Patent · US Expired

Focus monitoring method, exposure apparatus, and exposure mask

US6701512B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
6References
43Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 2002
Grant dateMar 2, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70641
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

According to a focus monitoring method, an exposure mask on which a focus monitor pattern comprising at least two types of pattern groups is formed is prepared. A pattern group A of the at least two pattern groups is illuminated with illumination light while a barycenter of an illumination light source of illumination optics is in an off-axis state. At least a pattern group B of the at least two pattern groups is illuminated with illumination light while the barycenter of the illumination light source is in an on-axis state. A positional deviation between the pattern groups A and B transferred onto a substrate is measured. An effective focus position can be monitored from this positional deviation.

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