Projection exposure methods and apparatus, and projection optical systems

• US 6,674,513 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Omura, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/252,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20030147061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 355/53, 355/67-71, 359/618-620, 359/758
• US Class Current: 355/67
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/143 for use with ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/18 with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration G02B13/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/24 for reproducing or copying at short object distances
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70241 Optical aspects of refractive lens systems, i.e. comprising only refractive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70741 Handling masks outside exposure position, e.g. reticle libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70883 of optical system
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70958 Optical materials or coatings, e.g. with particular transmittance, reflectance or anti-reflection properties

Abstract

A dioptric projection optical system for imaging a reduced image of a pattern on a first surface onto a second surface using radiation-transmitting refractors. The projection optical system has a front lens unit of a positive refracting power and a rear lens unit of a positive refracting power. An aperture stop is located in the vicinity of a rear focal point of the front lens unit.

Claims

1. A dioptric projection optical system for forming an image of a pattern on a first surface, onto a second surface by action of radiation-transmitting refractors, comprising:

a front lens unit having a positive refracting power, located in an optical path between said first surface and said second surface;

a rear lens unit having a positive refracting power, located in an optical path between said front lens unit and said second surface; and

an aperture stop located in the vicinity of a rear focal point position of said front lens unit;

said projection optical system being telecentric on the said first surface side and on the said second surface side,

wherein the following condition is satisfied;

2. The projection optical system according to claim 1, said projection optical system comprising at least one lens surface of aspheric shape.

3. The projection optical system according to claim 2, wherein when six lenses are selected in order from the said first surface side of lenses having their respective refracting powers in said projection optical system, at least one surface of the six lenses has an aspheric shape having a negative refracting power.

4. The projection optical system according to claim 1, wherein said front lens unit comprises a first lens unit with a negative refracting power, a second lens unit with a positive refracting power, a third lens unit with a negative refracting power, and a fourth lens unit with a positive refracting power in the order named from the first surface side,

wherein the following conditions are satisfied:

5. The projection optical system according to claim 4, wherein said first and second lens units include at least two lens surfaces of aspheric shape and comprise ten or more lenses.

6. The projection optical system according to claim 1, wherein said front lens unit comprises a first lens unit with a negative refracting power, a second lens unit with a positive refracting power, a third lens unit with a negative refracting power, and a fourth lens unit with a positive refracting power in the order named from the first surface side.

7. The projection optical system according to claim 4, wherein the following condition is satisfied:

8. The projection optical system according to claim 1, wherein the following condition is satisfied:

9. The projection optical system according to claim 8, wherein the total number of said members having their respective refracting powers is not less than 16.

10. The projection optical system according to claim 8, wherein the total number of said members having their respective refracting powers is not more than 26.

11. The projection optical system according to claim 8, wherein radiation-transmitting refractors in said projection optical system are made of a single kind of material.

12. The projection optical system according to claim 8, wherein the radiation-transmitting refractors in said projection optical system comprise first radiation-transmitting refractors made of a first material and second radiation-transmitting refractors made of a second material, and

wherein a percentage of the number of said second radiation-transmitting refractors to the number of the members having their respective refracting powers among said radiation-transmitting refractors, is not more than 32%.

13. The projection optical system according to claim 1, said projection optical system forming a reduced image of said pattern on said first surface, on said second surface.

14. The projection optical system according to claim 1, wherein said aperture stop is located in an optical path between said front lens unit and said rear lens unit.

16. A projection exposure apparatus for projecting a reduced image of a pattern provided on a projection master, onto a workpiece to effect exposure thereof, comprising:

a light source for supplying exposure light;

an illumination optical system for guiding the exposure light from the light source to said pattern on said projection master; and

the projection optical system as set forth in claim 1;

wherein said projection master can be placed on said first surface of said projection optical system, and said workpiece can be placed on said second surface.

17. A projection exposure apparatus for projecting a reduced image of a pattern provided on a projection master, onto a workpiece to effect exposure thereof while scanning, comprising:

a light source for supplying exposure light;

an illumination optical system for guiding the exposure light from the light source to said pattern on said projection master;

the projection optical system as set forth in claim 1;

a first stage for enabling said projection master to be placed on said first surface of said projection optical system; and

a second stage for enabling said workpiece to be placed on said second surface;

wherein said first and second stages are movable at a ratio of speeds according to a projection magnification of said projection optical system.

18. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said light source supplies the exposure light in a wavelength region of not more than 180 nm and wherein said projection optical system guides 25% or more by quantity of the exposure light from said projection master, to said workpiece.

19. A projection exposure method of projecting a pattern formed on a projection master, onto a workpiece to effect exposure thereof,

which uses the projection exposure apparatus as set forth in claim 16,

wherein said projection master is placed on said first surface and said workpiece is placed on said second surface, and

wherein an image of said pattern is formed on said workpiece through said projection optical system.

20. A method of fabricating a microdevice having a predetermined circuit pattern, comprising:

a step of projecting an image of said pattern onto said workpiece to effect exposure thereof, using the projection exposure method as set forth in claim 19, and

a step of developing said workpiece after the projection exposure.

15. A method of fabricating a dioptric projection optical system for forming an image of a pattern on a first surface, onto a second surface by action of radiation-transmitting refractors, comprising:

a step of locating a front lens unit having a positive refracting power;

a step of locating a rear lens unit having a positive refracting power, between the front lens unit and said second surface; and

a step of locating an aperture stop between said front lens unit and said rear lens unit;

wherein said front lens unit, said rear lens unit, and said aperture stop are located so that the projection optical system is telecentric on the said first surface side and on the said second surface side, and

said method using the projection optical system satisfying the following condition;