Patent ID: 7532403
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. An optical system comprising: an optical element configured to receive a beam and to generate a plurality of beams therefrom, wherein the optical element comprises a pupil defining element; a first lens relay having a first and second lens arrays arranged in series and configured to receive the plurality of beams and to re-image the plurality of beams onto an image plane into a plurality of corresponding beams, each of the plurality of corresponding beams having a numerical aperture less than a numerical aperture of each of the plurality of beams; a first condenser configured to condense the plurality of corresponding beams; a field defining element configured to receive the condensed plurality of beams and to generate a field defined beam therefrom; a second lens relay having a third and fourth lens arrays arranged in series and configured to receive the field defined beam and to generate another plurality of corresponding beams therefrom, each of the another plurality of corresponding beams having a numerical aperture less than a numerical aperture of the field defined beam; a second condenser configured to receive and to condense the another plurality of corresponding beams; and a relay configured to receive and to direct the condensed another plurality of corresponding beams onto a patterning device.