Patent · US Expired

Catadioptric lithography system and method with reticle stage orthogonal to wafer stage

US6977716B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
25References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2004
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70225
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lithography apparatus and method using catadioptric exposure optics that projects high quality images without image flip. The apparatus includes means for illuminating a reticle stage to produce a patterned image. The apparatus also includes means for receiving the patterned image at each of a plurality of wafer stages. Each of the wafer stages has an associated data collection station. The apparatus also includes means for positioning the reticle stage substantially orthogonal to each of the plurality of wafer stages as well as means for directing the patterned image through a catadioptric exposure optics element between the reticle stage and each wafer stage to cause an even number of reflections of the patterned image and to project the patterned image onto each wafer stage in a congruent manner. The invention can also be combined with a dual isolation system.

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