Patent ID: 6232612
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A controller in a variable shaped electron beam exposure system, said controller being connected to a deflector for controlling a deflection by said deflector to an electron beam on a transmission between first and second aperture members positioned to have a distance along which said electron beam is transmitted, and said first and second aperture members having first and second apertures for shaping said electron beam so that said electron beam is first transmitted through said first aperture member and then transmitted through said second aperture member, and said second aperture member further having at least one aperture mask pattern with a shape different from a shape of said second aperture and said at least one aperture mask pattern also having a smaller size than said first aperture,wherein said controller includes:a first means being connected to a first memory for reading data of write-required patterns out of said first memory to divide each of said write-required patterns into a plurality of unit patterns; anda second means being connected to said first means for fetching said unit patterns and also connected to a second memory for reading out data of said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern so as to collate said unit patterns with said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern to confirm any correspondence between said unit patterns and said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern,so that if said correspondence between said unit patterns and said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern is confirmed, then said controller controls said deflection to allow said electron beam to be transmitted toward said at least one aperture mask pattern of said second aperture member whereby said electron beam is shaped in accordance with said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern, andso that if no correspondence between said unit patterns and said shape of said at least one aperture mask pattern is confirmed, then said controller controls said deflection to allow said electron beam to be transmitted toward said second aperture whereby said electron beam is shaped by a combination of said first and second apertures for said variable shaped electron beam exposure.