The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 16, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1995
Yasuhiro Oomura, Oota-ku, JP;
Nikon Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
This invention relates to a catadioptric optical system in which, a large numerical aperture is attained on the image side and, while securing a sufficient working distance, the size of the beam splitter is reduced, thereby attaining a resolution of a quarter micron unit, and an exposure apparatus using the same. In order to form a reduced image of a pattern of a first surface on a second surface, this catadioptric optical system comprises, at least, a first lens group, a beam splitter, a concave mirror having an enlarging magnification, and a second lens group. These constitutional elements of the catadioptric optical system are disposed such that light from the first surface passes through the first lens group, the beam splitter, the concave mirror, the beam splitter, and the second lens group in this order. In particular, the rear-side principal plane of the second lens group is on the second surface side with respect to a light-entering surface of the second lens group on which the light having passed through the beam splitter is incident. In addition, the concave mirror functions to collimate the light having passed through the beam splitter and then make thus collimated light re-enter the beam splitter.