Abstract: A charged particle beam exposure apparatus capable of detecting a partial unevenness and adjusting the height of the surface of a specimen to be exposed is disclosed. This charged particle beam exposure apparatus comprises a charged particle beam source, a charged particle beam shaper, a deflector for changing the position where the charged particle beam is radiated on the specimen, a projector for projecting the charged particle beam on the specimen, and a control unit for controlling the deflector and the projector at the time of exposure. A pattern is plotted on the specimen by the charged particle beam being converged and deflected appropriately. The apparatus further comprises a stage for moving the specimen within the apparatus, and a height measuring unit for measuring the height distribution in a predetermined range of the specimen with at least a predetermined density while the specimen is loaded in the apparatus.

Abstract: An electron beam exposure apparatus, enabling detection of the height of a sample simply and with a high accuracy, including an electron gun, a converging unit able to converge an electron beam on a sample and make the focus position dynamically move, a deflecting unit for deflecting the electron beam, a movement mechanism for carrying and moving the sample, a deflection data and incident angle relationship storing circuit for storing the incident angle of the electron beam on the sample when the electron beam is deflected by the deflecting unit, a mark position detecting unit for detecting changes in reflected electrons at a mark provided on the sample when scanning the mark by the electron beam and thereby detecting the position of the mark, a mark position difference calculating unit for using the mark position detecting unit to scan a first mark provided on the sample by an electron beam of a first incident angle and a second mark in a predetermined positional relationship with the first mark by an electr

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

Abstract: The present invention is a charged particle beam exposure apparatus comprising: a column portion in which an optical system for a charged particle beam is disposed; a chamber to be coupled with the column portion; a movable sample stage located in the chamber for mounting a sample thereon; and a stage position measurement device, having an optical path for measurement, along which a laser beam having a predetermined frequency is projected and is reflected by reflection means provided on the sample stage, and an optical path for reference, which in length almost equals a distance between a starting point of the optical path for measurement and the origin of the optical system in the column portion and for which the length is increased at a rate substantially consistent with a thermal expansion coefficient as material of the chamber is expanded, for measuring a change in position of the sample stage by employing a laser optical signal for measurement, which passes along the optical path for measurement, and a r

Abstract: An electron beam exposure device includes an alignment optical system; an electromagnetic lens system; a stage on which the sample is provided; and an electron gun. The electron gun is comprised of an electron generating source; an electron generating source heating element which generates heat for increasing the temperature of the electron generating source; a supporting member which supports the electron generating source and the electron generating source heating element; and a Wehnelt. The electron beam exposure device is provided with at least one auxiliary heating element located at respective portion thermally connected to the electron generating source heating element.

Abstract: In a charged particle beam exposure method and an apparatus therefor, wherein the intensity of the charged particle beam used for irradiation is increased to a maximum to improve a throughput for an exposure procedure, accordingly, the temperature of a sample, such as a wafer, is elevated and thermal expansion occurs. The thermal expansion that occurs has reproducibility based on the intensity of the projected charged particle beam. Therefore, a coefficient of thermal expansion is detected by monitoring the intensity of the projected charged particle beam. A shifting distance for each irradiation position which is acquired from the thermal expansion is added as a compensation value for deflection of the charged particle beam, to provide an accurate exposure procedure.

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

Abstract: An electron-beam exposure device having at least one deflector for deflecting an electron beam and detecting a position of a position-detection mark with the electron beam includes a plurality of detectors detecting electrons scattered from the position-detection mark, a plurality of amplifiers, each of the amplifiers amplifying an output of a corresponding one of the detectors, and a setting unit for setting amplification factors of the amplifiers such that a magnitude of an output from each of the amplifiers is constant irrespective of a deflected position of the electron beam at a time of detection of the position of the position-detection mark.