Illumination system and exposure apparatus using the same

Claim 2

An illumination system, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and an optical system for separating light from a light source into plural lights and for directing the plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said optical system being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein said optical system comprises a spherical mirror having a curvature center, wherein the curvature center and the light source are disposed with eccentricity with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, such that said spherical mirror forms an image of the light source in the vicinity of the light source, and wherein the plural lights include light directed from the light source image to said fly's eye lens and light directed from the light source to said fly's eye lens.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1, wherein the light source emits first and second lights in different directions and said optical system comprises first and second reflection mirrors for reflecting the first and second lights respectively, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises a flat mirror.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1, wherein said optical system comprises a light divider for dividing light from the light source.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 7, wherein the light source comprises an excimer laser.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 1, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 11

An illumination system, comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and a common optical system for the plural high luminance portions of said light source, for directing lights from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 12

An illumination system, comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and a common optical system for the plural high luminance portions of said light source, for directing lights from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 10, wherein said common optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from the plural high luminance portions, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 11, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 10, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 16

An illumination system, comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and a common optical system for said light sources, for directing lights from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 17

An illumination system, comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and a common optical system for said light sources, for directing lights from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 14, wherein said common optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from said light sources, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 15, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 14, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 21

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first optical system for separating light from a light source into plural lights and for directing the plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said first optical system being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask to an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 22

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first optical system for separating light from a light source into plural lights and for directing the plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said first optical system being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask to an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first optical system comprises a spherical mirror having a curvature center, wherein the curvature center and the light source are disposed with eccentricity with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, such that said spherical mirror forms an image of the light source in the vicinity of the light source, and wherein the plural lights include light directed from the light source image to said fly's eye lens and light directed from the light source to said fly's eye lens.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the light source emits first and second lights in different directions and said first optical system comprises first and second reflection mirrors for reflecting the first and second lights, respectively, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises a flat mirror.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first optical system comprises a light divider for dividing light from the light source.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the light source comprises an excimer laser.

Claim 30

An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising means for scanningly moving the mask and the article to be exposed relative to said first and second optical systems in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.

Claim 31

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first, common optical system for the plural high luminance portions of said light source, for directing lights from the plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask onto an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 32

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first, common optical system for the plural high luminance portions of said light source, for directing lights from the plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask onto an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said first optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from the plural high luminance portions, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means for scanningly moving the mask and the article to be exposed relative to said first and second optical systems in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.

Claim 36

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first, common optical system for said light sources, for directing lights from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask onto an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 37

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said exposure apparatus; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; a first, common optical system for said light sources, for directing lights from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that paths of the lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shapes; and a second optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask onto an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 38

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said first optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from said light sources, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 39

An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising means for scanningly moving the mask and the article to be exposed relative to said first and second optical systems in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.

Claim 43

A method according to claim 35, wherein said optical system comprises a spherical mirror having a curvature center, wherein the curvature center and the light source are disposed with eccentricity with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, such that said spherical mirror forms an image of the light source in the vicinity of the light source, and wherein the plural lights include light directed from the light source image to said fly's eye lens and light directed from the light source to said fly's eye lens.

Claim 44

A method according to claim 35, wherein the light source emits first and second lights in different directions and said optical system comprises first and second reflection mirrors for reflecting the first and second lights respectively, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 45

A method according to claim 37, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises a flat mirror.

Claim 46

A method according to claim 37, wherein each of said first and second reflection mirrors comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 47

A method according to claim 35, wherein said optical system comprises a light divider for dividing light from the light source.

Claim 48

A method according to claim 40, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

Claim 49

A method according to claim 41, wherein the light source comprises an excimer laser.

Claim 50

A method according to claim 35, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 53

A method according to claim 44, wherein said common optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from the plural high luminance portions, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 54

A method according to claim 45, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 55

A method according to claim 44, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 58

A method according to claim 48, wherein said common optical system comprises a single concave mirror for reflecting lights, from said light sources, toward said fly's eye lens.

Claim 59

A method according to claim 49, wherein said concave mirror comprises an elliptical mirror.

Claim 60

A method according to claim 48, wherein said fly's eye lens defines a secondary light source, and said illumination system further comprises a condenser lens for illuminating a surface, to be illuminated, with light from said secondary light source.

Claim 61

An illumination system, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and directing means for directing plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said directing means being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 62

An illumination system, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; and directing means for directing plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said directing means being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 63

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis of said exposure apparatus, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; directing means for directing plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said directing means being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape; and an optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask to an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 64

An exposure apparatus, comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis of said exposure apparatus, the oblong shape having a longer side and a shorter side; directing means for directing plural lights toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said directing means being arranged so that paths of the plural lights are juxtaposed along a lengthwise direction of the oblong shape; and an optical system for illuminating a mask with light from a secondary light source defined by said fly's eye lens, and for projecting a pattern of the mask to an article to be exposed, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: Θa>Θbc; and Θb≈Θbc, in which a section A is taken along a plane parallel to the longer side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis and a section B is taken along a plane parallel to the shorter side of the lens elements and which includes the optical axis, and in which in section A, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θa, in section B, a maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray impinging on the lens elements is Θb, in section A, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θac, and in section B, the maximum angle defined between the optical axis and a light ray which can be transmitted by the lens elements is Θbc.

Claim 67

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, said system comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and an optical system for separating light from a light source into a plurality of light beams and for directing each of the plurality of light beams toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 68

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, said system comprising: a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and an optical system for separating light from a light source into a plurality of light beams and for directing each of the plurality of light beams toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 69

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, which scans the mask in a scan direction, said system comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 70

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, which scans the mask in a scan direction, said system comprising: a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 71

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, said system comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 72

An illumination system for illuminating a mask in an exposure apparatus, said system comprising: a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements.

Claim 73

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (ii) an optical system for separating light from a light source into a plurality of light beams and for directing each of the plurality of light beams toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 74

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (ii) an optical system for separating light from a light source into a plurality of light beams and for directing each of the plurality of light beams toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 75

An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein the mask and the substrate are scanned with illumination light from a fly's eye lens of said illumination system and the lengthwise direction is perpendicular to the direction of scan, whereby the entire pattern of the mask is projected onto a pattern region on the substrate.

Claim 76

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; (ii) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (iii) a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 77

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a light source having plural high luminance portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; (ii) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (iii) a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said plural high luminance portions toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 78

An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the mask and the substrate are scanned with illumination light from a fly's eye lens of said illumination system and the lengthwise direction is perpendicular to the direction of scan, whereby the entire pattern of the mask is projected onto a pattern region on the substrate.

Claim 79

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; (ii) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (iii) a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 80

An exposure apparatus comprising: an illumination system comprising: (i) a plurality of light sources juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of said illumination system; (ii) a fly's eye lens comprising lens elements each having an approximately oblong shape in section perpendicular to the optical axis, the oblong shape having a lengthwise direction; and (iii) a common optical system for directing a plurality of light beams from said light sources toward said fly's eye lens along different directions, said common optical system being arranged so that each of the plurality of light beams are juxtaposed on a light exit surface of said lens elements along the lengthwise direction of the oblong shape of each of said lens elements; and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the mask illuminated with said illumination system onto a substrate to be exposed.

Claim 81

An apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the mask and the substrate are scanned with illumination light from a fly's eye lens of said illumination system and the lengthwise direction is perpendicular to the direction of scan, whereby the entire pattern of the mask is projected onto a pattern region on the substrate.