Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a light source for exposing a wafer through a mask; a light blocking device being movable and effective to block light from the light source to limit an exposure zone; a positional deviation detecting system for detecting positional deviation between the mask and the wafer; and a drive control system for moving the light blocking device to execute position control therefor, on the basis of a detection signal from the positional deviation detecting system.

Abstract: An X-ray transmitting window for use in X-ray lithography, for allowing transmission therethrough of X-rays from a vacuum ambience to a different ambience, includes an X-ray transmitting film, and a gasket material gas-tightly provided on at least one of opposite surfaces in a peripheral portion of the X-ray transmitting film. The gasket material has a Brinell hardness smaller than that of the X-ray transmitting film. The formed X-ray transmitting window is able to be sandwiched and fastened between a pair of flanges in a gas-tight manner.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus usable with synchrotron radiation source wherein the synchrotron radiation is generated by electron injection into a ring. The exposure apparatus is to transfer a semiconductor element pattern of a mask onto a semiconductor wafer by the synchrotron radiation. The apparatus includes a shutter for controlling the exposure of the wafer. The shutter controls the exposure with the illuminance distribution on the wafer surface taken into account. The illuminance distribution is determined in response to the electron injection, and thereafter, the illuminance distribution is corrected in a predetermined manner. By this, the illuminance distribution data for controlling the shutter always correspond to the actual illuminance distribution. The entire shot areas of the semiconductor wafer are exposed with high precision.

Abstract: A workpiece supporting mechanism suitably usable in an exposure apparatus, is disclosed. The mechanism includes a workpiece supporting member which is provided with a displacement sensor such as a speed sensor or an acceleration sensor. A vibrator such as a piezoelectric device is added to the supporting member or a stage which supports the supporting member. Any vibration of the workpiece or the supporting member is detected by the displacement sensor and, in accordance with the detection, the vibrator is energized to cancel the vibration of the workpiece and the workpiece supporting member.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern of an original onto a workpiece, includes a blocking member for defining a rectangular exposure region with respect to at least one of the original and the workpiece, wherein the exposure for the pattern transfer can be effected with the exposure region defined by the blocking member. Plural detection systems detect a positional deviation between the original and the workpiece, each of which is disposed so as to be associated with at least one of four sides of the rectangular exposure region. Plural first movable stages each is provided so as to be associated with at least one of the four sides, and each is adapted to carry thereon one of the detection systems disposed to be associated with a corresponding side. Each first movable stage comprises a single-axis stage movable in a direction parallel to a corresponding side.

Abstract: An alignment method for use in an exposure apparatus for printing a pattern of an original onto different surface areas of a substrate, the alignment method comprising the steps of: providing alignment marks around the pattern of the original and placing the original on an original supporting stage; providing a reference mark on an X-Y stage for supporting the substrate and being movable in X and Y directions, and moving the X-Y stage so as to place the reference mark at those positions, in sequence, which correspond to the alignment marks of the original, respectively, and which are preset in respect to a stage coordinate system; detecting, in sequence, positional errors of the alignment marks of the original with respect to the corresponding set positions, respectively, by using the reference mark and through the movement of the X-Y stage, wherein the positional errors are detected by use of positional error detectors which are provided to be associated with the alignment marks of the original, respectively

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a chamber for placing an article in a predetermined ambience; a holding device for holding the article in the chamber; a fluid supplying device for supplying a temperature adjusting fluid into the holding device through a flow passageway; a detecting device for detecting leakage of the fluid from the flow passageway; and a flow rate controlling device for controlling the flow rate of the fluid to be supplied to the holding device on the basis of the detection by the detecting device.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for lithographically transferring a pattern of a mask onto a workpiece coated with a radiation sensitive material includes a first filter made the same material as of the substrate of the mask, a second filter formed by a base member made of the same material as the mask substrate and being coated with a radiation sensitive material, an illuminometer for measuring illuminance of light passed through the first and second filters, respectively, and a control device for determining an exposure time for lithographic transfer of the pattern of the mask onto the wafer, on the basis of a difference between a measured value as measured through the first filter and a measured value as measured through the second filter.

Abstract: An X-ray exposure system for exposing a semiconductor wafer to a mask with X-rays contained in synchrotron radiation, is disclosed. In this system, the mask and the wafer are held on a main frame so that their surfaces extend substantially parallel to a vertical axis. The main frame suspends from a supporting frame through a plurality of air mounts, each being vertically displaceable. The supporting frame is placed on the same reference surface as that of an SOR ring that produces synchrotron radiation. By using these air mounts, any tilt of the mask and the wafer relative to the irradiation region of the synchrotron radiation, as well as the position of the mask and the wafer in the vertical direction, with respect to the irradiation region, can be controlled and maintained constant. Thus, accurate pattern printing is ensured.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate with X-rays is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radiation source for providing X-rays; and a convex mirror for reflecting the X-rays from the radiation source toward the substrate to expose a zone of the substrate with the X-rays; wherein the convex mirror and the substrate are so interrelated that a peak position of intensity distribution of the X-rays upon the zone deviates from the center of the zone.

Abstract: An alignment system usable in an exposure apparatus for printing a pattern of a mask on a wafer, for aligning the mask and the wafer, is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of position detecting devices; a plurality of driving stages corresponding to the position detecting devices, respectively, each driving stage being adapted to move a corresponding one of the position detecting devices two-dimensionally along a plane which is substantially opposed to the mask; a plurality of contacts corresponding to the position detecting devices, respectively, each contact being provided at an end portion of a corresponding one of the position detecting devices, along the plane and facing the pattern side; a detecting device for detecting mutual approach of the position detecting devices through at least one of the contacts; and a control device for controlling movement of at least one of the driving stages in accordance with the detection by the detecting device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature control system for a lithographic exposure apparatus wherein a mask and wafer are closely disposed, and predetermined exposure energy is applied to respective shot areas of the wafer through the mask. The exposure energy is a soft-X-ray source, for example. The pattern of the mask is transferred onto the respective shot areas in a step-and-repeat manner. In the apparatus, a temperature control medium liquid is supplied into the wafer chuck which supports the wafer at the exposure position. The flow rate of the temperature control liquid is different during an exposure operation than during a non-exposure-operation. The flow control is determined in consideration of the wafer chuck vibration attributable to the supply of the liquid medium and also, of the heat generation in the wafer by the exposure energy, so that the vibration of the wafer chuck during the exposure operation is suppressed. Simultaneously the temperature rise of the wafer can also be suppressed.

Abstract: Exposure apparatus and control of the same, for exposing a semiconductor wafer to a mask with a predetermined radiation energy, for manufacture of semiconductor devices, is disclosed. During a time period in which the mask-to-wafer alignment or the exposure of the wafer to the mask is made, the operation of any other driving device that has no participation in the aligning operation or the exposure operation, is prohibited. This ensures high-precision pattern printing.

Abstract: Synchrotron orbital radiation (SOR) exposure system includes a SOR ring and a plurality of exposure apparatus each being coupled to the SOR ring and being arranged to expose a wafer to a mask pattern with X-rays contained in synchrotron radiation from the SOR ring to thereby print the mask pattern on the wafer. Specific arrangement is provided to allow communication of a control of the SOR ring and respective controls of the exposure apparatuses. If any abnormality such as vacuum leakage occurs in one exposure apparatus, the information is transmitted to all the controls to start, in all the exposure apparatuses, appropriate operations to protect the exposure apparatuses against the abnormality. This makes it possible to prevent stoppage of the SOR exposure system as a whole even when any abnormality occurs in one exposure apparatus.

Abstract: A wafer chuck usable with a semiconductor exposure apparatus wherein a mask and a semiconductor wafer are placed in a vacuum ambience or a pressure-reduced gas ambience, and wherein the wafer is exposed through the mask to radiation energy such as X-rays contained in a synchrotron radiation beam, by which the pattern of the mask is transferred onto the wafer. The wafer is first attracted on the wafer supporting surface of the chuck by vacuum attraction, and thereafter, the wafer is attracted by the electrostatic attraction force. Thereafter, the vacuum attraction is broken by supplying a gas. When the pattern of the mask is transferred onto the wafer, the wafer is retained on the wafer supporting surface by the electrostatic attraction force only. By this, the sheet-like member (wafer) supporting apparatus can correctly contact the wafer supporting surface to the wafer without being influenced by the undulation of the wafer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus has a plurallity of photoelectric conversion elements each providing an output signal to a storage capacitor. A matrix wiring unit is arranged opposite the photoelectric conversion elements so as not to cross the signal lines extending from the capacitors. The matrix wiring unit matrix transfers the signals from the capacitors. A switch array unit includes a first switch unit for sequentially transferring the matrix transferred signals, and a first readout device for reading out, as a voltage signal, the signals transferred by the first switch section. The switch array also includes a second switch unit arranged in correspondence with the first switch unit and operated synchronously therewith. The second switch unit receives signals corresponding to noise. A second readout device reads out, as a voltage signal, the output from the second switch unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and repairing a mask usable in the manufacture of semiconductor microcircuits, by using an electron beam is disclosed. The inspection and repair of a mask pattern are made in a single apparatus, by using a controlled current of an electron beam. For inspection, the surface of a mask having a mask pattern and a radiation-sensitive layer, covering it, is scanned with an electron beam and, by detecting secondary electrons or reflected electrons caused at that time, the state of the pattern is inspected. If any defect is detected, the portion of the radiation-sensitive layer on the detected defect is irradiated with an electron beam of greater magnitude than that for the inspection and, thereafter, the exposed portion of the radiation-sensitive layer is removed. Then, etching or plating is made to the thus uncovered portion, whereby repair of the mask pattern is made.

Abstract: An image information transmitting apparatus comprises an image output unit for outputting image information, a modulation unit for pulse-frequency modulating the image information from the image output unit and a demodulation unit for demodulating the modulated signal from the modulation unit to form the image information. The demodulation unit discriminates a signal content by a time interval from a rise to a fall or vice versa of the input modulated signal.

Abstract: An elongated photoelectric converter unit having a good S/N characteristic but no crosstalk without using any blocking diode. The photoelectric converter comprising: a signal amplifying device having m photosensor groups each consisting of n photosensor elements and n signal amplifying elements connected to the photosensor elements in each group; first and second sample and hold device each having n sample and hold elements connected to the signal amplifying elements; first and second input signal selecting device connected to those first and second sample and hold device, respectively, each of the first and second input signal selecting device having n input signal selecting elements provided corresponding to the respective sample and hold elements of each sample and hold device; and an amplifying device for amplifying the difference between the values of the signals to be transferred from the respective first and second input signal selecting device as a signal and outputting.

Abstract: A photo-electric transducer comprises a photo-electric transducing element which includes a semiconductor layer formed of a photosensitive semiconductor material; first and second gate electrodes juxtaposed on the semiconductor layer through an insulating layer; a drain electrode disposed outside of the first gate electrode; a source electrode disposed outside of the second gate electrode; and an output electrode disposed between the drain electrode and source electrode on the semiconductor layer to take up output signals, wherein one of the area A of the semiconductor layer opposed to said first gate electrode and the area B of the semiconductor layer opposed to the second gate electrode is formed as light incidence part and the other area is formed as non-light incidence part.