Patent ID: 6346979
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A projection exposure apparatus for projecting patterns of a mask on a photosensitive substrate by a step-and-scan exposure process, said apparatus comprising:a projection optical system for projecting said patterns on an exposed region of said photosensitive substrate, said patterns being formed within a transfer region on said mask; a mask stage for making one-dimensional movements over a range equal to or larger than a one-directional width dimension of said mask transfer region in a state where said mask is held substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection optical system; a substrate stage for one-dimensionally moving said photosensitive substrate at a velocity synchronized with a moving velocity of said mask stage in a one-dimensional moving direction of said mask stage; an illuminating means for illuminating said mask transfer region with illumination light for an exposure through an aperture region, said aperture region defined by a slit having opposed, segmented light-interrupting edges, each edge comprised of a plurality of slit segments, each slit segment independently adjustable; and adjusting means for independently adjusting each said slit segment, wherein for each slit segment of said plurality of slit segments said adjusting means includes data receiving means for receiving data and lateral displacement means for laterally displacing said slit segment, said lateral displacement means responsive to said data, said data comprises inspection data of said patterns, measured non-uniformities of said projection optical system, and measured non-uniformities of said illumination light.