Method and apparatus for projection exposure

A projection exposure apparatus comprising:

• a light source for emitting a light including a coherent component;
• first and second photo mask elements, each having a pattern of a single layer structure of one of a phase shift film and a light shielding film;
• positioning means for mounting and positioning a substrate at a predetermined position;
• means for projecting the patterns of said first and second photo mask elements by the light to said substrate so that an optical synthesized pattern of the two patterns is formed on said substrate;
• and
• means for controlling a phase of at least one of a first light portion, which projects the pattern of said first photo mask element on said substrate, and a second light portion, which projects the pattern of said second photo mask element on said substrate, so that said first light portion and said second light portion have a predetermined phase difference therebetween.

A projection exposure apparatus comprising:

• a light source for emitting a light including a coherent component;
• photo mask means including a first photo mask element having a predetermined first pattern formed thereon and a second photo mask element having a predetermined second pattern formed thereon;
• means for holding a substrate at a predetermined position;
• and
• optical means for focusing an image of said first pattern onto said second photo mask by using the light from said light source and for projecting for exposure an optical synthesized pattern of the focused first pattern and the second pattern of said second photo mask element onto said substrate,
• wherein one of said first and second patterns is formed of a light-shielding film and the other pattern corresponds to at least one selected portion of said one pattern and is formed of a phase shift film.

A projection exposure method comprising the steps of:

• splitting a light including a coherent component from a light source into first and second lights transmitted through two different optical paths;
• controlling a phase of at least one of said first and second lights such that said first and second lights have a predetermined phase difference therebetween;
• disposed photo mask means including first and second photo mask elements having first and second patterns, respectively, for forming a predetermined pattern when synthesized so that said first light is transmitted through said first photo mask element and said second light is transmitted through said second photo mask element;
• synthesizing said first light transmitted through said first photo mask element and said second light transmitted through said second element to form a synthesized light carrying said predetermined pattern;
• and
• projecting for exposure said synthesized light carrying said predetermined pattern on a film made of a photosensitive material onto a substrate.

A projection exposure apparatus comprising:

• means for splitting a light including a coherent component from a light source into first and second lights transmitted through two different optical paths;
• means for controlling a phase of at least one of said first and second lights so that said first and second lights have a predetermined phase difference therebetween;
• photo mask means having first and second areas on which first and second pattern portions are formed, respectively, to provide a predetermined pattern, when synthesized and disposed so that said first light is transmitted through said first area and said second light is transmitted through said second area;
• means for synthesizing said first light transmitted through said first area and said second light transmitted through said second area to form a synthesized light carrying said predetermined pattern;
• and
• means for projecting for exposure said synthesized light carrying said predetermined pattern on a film made of a photosensitive material onto a substrate.

A projection exposure apparatus comprising:

• a light source for emitting a light including a coherent component;
• first and second photo mask elements, each having a pattern of a single layer structure of one of a phase shift film and a light shielding film;
• positioning means for mounting and positioning a substrate at a predetermined position;
• means for projecting the patterns of said first and second photo mask elements by the light onto said substrate so that an optical synthesized pattern of the two patterns is formed on said substrate;
• and
• means for determining a phase difference between a first light portion, which projects the pattern of said first photo mask element onto said substrate, and a second light portion, which projects the pattern of said second photo mask element onto said substrate.