System and method for aerial image sensing
First Claim
1. A system for sensing, at an increased resolution, an aerial image exhibiting a light intensity distribution at a primary resolution, the system comprising:
- a photo-electron emission unit to sense the aerial image and, in response, emit electrons in a pattern corresponding to the light intensity distribution of the aerial image;
electron optics to project an enlarged pattern of the pattern of electrons emitted by the photo-electron emission unit;
a sensing unit to sense the enlarged pattern; and
an image analysis unit, coupled to the sensing unit, to digitize the enlarged pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system to sense an aerial image produced by optical equipment used in, for example, semiconductor fabrication. In one embodiment, the system includes a photo-electron emission device which, in response to an aerial image projected thereon, emits electrons in a pattern corresponding to the light intensity distribution produced by the aerial image. Electron optics provides an enlarged pattern of the pattern in which the electrons are emitted. A sensing unit senses the enlarged pattern. In another embodiment, the system employs a photo-conducting layer to project the aerial image thereon. The photo-conducting layer, in response to the projection of the aerial image thereon, produces local charge depletion corresponding to the light intensity distribution. A steering device delivers electrons to the photo-conducting layer to produce local re-charging currents in proportion to the local charge depletion. A pattern corresponding to the aerial image may be obtained from the re-charging currents.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for sensing, at an increased resolution, an aerial image exhibiting a light intensity distribution at a primary resolution, the system comprising:
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a photo-electron emission unit to sense the aerial image and, in response, emit electrons in a pattern corresponding to the light intensity distribution of the aerial image;
electron optics to project an enlarged pattern of the pattern of electrons emitted by the photo-electron emission unit;
a sensing unit to sense the enlarged pattern; and
an image analysis unit, coupled to the sensing unit, to digitize the enlarged pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for sensing an aerial image exhibiting a light intensity distribution at a primary resolution, the system comprising:
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a photo-conducting layer for projecting the aerial image thereon, wherein in response to the aerial image, the photo-conducting layer produces a depletion pattern corresponding to the light intensity distribution of the aerial image;
an electron source for providing electrons;
a steering device to direct the electrons to the photo-conducting layer to produce local re-charging currents in proportion to the local charge depletion;
amplifier circuitry coupled to the steering device, wherein the amplifier circuitry determines a pattern corresponding to the serial image using the re-charging currents; and
an image analysis unit, coupled to the sensing unit, to digitize the pattern. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification