sensor during a scanning exposure for a shot area on said substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein said detected data related to a refractive index includes an environmental information of said optical path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein said environmental information of said optical path includes at least one of an atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein said obtained amount of said variation in wavelength of said light beam is used after said scanning exposure operation for said shot area and before a scanning exposure operation for a next shot area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5483343A
Cited
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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