Patent ID: 6879378
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. An exposure apparatus comprising: a first table and a second table each including a stage plate on which a work is placed, and a light-transmissible plate to which a mask is previously mounted, the first and second tables being transferred alternately between a load/unload position where the work is loaded/unloaded and aligned with the mask and an exposure position where the aligned set of work and mask is exposed to light; a first transferring passage and a second transferring passage arranged at two different levels between the load/unload position and the exposure position, wherein the first transferring passage transfers the first table and the second table alternately, while the second transferring passage transfers the second table and the first table alternately; a hoist mechanism which elevates one of the first and second tables to the first transferring passages, and lowers the other of the second and first tables to the second transferring passage; a conveyor mechanism which conveys the first and second tables elevated or lowered by the hoist mechanism along the first and second transferring passages, one from the load/unload position to the exposure position, and the other from the exposure position to the load/unload position; an alignment mechanism which aligns the work that is placed on one of the tables conveyed to the load/unload position with the mask; and a light-exposure mechanism which radiates light to the work placed on the other of the tables conveyed to the exposure position.