Patent ID: 6795168
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A method to facilitate exposing a wafer through at least two masks during an integrated circuit manufacturing process, comprising:receiving radiation from a radiation source, wherein the radiation source includes at least two beams and wherein each beam is applied to an illuminator; placing each mask of the at least two masks into a different reticle holder associated with each illuminator; adjusting the phase of beams received from each mask using an adaptive optics at the optical combiner, wherein the adaptive optics include one of actuated micromirrors and a deformable mirror, and wherein the adaptive optics can adjust for small differences in phase fronts through the illuminators and the reticles and for variations within the optics; combining the at least two beams into a single beam at an optical combiner; and projecting the single beam through imaging optics onto a semiconductor wafer; whereby a wafer placed on a wafer stage can be exposed by reticles placed in the at least two reticle holders during a single exposure from the radiation source.