Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080231840 | Methods and Apparatus For Measuring Wavefronts and For Determining Scattered Light, and Related Devices and Manufacturing Methods - Methods and apparatus for measuring wavefronts and for determining scattered light, and related devices and manufacturing methods. 2.1. The invention relates to a method and apparatus for spatially resolved wavefront measurement on a test specimen, a method and apparatus for spatially resolved scattered light determination, a diffraction structure support and a coherent structure support therefor, and also to an objective or other radiation exposure device manufactured using such a method, and an associated manufacturing method. 2.2. An embodiment of the invention involves carrying out, for the wavefront measurement, a first shearing measuring operation, which comprises a plurality of individual measurements with at least two first shearing directions and spatially resolved detection of shearing interferograms generated, and an analogous second shearing measuring operation with at least one second shearing direction, at least one second shearing direction being non-parallel to at least one first shearing direction. From the shearing interferograms detected, it is possible e.g. to determine a wavefront spatial frequency spectrum and/or a point response of the test specimen and to carry out a spatially resolved scattered light determination by means of the point spread function. 2.3. Use e.g. for the spatially resolved scattered light determination of projection objectives for microlithography. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231862 | Device and Method for the Interferometric Measurement of Phase Masks - A device and method for the interferometric measurement of phase masks, particularly from lithography. Radiation passing through a coherence mask is brought to interference by a diffraction grating. A phase mask is arranged in or near the pupil plane of the first imaging optics which can be positioned exactly in the x-y direction by which interferograms are generated which are phase-shifted in the x-y direction by translational displacement of the coherence mask or of the diffraction grating. The interferograms are imaged onto the spatially resolving detector by second imaging optic and the phase and transmission functions of the phase mask are determined by an evaluation unit. The invention can, of course, generally be applied to planar phase objects, such as biological structures, for example, points of establishment with respect to an interference microscope. | 09-25-2008 |
20080252876 | System for Measuring the Image Quality of an Optical Imaging System - A measuring system ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080252888 | APPARATUS FOR POLARIZATION-SPECIFIC EXAMINATION, OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM, AND CALIBRATION METHOD - A device for polarization-specific examination of an optical system having a detector part that has polarization detector means for recording the exit state of polarization of radiation emerging from the optical system. Also, an associated optical imaging system, and a calibration method for the device. The device includes a polarization detector with a polarizing grating structure. Provided as an alternative is a device for snapshot polarimetry having a birefringent element and downstream polarizer element that adequately polarizes nonquasi-parallel radiation. The device may be used for determining the influence on the state of polarization of UV radiation by a microlithographic projection objective. | 10-16-2008 |
20080309894 | MICROLITHOGRAPHIC PROJECTION EXPOSURE APPARATUS AND MEASURING DEVICE FOR A PROJECTION LENS - A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens that is configured for immersion operation. For this purpose an immersion liquid is introduced into an immersion space that is located between a last lens of the projection lens on the image side and a photosensitive layer to be exposed. To reduce fluctuations of refractive index resulting from temperature gradients occurring within the immersion liquid, the projection exposure apparatus includes heat transfer elements that heat or cool partial volumes of the immersion liquid so as to achieve an at least substantially homogenous or at least substantially rotationally symmetric temperature distribution within the immersion liquid. | 12-18-2008 |
20090021726 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM BY USING AN IMMERSION FLUID - A device for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, is provided. The device includes at least one test optics component arranged on an object side or an image side of the optical system. An immersion fluid is adjacent to at least one of the test optics components. A container for use in this device, a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with this device, and a method which can be carried out with the aid of this device are also provided. The device and method provide for optical measurement of microlithography projection objectives with high numerical apertures by using wavefront detection with shearing or point diffraction interferometry, or a Moiré measuring technique. | 01-22-2009 |
20090051927 | OPTICAL SCATTERING DISK, USE THEREOF, AND WAVEFRONT MEASURING APPARATUS - Optical scattering disk, use and wavefront measuring apparatus. The optical scattering disk includes a transparent substrate ( | 02-26-2009 |
