Patent · US Expired

Illumination system and method allowing for varying of both field height and pupil

US7079321B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
16References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2004
Grant dateJul 18, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70183
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and system allow for changing (continuously or variably) both a field height and pupil of a beam that illuminates an object field. In one example, the object field can have a pattern generator (e.g., one or more reticles, spatial light modulators, or the like) positioned therein. The system and method for changing both the field height and the pupil can include a field defining element, a pupil defining element, and first and second zoom systems. The field defining element (FDE) can generate a field height of an illumination beam. The first zoom system can allow for changing of the field height of the illumination beam. The pupil defining element (PDE) can generate a pupil of the illumination beam. The second zoom system can allow for changing of the pupil of the illumination beam.

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