Patent ID: 7312853

Claim:
An exposure apparatus for exposing an object to be exposed by elastically deforming an exposing mask having an opening pattern so as to bring the exposing mask into contact with the object, the exposure apparatus comprising: compression/decompression means for elastically deforming the exposing mask in a compression/decompression operation so as to bring the exposing mask into contact with the object or to effect separation of the exposing mask from the object; and controlling means for controlling said compression/decompression means to effect the compression/decompression operation, wherein said controlling means controls said compression/decompression means to effect the compression/decompression operation based on control data prepared in advance for producing a predetermined compression profile in an exposing mask contacting operation and a predetermined decompression profile in an exposing mask separating operation, wherein said controlling means compares an allowable load of the exposing mask with a present load during the compression/decompression operation, and if the present load is determined to exceed the allowable load of the exposing mask, the compression/decompression operation is stopped, and wherein the allowable load of the exposing mask is within at least one of a predetermined range of the elastic deformation of the exposing mask and a range that would avoid a natural frequency of the exposing mask.