Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus and method for exposing a substrate. SOLUTION: An illumination system supplies a series of beams of radiation that are patterned by an array of individually controllable elements and projects the beams through arrays of lenses onto target portions of a substrate. Each lens in the arrays directs a respective part of the beam towards the substrate. A displacement system causes relative displacement between the substrate and the beam, such that the beams are scanned across the substrate in a predetermined scanning direction. A projection system is positioned so that each beam is scanned along a respective track. The tracks overlap so that each track comprises a first portion that is scanned by one beam and a second portion that overlaps the adjacent track and is scanned by two beams. Because a maximum intensity of a part of each beam directed towards the first portion of the track is greater than a maximum intensity of a part of that beam directed towards the second portion of the track, the first and second portions are exposed to radiation of substantially the same maximum intensity. Such overlapping of adjacent beams and modulation of the intensity of the beams can allow the optical footprints of different optical columns to be seamed together to enable exposure of large area substrates in a single scan. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for optical position evaluation, having an illumination system for supplying a positioning beam of radiation to derive position data from reflection of the positioning beam, and also to provide its method. SOLUTION: A substrate is supported on a substrate table, and the positioning beam is projected to a target area of the substrate by means of a projection system. A positioning system causes relative motion between the substrate and the projection system. An array of lenses is arranged and structured so that respective lenses of the array focus individual parts of the positioning beam to individual parts of the target area. In an array of detectors, respective detectors in the array detect light reflected from the substrate through the individual lenses of the array, and provide outputs expressing the intensity of light reflected through the individual lens from the substrate. A processor is connected to an output of the detector to derive data exhibiting the position of the lens array for the substrate from the output of the detector. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure adjusting the position on a substrate of a patterned beam generated by a light engine relative to the substrate. SOLUTION: This structure moves an array of focusing elements, each of which focuses a portion of the patterned beam onto a point on the substrate, relative to an array of individually controllable elements to impart the pattern to the patterned beam. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved gay scaling imaging method and a system. SOLUTION: The Improved gray scaling imaging method and the system include a group of elements within an array of individually controllable elements that make a part of a radiation beam project to a lens in an array 302 of microlenses and are individually controllable so that any number of the individually controllable elements may be switched on or off to generate a gray scale. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration adjusting a location on the substrate of a beam formed in a pattern generated by an optical engine relative to the substrate. SOLUTION: In the configuration, an array of imaging elements for imaging parts of beams formed in the pattern at points on the substrate is moved relative to the array of elements capable of being separately controlled to beams formed in the pattern by imparting the pattern. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement for adjusting the position on a substrate of a patterned beam generated by a light engine relative to the substrate. SOLUTION: The arrangement moves an array of focusing elements, each of which focuses a portion of the patterned beam onto a point on the substrate, relative to an array of individually controllable elements for imparting a pattern to the patterned beam. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved system and a method for lithographic illumination that provides a projection beam with a desired output. SOLUTION: The device and the method for the lithographic illumination include steps of: receiving radiation beams of a plurality of radiation sources from a plurality of corresponding radiation sources; deflecting the radiation beams of the plurality of radiation sources along a common beam path; thereby generating a projection beam of radiation; providing the projection beam of radiation with a cross-section pattern; and projecting the patterned projection beam of radiation to a target portion of a substrate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography apparatus and a method for exposing a large-area substrate in a single scan. SOLUTION: An illumination system supplies beams that are patterned by an array of individually controllable elements. The patterned beams are projected through arrays of lenses onto target portions of a substrate. Each lens in the arrays directs a respective part of the patterned beam towards the substrate. A displacement system causes relative displacement between the substrate and the beam, such that the beams are scanned across the substrate in a predetermined scanning direction. The projection systems are positioned so that each beam is scanned along a respective one of tracks on the substrate. Each track comprises a first portion scanned by one beam and a second portion overlapping an adjacent track and scanned by two beams. As a maximum intensity of each beam directed towards the first portion of the track is greater than a maximum intensity of the beam directed towards the second portion, the first and second portions are exposed to radiation of substantially the same maximum intensity. Overlapping of adjacent beams and modulation of the intensity of beams as above described can allow the optical footprints of different optical columns to be seamed together to achieve exposure of a large-area substrate in a single scan. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system to introduce a beam where a plurality of patterns are formed on a substrate supported on a substrate table using a lithography apparatus, and to provide its method. SOLUTION: A group of beams where a plurality of patterns are formed are projected on the objects, and the beams are scanned across the substrate according to the relative displacement between the substrate and the beam with a pattern formed. A first projection device projects a portion of a first relatively large area extending across the substantial portion of the substrate, and a second project device projects a second long portion of the substrate extending in the direction of relative displacement, and a third project device can project a third long portion of the substrate extending in the lateral direction across the direction of relative displacement. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simply structured system that uniforms strengths of radiation beams actually projected on a board in the case that a plurality of separately controllable arrays of elements are used as a patterning means for the radiation beams generated by a lithogrphy projection aligner and the radiation beams are distributed among the arrays from a plurality of radiation sources and/or via a plurality of radiation distribution channels. SOLUTION: By the lithography projection aligner, the radiation beams 6 from a lighting system 5 are distributed among the arrays, by using a distributor 7 via the radiation distribution channels or to an optical engine 8 including individual arrays and a projection system. The strengths of the radiation beams related to each array are measured by a detector 20 moving on the back or front of the arrays. Measurement given by the detector 20 is fed back to compensate the loss of the radiation beams to uniform the strengths of the radiation beams projected on the board 9. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI