Patent ID: 6414325
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: B82Y,H01J

Abstract:
A charged particle beam exposure apparatus comprising:a charged particle beam source for generating a charged particle beam; a shaper for shaping said charged particle beam; a deflector for changing the position where said charged particle beam is radiated on a specimen to be exposed; a projector for projecting said charged particle beam on said specimen; a control unit for controlling said deflector and said projector at the time of exposure; means for plotting a pattern on said specimen by the charged particle beam projected and deflected appropriately; a stage for moving said specimen within said apparatus; and a height measuring unit for measuring the height distribution in a predetermined range of said specimen with at least a predetermined density while said specimen is loaded in said apparatus; a detected height processing unit for changing the point of measurement of said specimen by said height measuring unit by moving said specimen with said stage, combining the measurements at respective points and measuring the height distribution over the entire surface of said specimen to said exposure; and an alarm generator for issuing an alarm indicating the detection of a height change, if any, exceeding a predetermined allowance by said height measuring unit within a predetermined range of the exposure area on said specimen to be exposed.