US3795446A

US3795446A - Lithography

Info

Publication number: US3795446A
Application number: US00171286A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Houston
Original assignee: Rank Organization Ltd
Current assignee: Rank Organization Ltd
Priority date: 1970-08-12
Filing date: 1971-08-12
Publication date: 1974-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-05
Also published as: NL7111033A; DE2140549A1; DE2140549B2; FR2104273A5; IT939738B; JPS5143750B1

Abstract

This invention is concerned with shadow or contact printing as employed, for example in the photo-etching of substrates. An extended source of printing radiation, either in the form of an effectively annular fixed source or an orbiting source, is used to illuminate the mask under conditions of transitional FresnelFraunhofer diffraction, the effective illumination condition of the mask during an exposure causing diffraction patterns which tend to cancel each other, producing a sharply defined shadow of the mask.

Description

United States Patent [1 1' Houston 9 1 1 LITHOGRAPHY [75] Inventor: John Kenneth Houston, Epping,

England {73] Assignee: The Rank Organization Limited,

London, England [22] Filed: Aug. 12, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 171,286

[] I Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 12, 1970 Great Britain 38809/70 Mar. 19, 1971 Great Britain.... 7288/71 [52] US. Cl 355/78, 355/132, 96/362 [51] Int. Cl. G03b 27/02 [58] Field of Search 355/78, 77, 132, 133, 125, 355/84; 95/1 R; 95/36.2, 313/92 B [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,615,449 10/1971 Greenway 96/35 1 Mar. 5, 1974 3,601,018 8/1971 Langc /1 R 3,548,713 12/1970 Melrosc 95/1 R 3,582,208 6/1971 idler 355/132 3,559,546 2/1971 McKee... 95/1 R 3,610,752 10/1971 Wilson 355/ X Primary Examiner Joseph F. Peters, .lr. Assistant ExaminerAlan Mathews Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brisebois 8L Kruger [57 ABSTRACT This invention is concerned with shadow or contact printing as employed, for example in the photoetching of substrates. An extended source of printing radiation, either in theform of an effectively annular fixed source or an orbiting source, is used to illuminate the mask under conditions of transitionalfresnel- Fraunhofer diffraction, the effective illumination condition of the mask duringan exposure causing diffrac' tion patterns which tend to cancel each other, producing a sharply defined shadow of the mask.

33 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SHEET 1, 0E

PATENTEU 51974 INTENSITY L'a'z MICRUNS PATENTEDHAR 51w SHEET 2 [IF 7 PATENTED 51974 I 3.795.446

SHEET 3 [IF 7 PATENTEI] R 5 SHEET 7 OF 7 1 LITHOGRAPHY This invention-relates to micro-circuit printing techniques, and in particular to the so called shadow and contact" methods of printing micro-circuit components photolithographically on to prepared substrates, usually of semi-conductor material.

In printing a micro-circuit image photolithographically on to a semi-conductor substrate such as a silicon slice by the shadow technique, a mask having a pattern of image-forming surfaces is located in the path of the printing radiation incident on a photosensitive surface formed on the substrate. It is'important that the imprinted image be a well-defined and geometrically accurate reproduction of the image-forming surface of the mask, that is, that a sharply defined shadow of these surfaces be formed on the substrate surface.

In the contact printing method the mask is placed directly on the substrate to be printed, while in the shadow printing or out-ofcontact printing method the mask is arranged close to but spaced from the substrate. However, in the contact printing method literal contact is not in practice made between the illuminated image-forming surface of the mask and the underlying substrate, so that both methods may be regarded as shadow printing methods in effect. A problem which militates against the formation of a clearly defined image on the substrate, which is necessary for accurate circuit printing, is that of diffraction at the edges of the mask features. The effect of the diffraction pattern produced on the substrate in the region of the shadow image of the mask can be reduced to some extent by control of the exposure of the treated substrate to the printing radiation. However, it is not possible by regulasome diffraction effects.

lt has now been found that the effects of diffraction in shadow printing can be considerably reduced by means of a specific choice of illuminating source geometry, with the source suitably positioned in relation to the mask and the substrate.

