IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,004,691
Granted Patent B2
US 8,004,691 · App. 11/721,397 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

Measuring apparatus, exposure apparatus and method, and device manufacturing method

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,004,691
App. No.
11/721,397
Granted
Aug 23, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A measuring apparatus includes a pinhole mask, located on an object plane of an optical system to be measured, and having a plurality of pinholes for generating a spherical wave from a measuring light beam, and a diffraction grating for splitting the measuring light beam that has passed the pinhole mask and the optical system, in which Lg=m·Pg 2 /λ is met, where Pg is a grating pitch of the diffraction grating, λ is a wavelength of the measuring light beam, m is an integer other than zero, and Lg is a distance between the diffraction grating and an image plane of the optical system. The measuring apparatus detects an interferogram formed by interference between a plurality of the measuring light beams split by the diffraction grating. The plurality of measuring light beams includes an aberration of the optical system.

Claims (29)

1. A measuring apparatus comprising:

a pinhole mask, located on an object plane of an optical system to be measured, and having a plurality of pinholes for generating a spherical wave from a measuring light beam; and

a diffraction grating for splitting the measuring light beam that has passed said pinhole mask and the optical system,

wherein Lg=m·Pg 2 /λ is met, where Pg is a grating pitch of the diffraction grating, λ is a wavelength of the measuring light beam, m is an integer other than zero, and Lg is a distance between the diffraction grating and an image plane of the optical system, and

wherein said measuring apparatus detects an interferogram formed by interference between a plurality of the measuring light beams split by said diffraction grating, the plurality of measuring light beams including an aberration of the optical system.

2. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pinholes are located two-dimensionally.

3. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pinhole mask is a reflection pinhole mask.

4. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pinhole mask is a transmission pinhole mask.

5. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said diffraction grating is a two-dimensional diffraction grating.

6. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein Pp=(Pg/β)·(Lc/(Lg+Lc)) is met, where Pp is an interval among the plurality of pinholes, Lc is a distance between the image plane of the optical system and an observing section for observing the interferogram, and β is a magnification of the optical system.

7. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein Pp=Pg/β is met, where β is a magnification of the optical system, and Pp is an interval among the plurality of pinholes.

8. A measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pinhole mask comprises a plurality of pinhole units, each having a plurality of pinholes, and

wherein Pp=(Pg/β)·(Lc/(Lg+Lc)) or Pp=Pg/β Pp is met, where Pp is an interval between central positions of the pinhole units, Lc is a distance between the image plane of the optical system and an observing section for observing the interferogram, and β is a magnification of the optical system.

9. A measuring apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein an interval of the pinholes in each pinhole unit sets a coherence factor of the light to zero.

10. An exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern of a reticle onto a plate using light from a light source, said exposure apparatus comprising:

a projection optical system for projecting the pattern onto the plate;

a measuring apparatus according to claim; and

a controller configured to calculate a wavefront aberration of said projection optical system using a result of the interferogram detected by said measuring apparatus.

11. An exposure method comprising the steps of:

calculating a wavefront aberration of the projection optical system using a result of the interferogram detected by the measuring apparatus according to claim 1 ;

adjusting the projection optical system based on the calculated wavefront aberration of the projection optical system; and

exposing a plate by using the projection optical system adjusted in said adjusting step.

12. A device manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a plate using an exposure apparatus; and

(b) developing the plate exposed in said exposing step,

wherein the exposure apparatus exposes a pattern of a reticle onto the plate using light from a light source, and includes:

(i) a projection optical system for projecting the pattern onto the plate;

(ii) a measuring apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

(iii) a controller configured to calculate a wavefront aberration of the projection optical system using a result of the interferogram detected by the measuring apparatus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2007
From: OUCHI, CHIDANE; NAKAUCHI, AKIHIRO; KATO, SEIMA
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 019439/0122 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2005-125977 · Apr 25, 2005 · national
JP 2006-009879 · Jan 18, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090290136A1 · Nov 26, 2009