Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An electron beam device for directing a beam of energetic electrons onto a substrate for forming an integrated circuit pattern on the substrate, said electron beam device comprising: a source of energetic electrons for directing a beam of electrons along an axis;  multi-stage beam limiting means disposed in a spaced manner along said axis adjacent said source of energetic electrons for intercepting a peripheral portion of the electron beam and reducing the cross section of the electron beam, wherein each stage of said beam limiting means incrementally reduces the cross section of the electron beam in proceeding toward the substrate;  focusing means disposed along said axis intermediate said beam limiting means and the substrate for forming a beam electrostatic focus region in the electron beam device for focusing the electron beam to a spot on the substrate; and  multi-stage electrostatic deflection means disposed in a spaced manner along said axis intermediate said beam limiting means and the substrate and generally co-located with said focusing means for forming a beam electrostatic deflection region for deflecting the electron beam over the substrate in forming a circuit pattern on the substrate, wherein said beam electrostatic focus region and said beam electrostatic deflection region overlap and are coincident along said axis, and wherein each stage of said electrostatic deflection means has a different incremental deflection sensitivity for exerting increasing incremental deflection sensitivity on the electron beam in proceeding toward the substrate. 2. The electron beam device of  claim 1  wherein said source of energetic electrons comprises an electron gun. claim 1 3. The electron beam device of  claim 1  wherein said multi-stage beam limiting means includes plural, apertured plates disposed in a spaced manner along said axis, and wherein the apertures in said plates are aligned along said axis and said beam of electrons is directed through the aligned apertures. claim 1 4. The electron beam device of  claim 3  wherein each of said apertures is circular and said apertures decrease in size in proceeding along said axis in the direction of travel of the beam. claim 3 5. The electron beam device of  claim 4  wherein each of said plates has a respective thickness, with the thickness of said plates decreasing along said axis in the direction of travel of the beam. claim 4 6. The electron beam device of  claim 5  wherein said multi-stage beam limiting means comprises first, second and third generally flat apertured plates having thicknesses t 1 , t 2 , and t 3 , respectively, and apertures having diameters d 1 , d 2 , and d 3 , respectively, and wherein said first plate is in facing relation to said source of energetic electrons and said second plate is disposed intermediate said first and third plates, and wherein t 1  greater than t 2  greater than t 3  and d 1  greater than d 2  greater than d 3 . claim 5 7. The electron beam device of  claim 3  further comprising electrostatic beam positioning means disposed adjacent said plates for centering the electron beam in the apertures of said plates. claim 3 8. The electron beam device of  claim 7  wherein said electrostatic beam positioning means included plural electrostatically charged electrodes each aligned along said axis and disposed intermediate adjacent apertured plates. claim 7 9. The electron beam device of  claim 8  wherein each of said electrostatically charged electrodes includes plural charged members disposed in a spaced manner concentrically about said axis, and wherein each of said charged members is equidistant from said axis. claim 8 10. The electron beam device of  claim 9  wherein each of said plural members of an electrostatically charged electrode is connected to a respective voltage source. claim 9 11. The electron beam device of  claim 10  wherein each voltage source is adjustable for providing selected voltages to the plural members of an electrostatically charged electrode. claim 10 12. The electron beam device of  claim 10  wherein each electrode includes four members, and wherein a first pair of charged members diametrically disposed with respect to said axis center the electron beam in a first direction and a second pair of charged members diametrically disposed with respect to said axis center the electron beam in a second direction, and wherein said first and second directions are transverse. claim 10 13. The electron beam device of  claim 1  wherein said beam limiting means includes an apertured plate disposed in a spaced manner along said axis, said plate including a tapered aperture through which said beam of electrons is directed, said tapered aperture defined by a larger opening on a first side of said plate in facing relation to said source of energetic electrons and a smaller opening on a second, opposed side of said plate in facing relation to said focusing means. claim 1 14. The electron beam device of  claim 13  wherein said plate is comprised of platinum. claim 13 15. The electron beam device of  claim 1  wherein said multi-stage electrostatic deflection means includes plural sets of deflection plates disposed in a spaced manner about said axis, and wherein said sets of deflection plates are disposed in a spaced manner along said axis. claim 1 16. The electron beam device of  claim 15  