System and method utilizing a lithography tool having modular illumination, pattern generator, and projection optics portions
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a first module including a set of pattern generating devices;
a second module including a set of magnification changing devices having different magnifications, each of the magnification changing devices being aligned with a corresponding one of the pattern generating devices based on a correlation between a characteristic of the pattern generating devices and the magnification of the magnification changing devices;
a third module including a set of illuminating devices;
a fourth module including a set of projection optical devices; and
a substrate that receives exposure light beams from the fourth module,wherein the set of illuminating devices in the third module is configured to direct illumination through the set of magnification changing devices in the second module to reflect the illumination from the set of pattern generating devices in the first module, andwherein the reflected light passes back through the set of magnification changing devices in the second module and is directed by the set of illuminating devices in the third module onto the set of projection optical devices in the fourth module.
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Abstract
A lithography system has a magnification module having multiple magnifications at a same time within an object plane, which can include a pattern generator therein. The pattern generator is used to pattern light from an illumination system, which is directed by a projection optical system onto a substrate to form features on a substrate. Having multiple magnifications in the object plate allows for patterning of both large and small features on an image plane, which can include the substrate therein. In one example, an array of pattern generators are used. In this example, substantially an entire surface of the substrate can be patterned with large and small features at substantially a same time.
46 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a first module including a set of pattern generating devices; a second module including a set of magnification changing devices having different magnifications, each of the magnification changing devices being aligned with a corresponding one of the pattern generating devices based on a correlation between a characteristic of the pattern generating devices and the magnification of the magnification changing devices; a third module including a set of illuminating devices; a fourth module including a set of projection optical devices; and a substrate that receives exposure light beams from the fourth module, wherein the set of illuminating devices in the third module is configured to direct illumination through the set of magnification changing devices in the second module to reflect the illumination from the set of pattern generating devices in the first module, and wherein the reflected light passes back through the set of magnification changing devices in the second module and is directed by the set of illuminating devices in the third module onto the set of projection optical devices in the fourth module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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a set of pattern generators; a set of magnification changing devices having a same number of magnification changing devices as pattern generators in the set of pattern generators and having different magnifications; and a controller that is configured to determine a characteristic of each of the pattern generators and move a correlating one of the magnification changing devices to align with a corresponding one of the pattern generators based on the characteristic of the corresponding one of the pattern generators; an illumination system; an optical system; and a projection system, whereby radiation generated by the illumination system is directed by the optical system through respective ones of the magnification changing devices onto corresponding ones of the set of pattern generators to form patterned light beams, and whereby the patterned light beams are directed by the optical system onto the projection system to be projected by the projection system onto a substrate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method, comprising:
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(a) determining a characteristic of each patterning device in a plurality of patterning devices; (b) aligning a corresponding magnification changing device in a plurality of magnification changing devices, having different magnifications, with a respective one of the patterning devices in the plurality of patterning devices based on step (a); (c) directing light through the plurality of magnification changing devices onto respective ones of the plurality of patterning devices to pattern the light; and (d) projecting the patterned light onto a substrate.
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Specification