Patent ID: 6277533
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A projection exposure method in which an image of a pattern on a mask which is illuminated by an exposure beam is projected onto a substrate through a projection system and a shot area on said substrate is exposed with use of the pattern on said mask, by scanning said substrate in a second direction corresponding to a first direction in synchronization with scanning said mask in said first direction which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of said projection system, said method comprising:moving said substrate in a predetermined direction after exposure of a preceding shot area just before said shot area is finished; andstarting exposure of said shot area after said movement of said substrate in said predetermined direction is completed;wherein a measurement area for measuring positional information of said substrate in the direction along said optical axis of said projection system is defined at a position which is separated in a direction opposite to said second direction with respect to the exposure region which is illuminated by said exposure beam through said projection system, and the distance that said substrate moves in said second direction from the time when said movement of said substrate in said substrate in said predetermined direction is completed by the time when exposure of said shot area starts is equal or more than the space between said exposure region and said measurement region along said second direction.