Patent ID: 7339651
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
1. Exposure equipment useful in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, comprising: a wafer stage adapted to seat a wafer; a light system adapted to provide light having a desired wavelength; a reticle adapted to pass the light received from the light system and generate patterned light; an optical system positioned between the wafer stage and the reticle and adapted to direct the patterned light; an image sensor adapted to detect the patterned light and generate image data corresponding to the patterned light; a comparing section adapted to compare the image data with stored reference image data; and a control section controlling operation of the comparing section and allowing exposure of the wafer to the pattern light when the image data and the stored reference image data are substantially similar, but generating an interlock condition when the image data and the stored reference image data are not substantially similar, wherein the interlock condition prevents exposure of the wafer to the patterned light.