The present invention in one aspect accordingly provides illumination means for use in shadow or contact printing, comprising a source of finite predetermined area having an effective brightness distribution afford:

,tion of exposure alone to eliminate entirely the trouble- By using illumination means in accordance with the invention it is possible to improve the definition obtainable with shadow printing and contact printing, without recourse to expensive projection lenses. The invention represents a significant departure from conventional illumination means for shadow printing, in which stress has been laid upon the requirement for accurately collimating the printing radiation beam to a condition of minimal non-divergence: in the present invention the illuminating radiation provided by the source comprises a set of diverging waves.

around the central dark zone.

Thus the source may comprise in combination a single point source and a fixed multiple prism comprising a number of prism elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the point source passes through thesaid prism elements to provide the same number of component beams, and a collimator through which said component beams pass to produce the said effective illumination condition in a printing plane.

The prism conveniently may comprise a number of identical adjacent prism elements of sector shape, each prism element tapering a thickness from a maximum at its vertex to a minimum at its outer edge. The outer edges of the prism elements may lie on a common circle. Each prism element is preferably truncated at its vertex so that the multiple prism has a central portion with plane parallel outer faces.

' The two outer faces of each prism element are preferably both inclined to the radial plane of the multiple prism. These outer faces are preferably coated for opti mum transmission in a specific band of wavelengths.

The multiple prism is preferably formed in two parts,

each ground to provide respective'parts of the prism elements, and each having a plane radial face, the two parts being cemented together back-to-back at said plane faces with the parts of the prism elements in register with each other. 1

In practice best results are obtained when the prism comprises six or more identical prism elements.

ing a central dark area surrounded by a bright zone, the

said brightness distribution being such that when a mask is illuminated by the source under conditions of transitional Fresnel-Fraunhofer diffraction as herein defined, the effective illumination condition produced by the light incident on any given part of the mask from different parts of the source produces diffraction patterns which tend to cancel each other over part of said patterns.

The term tion is defined for the purpose of this specification as that typein diffraction which is observable at a distance from a coherently illuminated line or slit of the same order as the line or slit width. Under these conditions the Fresnel fringes observable on a screen located at said distance and parallel to the line or slit overlap the boundaries of the geometrical image of the line or slit on the screen. Reference in this connection is made to Introduction to Theoretical Physics J. C. Slater and H. Frank, McGraw-l-Iill Book Co., 1937, pages 317 322.

transitional Fresnel-Fraunhofer diffrac- I In another practical embodiment of the invention the illumination means comprise a' single point source and a fixed composite reflector havinga number of reflector elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the-point source forms, by reflection in said reflector elements, the same number of component beams, and a collimator through which said component beams pass to produce the said illumination condition in a printing plane.

Preferably the said reflector elements are arranged so that they form virtual'imagesof the said point'of light source in a common plane containing said point source. A stop may be arranged centrally of the annular array reflector elements to prevent the direct passage of light through said array without reflection by the reflector elements.

The component beams emerging from the multiple prism or from the composite reflector as the case may be are preferably deflected through substantially by a reflecting element before passing through the collimator.

As an alternative to providing a fixed annular or substantially annular source the source may be moved orbitally around a circular path to provide an annular effcctive brightness distribution over the period of the cx posure. Preferably, however, the source provides a collimated light beam which is caused to scan a conical or cylindrical surface cyclically by rotation of a reflecting or refracting element mounted in the path of the said collimated light beam.

The rotatable element may comprise a rotatable wedge prism mounted in the path of said light beam between the source and a collimator, the resulting collimated beam performing a conical scan upon rotation of the wedge prism. Alternatively the rotatable wedge prism may be mounted in the path of the said light beam with a collimator interposed between the prism and the source, so that the collimated ,beam upon emerging from the prism performs a conical scan upon rotation of the prism.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the rotatable element comprises a plane mirror mounted for rotation about an axis which is inclined to the normal to the reflecting surface of the mirror, the mirror being positioned in the said light path between the light source and a collimator, so that the resulting collimated beam performs a conical scan upon rotation and more generally in other contexts where some degree of compensation for Fresnel-Fraunhofer diffrac tion is required. H

The invention also provides according to another aspect a method of shadow printing in which radiation from an extended source is directed through a shadowmask on to a radiation-sensitive substrate tobe pr'inted,

it is preferably arranged that the source illuminates any point on the mask with radiation which lies between two cones having a common apexat said point and a common axis normal to the plane of the maskhThe said two cones in the preferred embodiment of the invcntion referred to above, using printing radiation of wavelength 0.4 microns, preferably have half-angles of 3% and 4% respectively.

