Patent ID: 7868307

Claim:
A method for transferring a pattern onto a target exposure surface comprising: generating a plurality of n charged particle beams ( 3 ) utilizing a beam generator, wherein each charged particle beam ( 3 ) has a beam axis ( 2 ); splitting each beam ( 3 ) of said n charged particle beams into a plurality of m beamlets ( 5 ), thus resulting in a total of n×m beamlets ( 5 ), said splitting being accomplished by a first aperture array ( 4 ), comprising a plurality of groups of apertures, each group of apertures aligned with one of said n charged particle beams ( 3 ); and deflecting said m beamlets ( 5 ) of each beam ( 3 ) utilising a deflector array comprising a plurality of groups of deflectors, each group of deflectors has a centre which is aligned with the beam axis ( 2 ) of one beam ( 3 ) of said n charged particle beams, wherein each deflector of a group of deflectors is operable for deflecting charged particles towards the centre of the group of deflectors.