Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An exposure apparatus which performs a patterning process on a sample using a plurality of charged-particle beams, the apparatus comprising:a charged-particle beam source; an electrooptic system including a first layer, a second layer and a conductive shield layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the first layer having a plurality of first apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, the second layer having a plurality of second apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, and a plurality of electrodes; and a stage which supports the sample.  2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductive shield layer has a plurality of third apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a size of the third aperture is larger than that of the first aperture or the second aperture. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductive shield layer is arranged substantially parallel to the first layer and the second layer. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the conductive shield layer is greater than that of the first layer or the second layer. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer interposed between the first layer and the conductive shield layer. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is insulated from the conductive shield layer. 8. A device manufacturing method, comprising:a step of performing a patterning process to a sample using an exposure apparatus as defined in claim 1; and a step of performing a developing process on the patterned sample.  9. An apparatus which performs a patterning process on a sample using a plurality of charged-particle beams, the apparatus comprising:a charged-particle beam source; an electrooptic system including an upper layer, a middle layer, a lower layer, a first conductive shield layer interposed between the upper layer and the middle layer, a second conductive shield layer interposed between the middle layer and the lower layer, the upper layer having a plurality of first apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, the middle layer having a plurality of second apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, and a plurality of electrodes, the lower layer having a plurality of third apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass; and a stage which supports the sample.  10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of electrodes are grouped in units of rows running along a first direction. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a first interval between the middle layer and the first conductive shield layer and a second interval between the middle layer and the second conductive shield layer are smaller than a layout pitch of the plurality of electrodes. 12. A device manufacturing method, comprising:a step of performing a patterning process to a sample using an exposure apparatus as defined in claim 9; and a step of performing a developing process on the patterned sample.  13. An apparatus which performs a patterning process on a sample using a plurality of charged-particle beams, the apparatus comprising:a charged-particle beam source; first and second electrooptic systems each including an upper layer, a middle layer, a lower layer, a first conductive shield layer interposed between the upper layer and the middle layer, and a second conductive shield layer interposed between the middle layer and the lower layer, the upper layer having a plurality of first apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, the middle layer having a plurality of second apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass, and a plurality of electrodes, the lower layer having a plurality of third apertures through which the charged-particle beams pass; and a stage which supports the sample.  14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the first electrooptic system are grouped in units of rows running along a first direction and the plurality of electrodes of the second electrooptic system are grouped in units of rows running along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lower layer of the first electrooptic system and the upper layer of the second electrooptic system are formed as one layer. 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample is a substrate. 17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sample is a substrate. 18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sample is a substrate.