Patent · US Expired

Method and system for controlling narrow-band oscillation excimer laser

US5142543A · kind A · utility

101Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 1989
Grant dateAug 25, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S3/225
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for controlling a narrow-band oscillation excimer laser which is suitable for control of an excimer laser used as a light source of a reduced projection exposer, and a system thereof. At least two wavelength selective element are disposed within a laser oscillator. There are provided a center wavelength control for causing an oscillation center wavelength determined by these wavelength selective elements to coincide with a desired value, an overlapping control for overlapping the transmission wavelengths of these wavelength selective elements, and a power control for controlling a voltage applied to electrodes located within a laser chamber to thereby control a laser output. Partial gas replacement is carried out when the application voltage to the electrodes within the laser chamber becomes high. After execution of the partial gas replacement, such control is carried out that the control period of the overlapping control is set to be substantially equal to that of the power control or that the overlapping control is inhibitd during the power control. At the time of activating the laser, the overlapping control is first carried out and then the center wavelength control is…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.