摘要:
A projection exposure apparatus for projecting a pattern formed on a first object such as a reticle upon a second object such as a semiconductor wafer by use of a projection lens system, is disclosed. In the apparatus, a light of a predetermined wavelength is used for the pattern projection, and a light having a different wavelength is used to align the first and second objects by way of the projection lens system. A dichroic mirror film is disposed inclinedly between the first object and the projection lens system so as to reflect one of the light of the predetermined wavelength and the light of the different wavelength, and also to transmit the other. By this dichroic mirror film, the light used for the alignment and reflected back from the second object is extracted out of a light path between the first and second objects. After correcting effects of chromatic aberrations of the projection lens system with respect to the different wavelength, the light for the alignment is passed through the first object. By this, accurate alignment using the light of a wavelength different from that to be used for the pattern projection, is made practically attainable. Also, use of lights of different wavelengths, other than the wavelength to be used for the pattern projection, is made practically attainable. Thus, accurate and stable alignment is attainable regardless of the configuration of the mark provided on the second object.
摘要:
An observation system, usable with a projection optical system for optically projecting a first object upon a second object by use of a light of a first wavelength, for observing the second object by way of the projection optical system and by use of a light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. The observation system includes an observation optical system having a lens element and a parallel-surface plate which is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the observation optical system, wherein the observation optical system is arranged to form an image of the second object on a predetermined image surface and wherein the parallel-surface plate is arranged to substantially correct coma caused by the projection optical system.
摘要:
A mark detecting device usable in an alignment and exposure apparatus for aligning an alignment mark of a mask with an alignment mark of a wafer and for exposing a resist layer provided on the surface of the wafer to a pattern of the mask with radiation. The device including a portion for forming a photoprint of the alignment mark of the mask on the resist layer provided on the surface of the wafer, a portion for removing at least a portion of the resist layer adjacent to the alignment mark of the wafer, and a portion for detecting the alignment mark of the wafer and the photoprint of the alignment mark of the mask.
摘要:
A projection exposure apparatus for projecting a pattern of a reticle upon a wafer by use of a projection lens system, is disclosed. The apparatus is arranged so that a mark illuminating light is projected upon the wafer from between the projection lens system and the wafer and not by way of the projection lens system. The light diffracted by an edge of a wafer alignment mark is photoelectrically detected by way of the projection lens system, whereby an electrical signal corresponding to an image of the alignment mark is obtained. On the basis of the detected signal, the wafer is aligned with the reticle. This arrangement allows detection of the alignment mark without being affected by a photoresist applied to the wafer surface. Thus, the reticle-to-wafer alignment can be made accurately. Also, a novel and unique alignment method is disclosed. The disclosed method assures high-accuracy reticle-to-wafer alignment.
摘要:
An exposure apparatus includes a reticle provided with at least one mark, and operates on a wafer provided with at least one mark. The apparatus further includes a projection optical system for optically conjugately relating the reticle to the wafer, a mark detecting apparatus for detecting the mark of the reticle and detecting the mark of the wafer through the projection optical system, an illuminator for illuminating the wafer with a sensitizing light, and a phase converting element fixed between the wafer and the reticle for varying the direction of polarization of a light coming from the mark provided on the wafer.
摘要:
An alignment method and a pattern forming method using the same, wherein a substrate onto which a complete pattern is to be transferred is held by a holder having formed thereon at least two alignment marks disposed in a predetermined positional relation with each other. Separate masks having relatively complementing pattern segments are used. Each of the masks is aligned with corresponding portion of the holder through an associated one of the alignment marks. As the result, the pattern segments transferred onto the substrate is aligned with each other and the continuity of the pattern is assured on the substrate. Also provided is an alignment mark forming method and a pattern forming method using the same, wherein the region on a substrate in which a continuous pattern is to be formed is divided into at least two sections and alignment marks for these sections are simultaneously formed on the substrate by means of one single mask, so that the segments of the pattern which are first to be transferred onto the sections of the substrate can be aligned with each other when they are transferred onto the substrate.
摘要:
An optical device includes an objective lens, a relay lens group for relaying the beam from the objective lens, and a compensator for compensating the variation in the optical path length, which occurs when the relative position between said objective lens and said relay lens group changes, by expanding or contracting the optical path.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for position detection for an object having a detection pattern formed by a concavity or convexity. The position detecting apparatus includes a scanning system for scanning the object with a light beam, a photoelectric transducer for receiving the information light reflected from the detection pattern to produce an electric signal, and a processing unit for computing, on the basis of the electric signal, the position of the detection pattern. Unwanted components included in the information light are prevented from being received by the photoelectric transducer, or electric signals corresponding to the unwanted components are excluded, so that the accuracy of signal processing and the accuracy of position detection are improved.
摘要:
An exposure method and apparatus for aligning a pattern of a mask with a pattern of a wafer is disclosed. and for transferring the pattern of the mask onto a resist layer formed on the surface of the wafer, wherein a portion of the resist layer on the wafer in the vicinity of an alignment mark formed on the wafer is exposed to light passed through a portion of the mask including an alignment mark formed on the mask, thereby to form a latent image of the alignment mark of the mask on the resist layer of the wafer, the latent image of the alignment mark of the mask formed on the resist layer of the wafer. The alignment mark formed on the wafer is detected so as to detect any positional deviation between the latent image and the alignment mark formed on the wafer. At least one of the mask and the wafer is displaced on the basis of the result of detection, and finally the resist layer of the wafer is exposed to light passed through a portion of the mask including the pattern.
摘要:
A projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens system for projecting an image of a pattern of an original on a substrate having a photosensitive layer, by using a sensitizing beam; a first detection optical system for detecting a mark of the substrate through the projection lens system and with a first non-sensitizing beam, the first detection optical system producing first information related to the position of the mark; a second detection optical system for detecting the mark of the substrate without the projection lens system and with a second nonsensitizing beam having a bandwidth broader than that of the first non-sensitizing beam, the second detection optical system producing second information related to the position of the mark; and a detector for detecting an error included in the first information, by using the first and second information.