IP Library Granted Patent US 7,417,736
Granted Patent B2
US 7,417,736 · App. 10/599,428 · Granted Aug 26, 2008

Method for determining a radiation power and an exposure apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,417,736
App. No.
10/599,428
Granted
Aug 26, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Method for determining a mean radiation power P rad 0 _ of electromagnetic radiation of a radiation source, the radiation being intensity-modulated with modulation frequency ω 0 , in a predetermined time interval. The method provides a reflector designed to reflect electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source and electromagnetic radiation of a test radiation source, irradiates a predetermined area of the reflector with the source electromagnetic radiation, at least partially irradiates the predetermined area of the reflector with electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source, measures a ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of a reflected test radiation power P test (t) of an electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source, the radiation being reflected from the area, in the predetermined time interval, determines a mean value P test , ω 0 0 _ of the measured ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of the reflected test radiation power P test (t) in the predetermined time interval, and determines the mean radiation power P rad 0 _ from the relationship P rad 0 _ = a · P test , ω 0 0 _ , where a is a predetermined constant.

Claims (140)

1. A method for determining a mean radiation power

P

rad

0

_

of an electromagnetic radiation of a radiation source, the radiation being intensity-modulated with modulation frequency ω 0 , in a predetermined time interval t 0 to t 0 +Δt, comprising:

providing a reflector, which is designed to reflect electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source and electromagnetic radiation of a test radiation source;

irradiating a predetermined area of the reflector with the electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source;

at least partially irradiating the predetermined area of the reflector with electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source;

measuring a ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of a reflected test radiation power P test (t) of an electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source, the radiation being reflected from the area, in the predetermined time interval;

determining a mean value

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

 of the measured ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of the reflected test radiation power P test (t) in the predetermined time interval; and

determining the mean radiation power

P

rad

0

_

 from the relationship

P

rad

0

_

=

a

·

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

,

where a is a predetermined or predeterminable constant.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising regulating an output power of the radiation source such that a difference between a mean radiation power

P

rad

1

_

of electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source in a time interval t 1 to t 1 +Δt and a desired radiation power P rad desired is essentially minimized, where t 1 >t 0 +Δt holds true.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method steps are carried out repeatedly in the order specified.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time interval has a magnitude of 0.1 ms to 10 ms.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time interval has a magnitude of 1 ms.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is an EUV radiation source.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the test radiation source is an He—Ne laser or a semiconductor laser having an essentially constant test radiation power.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a beam direction of the radiation source and a beam direction of the test radiation source are arranged at an angle with respect to one another.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the angle is essentially 0°.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the angle is between essentially 0° and essentially 90°.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the angle is between 30° and 70°.

12. An exposure apparatus for exposing a material with electromagnetic radiation, comprising:

a radiation source, which is designed to generate an electromagnetic radiation intensity-modulated with modulation frequency ω 0 ;

a test radiation source, which is designed to generate electromagnetic radiation;

a reflector, which is designed to reflect both the electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source and the electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source;

a measuring device, which is designed to measure a ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of a reflected test radiation power P test (t) of an electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation source, the radiation being reflected from the reflector; and

a determining device, which is designed to determine a mean value

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

 of the measured ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of the reflected test radiation power P test (t) in a predetermined time interval and to determine the mean radiation power

P

rad

0

_

 from the relationship

P

rad

0

_

=

a

·

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

,

where a is a predetermined or predeterminable constant.

13. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a regulating device, which is designed to regulate an output power of the electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source, such that a difference between a mean radiation power

P

rad

1

_

of electromagnetic radiation of the radiation source in a time interval t 1 to t 1 +Δt and a desired radiation power P rad desired is essentially minimized, where t 1 >t 0 +Δt holds true.

14. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein an EUV lithography exposure apparatus is involved.

15. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time interval has a magnitude of 0.1 ms to 10 ms.

16. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time interval has a magnitude of 1 ms.

17. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the test radiation source is an He—Ne laser or a semiconductor laser designed to emit radiation having an essentially constant test radiation power.

18. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein a beam direction of the radiation source and a beam direction of the test radiation source are arranged at an angle with respect to one another.

19. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the angle is essentially 0°.

20. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the angle is between essentially 0° and essentially 90°.

21. The exposure apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the angle is between 30° and 70°.

22. An exposure apparatus for exposing a material with electromagnetic radiation, comprising:

a radiation generating means for generating an electromagnetic radiation intensity-modulated with modulation frequency ω 0 ;

a test radiation generating means for generating electromagnetic radiation;

a reflecting means for reflecting both the electromagnetic radiation of the radiation generating means and the electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation generating means;

a measuring means for measuring a ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of a reflected test radiation power P test (t) of an electromagnetic radiation of the test radiation generating means, the radiation being reflected from the reflecting means; and

a determining means for determining a mean value

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

 or the measured ω 0 -modulated power component P test,ω 0 (t) of the reflected test radiation power P test (t) in a predetermined time interval and for determining the mean radiation power

P

rad

0

_

 from the relationship

P

rad

0

_

=

a

·

P

test

,

ω

0

0

_

,

where a is a predetermined or predeterminable constant.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2015
From: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
To: POLARIS INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 036877/0513 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2015
From: QIMONDA AG
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 035623/0001 →