IP Library Granted Patent US 7,348,565
Granted Patent B2
US 7,348,565 · App. 11/649,199 · Granted Mar 25, 2008

Illumination system particularly for microlithography

Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,348,565
App. No.
11/649,199
Granted
Mar 25, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography using a wavelength less than or equal to 193 nm. The apparatus includes an optical element with a pupil raster element, and a projection objective with a real entrance pupil. The optical element is situated in or near a plane defined by the real entrance pupil.

Claims (36)

1. A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography using a wavelength less than or equal to 193 nm, comprising:

an optical element with a pupil raster element; and

a projection objective with a real entrance pupil,

wherein said optical element is situated in or near a plane defined by said real entrance pupil.

2. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said optical element has a plurality of pupil raster elements.

3. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a light path from a light source to a plane in which a field is illuminated, a further optical element with a field raster element is situated before said optical element with said pupil raster element.

4. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said optical element has a plurality of field raster elements.

5. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said field raster element has a shape of said field.

6. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said field raster element has an arcuate shape.

7. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a light path from a light source to a plane in which a field is illuminated no further optical component are situated.

8. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said projection objective comprises at least four mirrors.

9. A method for producing microelectronic components, comprising employing the projection exposure apparatus of claim 1 .

10. A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography using a wavelength ≦193 nm, comprising:

a light source; and

an optical element with a pupil raster element, situated in a light path from said light source to a plane in which a field is illuminated,

wherein said projection exposure apparatus has no further optical component situated in said light path between said pupil raster element and said plane.

11. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said optical element has a plurality of pupil raster elements.

12. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said projection exposure apparatus further comprises a further optical element with a field raster element situated before said optical element with said pupil raster element.

13. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said further optical element with said field raster element has a plurality of field raster elements.

14. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said field raster element has a shape of said field.

15. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said field raster element has an arcuate shape.

16. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said projection exposure apparatus further comprises a projection objective.

17. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said projection objective has at least four mirrors.

18. A method for producing microelectronic components, comprising employing the projection exposure apparatus of claim 10 .

19. A projection exposure apparatus for microlithography using a wavelength ≦193 nm, comprising:

a light source; and

an optical element with a pupil raster element, situated in a light path from said light source to a plane in which a field is illuminated,

wherein said projection exposure apparatus has no imaging optical component situated in said light path between said pupil raster element and said plane.

20. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said optical element has a plurality of pupil raster elements.

21. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said projection exposure apparatus further comprises a further optical element with a field raster element situated before said optical element with said pupil raster element.

22. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said further optical element with said field raster element has a plurality of field raster elements.

23. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said field raster element has a shape of said field.

24. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said field raster element has an arcuate shape.

25. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said projection exposure apparatus further comprises a projection objective.

26. The projection exposure apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein said projection objective has at least four mirrors.

27. A method for producing microelectronic components, comprising employing the projection exposure apparatus of claim 19 .

Assignments (2)
A MODIFYING CONVERSION Recorded Jan 18, 2011
From: CARL ZEISS SMT AG
To: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
Reel/Frame 025763/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: MANN, HANS-JUERGEN; SINGER, WOLFGANG; SCHULTZ, JOERG; WANGLER, JOHANNES; SCHUSTER, KARL-HEINZ; DINGER, UDO; ANTONI, MARTIN; ULRICH, WILHELM
To: CARL ZEISS SMT AG
Reel/Frame 021301/0743 →
Priority Claims (4)
DE 198 19 898 · May 5, 1998 · national
DE 199 03 807 · Feb 2, 1999 · national
DE 299 02 108 U · Feb 8, 1999 · national
WO PCT/EP00/07258 · Jul 28, 2000 · international
Continuity (7)
Continuation 1091958300 · Aug 17, 2004
Continuation In Part PCTEP0300048500 · Jan 20, 2003
Continuation In Part 1020165200 · Jul 22, 2002
Continuation In Part 1015065000 · May 17, 2002
Continuation In Part 0967971800 · Sep 29, 2000
Continuation In Part 0930501700 · May 4, 1999
Related Publication 20070120072A1 · May 31, 2007