20090116036 | Device and Method for the Optical Measurement of an Optical System, Measurement Structure Support, and Microlithographic Projection Exposure Apparatus - A device for the optical measurement of an optical system which, in a useful operating mode, receives useful radiation on a useful radiation entrance side and emits it on a useful radiation exit side. The device includes a measurement radiation source, by which at least one exit-side element, which emits measurement radiation to the optical system, can be positioned on the useful radiation exit side of the optical system, and a detector, by which at least one entrance-side element, which receives measurement radiation coming from the optical system, can be positioned on the useful radiation entrance side of the optical system. The measurement radiation source includes a source-side measurement structure mask for positioning on the useful radiation exit side and/or the detector includes a detector-side measurement structure mask for positioning on the useful radiation entrance side. Also provided are a measurement structure support that can be used for such a device, a microlithography projection exposure apparatus equipped with such a device, and an associated method. The device can be used, e.g., for the wavefront measurement of projection objectives of microlithography projection exposure apparatuses. | 05-07-2009 |
20090174876 | OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE IMAGING BEHAVIOR OF SUCH APPARATUS - The disclosure relates to an optical apparatus including a light source that emits light in the form of light pulses having a pulse frequency, and including at least one optical element. The disclosure also relates to a projection exposure machine including a pulsed light source and a projection objective, and to a method for modifying the imaging behavior of such an apparatus, such as in a projection exposure machine. | 07-09-2009 |
20090257049 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM BY USING AN IMMERSION FLUID - A device for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, is provided. The device includes at least one test optics component arranged on an object side or an image side of the optical system. An immersion fluid is adjacent to at least one of the test optics components. A container for use in this device, a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with this device, and a method which can be carried out with the aid of this device are also provided. The device and method provide for optical measurement of microlithography projection objectives with high numerical apertures by using wavefront detection with shearing or point diffraction interferometry, or a Moiré measuring technique. | 10-15-2009 |
20100141912 | EXPOSURE APPARATUS AND MEASURING DEVICE FOR A PROJECTION LENS - A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens that is configured for immersion operation. For this purpose an immersion liquid is introduced into an immersion space that is located between a last lens of the projection lens on the image side and a photosensitive layer to be exposed. To reduce fluctuations of refractive index resulting from temperature gradients occurring within the immersion liquid, the projection exposure apparatus includes heat transfer elements that heat or cool partial volumes of the immersion liquid so as to achieve an at least substantially homogenous or at least substantially rotationally symmetric temperature distribution within the immersion liquid. | 06-10-2010 |
20100315651 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE IMAGE QUALITY OF AN OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - A measuring system for the optical measurement of an optical imaging system, which is provided to image a pattern arranged in an object surface of the imaging system in an image surface of the imaging system, comprises an object-side structure carrier having an object-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the object side of the imaging system; an image-side structure carrier having an image-side measuring structure, to be arranged on the image side of the imaging system; the object-side measuring structure and the image-side measuring structure being matched to each other in such a way that, when the object-side measuring structure is imaged onto the image-side measuring structure with the aid of the imaging system, a superposition pattern is produced; and a detector for the locally resolving acquisition of the superposition pattern. The imaging system is designed as an immersion system for imaging with the aid of an immersion liquid. A structure carrier to be arranged in the region of the immersion liquid is assigned a protective system in order to increase the resistance of the measuring structure to degradation caused by the immersion liquid. A measurement of immersion systems under immersion conditions is thereby possible without detrimental influence of the immersion liquid on the measuring accuracy. | 12-16-2010 |
20110164232 | OPTICAL IMAGING DEVICE WITH IMAGE DEFECT DETERMINATION - An optical imaging device, in particular for microlithography, including an imaging unit adapted to image an object point on an image point and a measurement device. The imaging unit has a first optical element group having at least one first optical element. The imaging device is adapted to participate in the imaging of the object point on the image point, and the measurement unit is adapted to determine at least one image defect occurring on the image point when the object point is imaged. The measuring device includes at least one measurement light source, one second optical element group and at least one detection unit. The measurement light source transmits at least one measurement light bundle. The second optical element group includes at least one optical reference element and one second optical element, the elements adapted to direct the at least one measurement light bundle to the at least one detection unit, to produce at least one detection signal. The second optical element has a defined spatial relationship with the first optical element. The optical reference element has an at least partially reflecting first optical surface and the second optical element has an at least partially reflecting second optical surface. The measurement device is adapted to determine the at least one image defect using the at least one detection signal. The first optical surface and the second optical surface are positioned relative to one another such that a multiple reflection of the at least one measurement light bundle occurs between them. | 07-07-2011 |
