Patent ID: 6811953
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A microdevice manufacturing method, comprising:an exposure step of using an exposure apparatus, comprising: an illumination optical system, which illuminates a mask with a predetermined pattern; a projection optical system, which includes a plurality of projection optical modules arrayed in a predetermined direction in order to form partially overlapping exposure regions on a photosensitive substrate, and projects the pattern of said mask onto said photosensitive substrate; and, a focusing adjustment unit, which aligns each respective image plane of said plurality of projection optical modules with respect to said photosensitive substrate in a certain focusing direction; wherein said focusing adjustment unit sets at a substantially same position in said certain focusing direction, certain portions that contribute to formation of said partially overlapping exposure regions on image planes of projection optical modules that are next to each other, to expose a pattern of said mask to said photosensitive substrate; a developing step of developing said substrate that is exposed; and an adjusting step of detecting a change amount of an image positioned in said partially overlapping exposure regions projected by said projection optical modules, in said certain focusing direction, by said exposure step to adjust said focusing adjusting units respectively provided in said projection optical modules to align the image planes of said projection optical modules in said certain focusing direction.