Patent ID: 8599357
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A photolithography system, comprising: at least one spatial light modulator that comprises a plurality of regularly arrayed light modulation elements; a scanning mechanism configured to move an exposure area relative to a target object, in a given scanning direction, the exposure area being defined as a projection area of said at least one spatial light modulator, wherein a number of the light modulation elements along the given scanning direction is equal to or greater than two; a plurality of memories configured to correspond to a plurality of partial exposure areas that is defined by dividing the exposure area equally in the scanning direction designated as 1 a data processor that successively writes exposure data into each memory in accordance with a timing of an exposure; and an exposure controller having a drive circuit that controls said plurality of regularly arrayed light modulation elements on a basis of a relative position of the exposure area by outputting ON/OFF signals to the spatial light modulator, wherein each memory of the plurality of memories is independently connected to the drive circuit of the exposure controller and the exposure data stored in each memory is independently output to the drive circuit of the exposure controller in accordance with the timing of an exposure, wherein the exposure controller controls the plurality of light modulation elements on a basis of the exposure data that is output from the plurality of memories; wherein said data processor writes newly generated exposure data into the 1 wherein a plurality of partial modulation areas is defined in the at least one spatial light modulator in accordance with the plurality of partial exposure areas, wherein each partial modulation area has a width along the given scanning direction that is based on a given number of light-modulation elements, and wherein the exposure controller carries out an exposure motion at an exposure pitch corresponding to the width along the given scanning direction of each partial modulation area on a basis of exposure data stored in each memory.