Patent ID: 6894765

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling characteristics of radiation directed to a microlithographic workpiece, comprising: a workpiece support having a support surface positioned to carry a microlithographic workpiece; a source of radiation positioned to direct a radiation beam along a radiation path toward the workpiece support, the radiation beam having an amplitude distribution, a phase distribution and a polarization distribution; an adaptive structure positioned in the radiation path between the source of radiation and the workpiece support, the adaptive structure having a plurality of independently controllable and selectively radiation transmissible elements, each configured to receive a portion of the radiation beam and change from one state to any of a plurality of available other states to chance at least one of the amplitude distribution, the phase distribution and the polarization distribution of the radiation beam; a reticle disposed between the adaptive structure and the workpiece support; and a controller operatively coupled to the adaptive structure to direct the elements of the adaptive structure to change from the one state to the one of the plurality of other states.