Patent ID: 6031597
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
An apparatus for transferring a reticle pattern from a reticle onto a substrate, the apparatus comprising:a base;a substrate stage coupled to the base for holding the substrate;a reticle stage coupled to the base comprising,a stage structure;a reticle chuck coupled to the stage structure for holding the reticle substantially parallel to the substrate;an illumination system disposed adjacent the reticle chuck;a unity magnification lens system disposed adjacent the reticle chuck opposite and coupled to the illumination system, the lens system for projecting an image of the reticle pattern onto the substrate; anda first actuator coupled to the stage structure and the lens and illumination systems for moving the lens and illumination systems together in a first dimension to effect transfer of the reticle pattern onto the substrate; anda second actuator coupled to the base for providing relative motion in a second dimension between the substrate stage and the reticle stage, the second dimension being orthogonal to the first dimension, one of the first dimension and the second dimension being along a single axis;wherein the apparatus is operable to transfer multiple, adjacent, non-overlapping copies of the reticle pattern onto the substrate by providing relative motion in the second dimension between the substrate stage and reticle stage to align the reticle pattern with successive, adjacent portions of the substrate, and moving the lens and illumination systems together in the first dimension to transfer the reticle pattern to the substrate.