Patent ID: 7046459

Claim:
A catadioptric projection lens for imaging a pattern situated in an object plane onto an image plane while creating a real intermediate image, comprising, between the object plane and image plane: a catadioptric first lens section having a concave mirror; a beam-deflection device; and a second lens section that is arranged following the catadioptric lens section; wherein the beam-deflection device has a first reflecting surface for deflecting radiation coming from the object plane toward the concave mirror; wherein a positive refractive power is arranged in an optical near-field of the object plane, between the first reflecting surface and the concave mirror; wherein a second reflecting surface for deflecting radiation coming from the concave mirror toward the image plane is provided; wherein the intermediate image is arranged prior to light which forms the intermediate image being reflected by the second reflecting surface; wherein at least one lens is arranged between the intermediate image and the second reflecting surface; and wherein positive refractive power is arranged between the concave mirror and the intermediate image within an optical near-field of the intermediate image.