Patent · US Expired

Method of detecting relative positional deviation between two objects

US5182455A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
5References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 11, 1992
Grant dateJan 26, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 11, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F9/7049
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method, usable with a workpiece having a predetermined grating pattern and to be exposed to a particular pattern through a projection lens system and by use of an exposure beam of a predetermined wavelength, for detecting a positional error of the workpiece. The method includes the steps of: providing a reference plate having first and second grating marks; irradiating the first and second grating marks with a radiation beam of a wavelength different from the predetermined wavelength, so that the first grating mark produces a first diffraction beam while the second grating mark produces a second diffraction beam; superposing, through the projection lens system, the first diffraction beam and the second diffraction beam upon one another on the predetermined grating mark to form a beam spot thereat; and detecting the positional error of the workpiece, on the basis of any deviation of the predetermined grating pattern relative to the beam spot.

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