Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and method for producing device with plurality of projection optical systems and pattern having first partial pattern area and second partial area having overlaid area with first partial pattern area

Abstract

A method for exposing a substrate includes arranging, in a direction, pattern areas to projection systems respectively arranged at an interval and each having a magnifying magnification, the pattern areas having area widths each smaller than the interval and greater than a width obtained by dividing an exposure width of the projection system by the magnifying magnification; and successively transferring onto the substrate an image, projected by an associated projection system, of a first pattern provided in a first partial pattern area in each pattern area and an image, projected by the associated projection system, of a second pattern provided in a second partial pattern area in each pattern area and having at least a partial area different from the first partial pattern area in the direction in each pattern area. The occurrence of any stitch error is suppressed and the transfer accuracy is improved.