Patent ID: 6858853

Claim:
An illumination system, particularly for microlithography with wavelengths≦193 nm, comprising: a primary light source ( 8001 , 8101 , 8401 ); a first optical component; a second optical component ( 8021 , 8121 , 8421 ); an image plane ( 8029 , 8129 , 8429 ); and an exit pupil ( 8033 , 8133 ), wherein said first optical component transforms said primary light source ( 8001 , 8101 , 8401 ) into a plurality of secondary light sources that are imaged by said second optical component in said exit pupil ( 8033 , 8133 ), wherein said first optical component includes a first optical-element having a plurality of first raster elements ( 8009 , 8109 , 8409 ) that are imaged into said image plane ( 8029 , . . . ), producing a plurality of images being superimposed, at least partially, on a field in said image plane ( 8029 , . . . ), wherein said first optical component comprises a collector unit ( 8003 , 8103 , 8403 ) and a second optical element having a plurality of second raster elements ( 8015 , 8115 , 8415 ), said illumination system further comprising: a first optical axis ( 8045 . 1 ) between said collector unit ( 8003 , . . . ) and said first optical element, wherein said first optical element is reflective; a second optical axis ( 8045 . 2 ) between said first optical element and said second optical element, wherein said second optical element is reflective; and a third optical axis ( 8045 . 3 ) between said second optical element and said second optical component ( 8021 , 8121 , 8421 ), wherein the directional vector ( 8046 . 1 ) of the first optical axis ( 8045 . 1 ) and the directional vector ( 8046 . 2 ) of the second optical axis ( 8046 . 2 ) define a plane and wherein said first and second optical elements are tilted to cause a crossing or the projection of said third optical axis ( 8045 . 3 ) into said plane and said first optical axis, second optical element, wherein said second optical element is reflective; and a third optical axis ( 8045 . 3 ) between said second optical element and said second optical component ( 8021 , 8121 , 8421 ), wherein the directional vector ( 8046 . 1 ) of the first optical axis ( 8045 . 1 ) and the directional vector ( 8046 . 2 ) of the second optical axis ( 8045 . 2 ) define a plane and wherein said first and second optical elements are tilted to cause a crossing of the projection of said third optical axis ( 8045 . 3 ) into said plane and said first optical axis.