wherein each of said deflection plates is generally flat and is disposed lengthwise along said axis. claim 15 17. The electron beam device of  claim 16  wherein each deflection plate has first and second opposed ends respectively disposed in facing relation to said beam limiting means and to said substrate, and wherein the first end of each of said plates is disposed closer to said axis than the second opposed end of the plate. claim 16 18. The electron beam device of  claim 17  wherein each of said deflection plates is generally trapezoidal in shape and said first end is parallel to and shorter than said second opposed end. claim 17 19. The electron beam device of  claim 15  wherein each set of deflection plates includes four deflection plates, and wherein a first pair of deflection plates diametrically disposed with respect to said axis deflect the electron beam in a first direction and a second pair of deflection plates diametrically disposed with respect to said axis deflect the electron beam in a second direction, and wherein said first and second directions are transverse. claim 15 20. The electron beam device of  claim 15  wherein each of said deflection plates is connected to a respective dynamic voltage source. claim 15 21. The electron beam device of  claim 15  including a first set of deflection plates disposed in facing relation to said beam limiting means for coarse deflection of the electron beam and a second set of deflection plates disposed between said first set of deflection plates and said substrate for fine deflection of the electron beam. claim 15 22. The electron beam device of  claim 21  wherein said first set of deflection plates are connected to a first dynamic voltage source and said second set of deflection plates are connected to a second dynamic voltage source. claim 21 23. The electron beam device of  claim 1  wherein said focusing means includes first and second focusing electrodes disposed along said axis on respective sides of said electrostatic deflection means, and wherein said first focusing electrode is in facing relation to said beam limiting means and said second focusing electrode is in facing relation to the substrate. claim 1 24. The electron beam device of  claim 23  wherein said first and second focusing electrodes are generally cylindrical in shape and are concentrically disposed about said axis. claim 23 25. The electron beam device of  claim 23  wherein said second focusing electrode includes plural charged lens elements disposed in a spaced manner about said axis. claim 23 26. The electron beam device of  claim 25  wherein each of said lens elements is a generally flat plate connected to a respective voltage source, and wherein each of said flat plates is aligned generally parallel to said axis. claim 25 27. The electron beam device of  claim 26  wherein said second focusing electrode includes four generally flat charged lens elements, and wherein a first pair of lens elements are diametrically disposed relative to one another with respect to said axis and a second pair of lens elements are diametrically disposed relative to one another with respect to said axis. claim 26 28. The electron beam device of  claim 27  wherein said first focusing electrode is generally cylindrical in shape and is concentrically disposed about said axis. claim 27 29. The electron beam device of  claim 1  further comprising an envelope substantially disposed about said source of energetic electrons, said beam limiting means, said focusing means, and said electrostatic deflection means. claim 1 30. The electron beam device of  claim 29  wherein said envelope is comprised of glass. claim 29 31. The electron beam device of  claim 29  wherein said envelope is conductive. claim 29 32. An arrangement for simultaneously forming plural electronic circuit patterns of an integrated circuit, said arrangement comprising: first plural electron beam devices arranged in a generally planar, matrix array, wherein each electron beam device has a respective longitudinal axis along which a respective electron beam emitted by the electron beam device is directed, and wherein the longitudinal axes of said electron beam devices are in parallel alignment;  one or more first substrate members disposed in spaced relation from said electron beam devices along the longitudinal axes of said electron beam devices, wherein each electron beam is directed onto a single substrate member or wherein each electron beam is directed onto a respective substrate member; and  means for supporting and displacing said electron beam devices, wherein each of said electron beams forms an electronic circuit pattern on said single substrate member or on a respective one of said plural substrate members. 33. The arrangement of  claim 32  further comprising second plural electron beam devices arranged in generally planar, matrix array for directing their respective electron beams onto one or more second substrates, and means for supporting and displacing said second plural electron beam devices for forming second electronic circuit patterns on said one or more second substrates, wherein said first and second plural electron beam arrays are arranged in a stacked manner. claim 32 34. The arrangement of  claim 32  wherein each of said electron beam devices is connected to a common control circuit for energizing and controlling said electron beam devices. claim 32