20120113429 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM BY USING AN IMMERSION FLUID - A device for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, is provided. The device includes at least one test optics component arranged on an object side or an image side of the optical system. An immersion fluid is adjacent to at least one of the test optics components. A container for use in this device, a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with this device, and a method which can be carried out with the aid of this device are also provided. The device and method provide for optical measurement of microlithography projection objectives with high numerical apertures by using wavefront detection with shearing or point diffraction interferometry, or a Moiré measuring technique. | 05-10-2012 |
20120242996 | OPTICAL SCATTERING DISK, USE THEREOF, AND WAVEFRONT MEASURING APPARATUS - Immersion objective arrangement including an objective, an immersion medium and an optical scattering disk, and associated method. The optical scattering disk includes a transparent substrate ( | 09-27-2012 |
20130120723 | EXPOSURE APPARATUS AND MEASURING DEVICE FOR A PROJECTION LENS - A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens that is configured for immersion operation. For this purpose an immersion liquid is introduced into an immersion space that is located between a last lens of the projection lens on the image side and a photosensitive layer to be exposed. To reduce fluctuations of refractive index resulting from temperature gradients occurring within the immersion liquid, the projection exposure apparatus includes heat transfer elements that heat or cool partial volumes of the immersion liquid so as to achieve an at least substantially homogenous or at least substantially rotationally symmetric temperature distribution within the immersion liquid. | 05-16-2013 |
20130271749 | METHOD FOR MEASURING AN OPTICAL SYSTEM - First test beams ( | 10-17-2013 |
20130293869 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE IMAGE QUALITY OF AN OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - Methods for measuring the image quality of a projection objective include providing a measuring structure on an image-side of the projection objective, providing an immersion fluid between the projection objective and the measuring structure, directing light through the projection objective and the immersion fluid to the measuring structure while shielding the measuring structure from the immersion fluid, detecting light transmitted by the measuring structure, and determining an image quality of the projection objective based on the detected light. | 11-07-2013 |
20140016108 | OPTICAL IMAGING DEVICE WITH IMAGE DEFECT DETERMINATION - An optical imaging device, including an imaging unit and a measuring device. The imaging unit includes a first optical element group having at least one first optical element, which contributes to the imaging. The measuring device determines an imaging error, which occurs during the imaging, using a capturing signal. The measuring device includes a measurement light source, a second optical element group and a capturing unit. The measurement light source emits at least one measurement light bundle, The second optical element group includes an optical reference element and a second optical element, which guide the measurement light bundle onto the capturing unit, to generate the capturing signal. Each second optical element has a defined spatial relationship with a respective one of the first optical elements, The second optical elements differ from the first optical elements. The measuring device determines the imaging error with the capturing signal. | 01-16-2014 |
20140022524 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF AN OPTICAL SYSTEM BY USING AN IMMERSION FLUID - A device for the optical measurement of an optical system, in particular an optical imaging system, is provided. The device includes at least one test optics component arranged on an object side or an image side of the optical system. An immersion fluid is adjacent to at least one of the test optics components. A container for use in this device, a microlithography projection exposure machine equipped with this device, and a method which can be carried out with the aid of this device are also provided. The device and method provide for optical measurement of microlithography projection objectives with high numerical apertures by using wavefront detection with shearing or point diffraction interferometry, or a Moiré measuring technique. | 01-23-2014 |
20140347654 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE IMAGE QUALITY OF AN OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM - Methods for measuring the image quality of a projection objective include providing a measuring structure on an image-side of the projection objective, providing an immersion fluid between the projection objective and the measuring structure, directing light through the projection objective and the immersion fluid to the measuring structure while shielding the measuring structure from the immersion fluid, detecting light transmitted by the measuring structure, and determining an image quality of the projection objective based on the detected light. | 11-27-2014 |