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:
Nov. 30, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2002
Kousuke Suzuki, Tokyo, JP;
Masayuki Murayama, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An exposure apparatus and a method of operating the exposure apparatus. The exposure apparatus includes a light source generating illumination light and a projection optical system. A detector detects illumination light reaching a plurality of measuring positions within an image field of the projection optical system. An illumination area setting and changing device arranged between the light source and the detector sets an illumination area on a mask to illuminate a pattern on the mask, and changes the illumination area during detection of a projected image of the pattern by the detector while illumination light is maintained on the mask. The illumination area setting and changing device changes the illumination area from a first illumination area illuminating a first pattern on the mask to a second illumination area illuminating both the first pattern and a second pattern which differs from the first pattern.