Abstract: This invention provides a multi-charged-particle beam exposure apparatus capable of easily correcting at a high precision the electron-optic characteristics of each column which constitutes an electron-optic system. The exposure apparatus has magnetic lens arrays (ML1, ML2, ML3, and ML4) which commonly adjust the electron-optic characteristics of a plurality of columns which constitute the electron-optic system, and dynamic focus lenses or deflector arrays which individually correct the electron-optic characteristics of the columns.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beam monitoring sensor which can offer both high beam monitoring precision and high speed monitoring in a multi-electron beam writing system and a monitoring method using the same. In a Faraday cup for electron beam monitoring, tantalum or a heavy metal material having an atomic number larger than that of tantalum is used to provide a Faraday cup construction having a high aspect ratio. The micro Faraday cup permits electron beam monitoring having less beam leak to a high acceleration electron beam.

Abstract: The dimension of the main field as a unit region for exposure is set to an integral submultiple of the arrangement pitch of the LSI to be exposed, by the control computer 62, and the exposure data stored in the form associated with electron beams from a data generation circuit 64 is limited to one-chip data alone in units of a stripe. This data is repeatedly read out to write the stripe. Further, a storage circuit 66 is provided to store the exposure data by means of a double buffer memory unit for each electron beam. While LSI is written according to one of the buffers, the next exposure stripe data is prepared on the other buffer, thereby bringing about a substantial reduction in the required speed of the exposure data generation circuit.

Abstract: There is provided an electron beam wiring technique which can correct deflection for a micro field used in electron beam writing equipment with high precision.

Abstract: There is provided an electron beam exposure technique which permits optical adjustment in an electron optics system using a doublet lens necessary for large field projection.

Abstract: This invention provides a multielectron gun which generates a plurality of electron beams having uniform characteristics. A multielectron gun (2) is formed of a plurality of electron guns (2a-2c). The electron gun (2a) has, in addition to an electron source (21a), Wehnelt electrode (22a), and anode electrode (23), a shield electrode (24) between the Wehnelt electrode (22a) and anode electrode (23). The shield electrode reduces field interference among the electron guns.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beam monitoring sensor which can offer both high beam monitoring precision and high speed monitoring in a multi-electron beam writing system and a monitoring method using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-precision and high-speed electron beam exposure technique which corrects the position of each beam in a multi-beam exposure method without using a deflection array and a huge and high-precision driving circuit. In an electron beam exposure method for forming a desired pattern onto a specimen by independently controlling emission and scanning of a plurality of electron beams, a deviation between a pattern formed by each of the plurality of electron beams and the desired pattern is controlled by shifting the position of pattern data of the pattern formed by each of the plurality of electron beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-precision and high-speed electron beam exposure technique which corrects the position of each beam in a multi-beam exposure method without using a deflection array and a huge and high-precision driving circuit. In an electron beam exposure method for forming a desired pattern onto a specimen by independently controlling emission and scanning of a plurality of electron beams, a deviation between a pattern formed by each of the plurality of electron beams and the desired pattern is controlled by shifting the position of pattern data of the pattern formed by each of the plurality of electron beams.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-charged-particle beam exposure apparatus capable of easily correcting at a high precision the electron-optic characteristics of each column which constitutes an electron-optic system. The exposure apparatus has magnetic lens arrays (ML1, ML2, ML3, and ML4) which commonly adjust the electron-optic characteristics of a plurality of columns which constitute the electron-optic system, and dynamic focus lenses or deflector arrays which individually correct the electron-optic characteristics of the columns.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography apparatus and a semiconductor device pattern forming method for precisely writing patterns near the periphery of a cell mask so that large scale integrated circuits and fine structure devices are fabricated at high yield rates. Cell figures with lower aperture rates are located peripherally and cell figures with higher aperture rates are located closer to a central portion within each of aperture groups furnished on a second mask of the inventive apparatus adopting cell projection. Illustratively, on a mask for use in semiconductor device fabrication, cell figures for forming line patterns and gate patterns are located centrally and cell figures for forming hole patterns are positioned peripherally in each aperture group. This allows the peripherally located figures to be written precisely in each aperture group.

Abstract: In a semiconductor circuit device fabricating process in which a reduction image projection exposure apparatus and an electron beam exposure apparatus are in a mixed use in its exposure process, pattern position shift errors for each exposure apparatus are measured and corrected at the time of drawing by means of an electron beam drawing apparatus, thereby enhancing the alignment accuracy.First, a pattern for measuring position shifts is exposed using a stepper and the electron beam drawing apparatus. Then, the position shift errors are measured using an identical coordinate position measuring device. Accidental errors have been mixed in the measurement result at this time. On account of this, measurement data at a certain point are smoothed by taking a summation average with data on the periphery thereof, thus decreasing influences of the accidental errors. Moreover, by inverting positive or negative signs of the data on the position shift errors, the data are made into correction data.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system which generates phase shift pattern data relating to main patterns, and exposes the phase shift pattern on a mask plate by using an electron beam in accordance with instruction from a computer. An electron beam lithography system is provided which can remarkably decrease a time needed for preparing phase shift pattern data. The apparatus is furnished with a parameter table for storing equations to generate phase shift pattern data, and generates the phase shift pattern data by assigning original pattern data into equations in accordance with a corresponding instruction for applying a phase shift method, and automatically exposes the phase shift pattern.