Patent ID: 6421123
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A method of transferring a pattern onto an object comprising:moving a stage on which said object is carried so that a mark on said object is substantially positioned in a focus plane of a mark detection system; illuminating said mark with an illuminating light which passes through a first area on a first plane, said first plane being substantially in optical Fourier transform relation to said focus plane in said mark detection system; detecting light generated from said mark by an imaging device of said mark detection system wherein an arrival to said imaging device of light distributed in a second area is substantially blocked or a phase of said light distributed in said second area is different from that of light distributed in an area which is different from said second area, said second area being substantially in image-forming relation to said first area and being on a second plane which is substantially in optical Fourier transform relation to said focus plane in said mark detection system; and moving said stage on the basis of said position information of said mark and an output of an interferometer for said stage, said position information being determined from an output signal of said imaging device.