Patent ID: 7154922
Filing Date: 2006-12-26
Classification: G03F,H01S

Abstract:
1. A laser beam source control method in which a laser beam source that is applicable to an exposure apparatus exposing a substrate with an exposure beam while relatively scanning the substrate with respect to the exposure beam, and also generates a beam to be used as the exposure beam and whose oscillation frequency is variable is controlled, said method comprising: an obtaining process in which information including a relationship between an oscillation frequency of said laser beam source in a predetermined range including a usable oscillation frequency and an output quality of said laser beam source is obtained; and a controlling process in which said oscillation frequency of said laser beam source is determined based on said information obtained in said obtaining process, and an oscillation environment affecting factor that affects an oscillation environment when oscillating said laser beam source is controlled, based on the determined oscillation frequency, wherein said information is information for judging whether said oscillation frequency of said laser beam source is appropriate or not while taking into consideration said output quality of said laser beam source, said oscillation frequency being calculated in accordance with an exposure pulse number and scanning velocity when said exposure apparatus performs scanning exposure.