Patent ID: 6522471
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: G01J,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
A system of beam narrowing for resolution enhancement, comprising, in combination:an illumination system; a first reflective surface positioned in a plane relative to said illumination system; a second reflective surface positioned in a plane relative to said illumination system and disposed between an optical focusing system and said first reflective surface; said optical focusing system positioned in a plane relative to said illumination system, said optical focusing system cooperating with said illumination system, to image a light source through said illumination system, through said optical focusing system and onto said first reflective surface and said second reflective surface; wherein said first reflective surface is substantially parallel to said second reflective surface, wherein said first reflective surface is further positioned at a tuned optical distance from said second reflective surface, and wherein said tuned optical distance is defined as that value wherein said light source imaged onto one of said first reflective surface and said second reflective surface selected as a target surface forms a minimum radius spot size upon said selected target surface.