The invention will now be described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an elementary shadow printing arrangement, illustrating diagrammatically the Fresnel diffraction of a spherical wavefront impinging upon a rectangular aperture in a mask;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the resulting diffraction pattern produced upon s substrate spaced a distance of 12 microns from a slit in the mask of FIG. 1 having a width of 3 microns, together with the diffraction pattern produced by illuminating means in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams illustrating the optical arrangement of different embodimentsof illumination means in accordance with the invention utilising rotary optical elements to produce diffraction compensation in shadow printing; P

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagrammatic perspective view illustrating illumination means according to one embodiment of the invention utilising fixed optical elements;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the illumination means shown in FIG. 7, illustrating typical ray paths; 1

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of illumina- 1 ment comprising a point source 1, an apertured mask the effective brightness distribution of the source affording a central dark area surrounded by a bright zone, and the mask and substrate being centrally positioned relative to said dark area, so that fringes produced 'on the substrate by transitional Fresnel- Fraunhofer diffraction, as herein defined, of light inci- I dent on anygiven part of the mask from different parts of the source substantially cancel each other over a part of the substrate area.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the source, which preferably comprises illumination means as previously defined, emits radiation having a wavelength of substantially 0.4 microns, the mask being spaced from the substrate by substantially 9 microns. Under these conditions the range of the shadow diffraction pattern imaged on the substrate which is effectively smoothed that is, compensated for defraction fringes extends over a range of 3 to 6 microns on the substrate. 7 I

As stated previously, the source is preferably arranged so that its effective brightness distribution is annular, for example, in the form of a square annulus or, preferably, a circular annulus.

Where the source has a circular annular form, or the source or its radiation is scanned over an annular path,

2 and a substrate Shaving a photosensitive surface coating upon which radiation emitted from the source 1 impinges after passing through the 'apertured mask 2.

FIG. 1 shows a spherical wavefront 4 originating from the point source I arriving at a rectangularslit in the mask 2.

Using the simple Fresnel theory of the Cornu Spiral in which the obliquity factor of the incident light and the variationof amplitude with distance are not taken into account, the amplitude components of the diffraction pattern observable at a point' having coordinates x, y on the substrate 3 can be dedueedfrom distances s in the plane of the mask measured along the Cornu Spiral or vibration curve. The components are represented by: 1

mask plane, b is the mask-to-substrate distance, and A is the wavelength of the radiation (see FIG. I). The diffraction pattern size is therefore proportional to the square root of the wavelength A.

Typically the photosensitive resist deposited on the substrate 3 is sensitive to the three closely spaced wavelengths of the mercury spectrum, mnamely 365mm, 405nm and 436nm. However, since the diffraction produced is proportional to the square root of the wavelength, it is a justifiable approximation in practice to prepresent these three wavelengths by a single wavelength, in this case 400nm.

An analysis of the diffraction pattern produced by a line or slit can be performed according to this theory, which is found to give a good practical approximation, FIG. 2 shows, not to scale, the diffraction pattern produced on a substrate 3 spaced 12 microns from the mask 2 from a slit 3 microns wide.

It has been shown, for example by Michelson, that cancellation of diffraction fringes can be obtained using two diverging radiation waves (that is, from two sources). However, a combination of two sources is insufficient to produce cancellation in the different fringe patterns resulting from slits of different widths in a mask.

It has been found that a distribution of the illuminat ing source brightness can give rise to diffraction fringe compensation under certain conditions of slit width and mask-substrate separation.

In accordance with the present invention the intensity distribution in the diffraction pattern produced on the substrate 4 is effectively controlled by a' suitable choice of the source geometry, departing from the point source shown in FIG. 1. For example, it has been foundthat substantial smoothing of the diffraction pattern over a certain range of the pattern on the substrate can be achieved by employing a source 1 of annular configuration.

Specifically, with a source producing radiation of wavelength 0.4 microns, it is found that an optimum source geometry is an annular source, or a source producing a beam which scans a conical path, such that radiation is incident on any given point on the mask 2 along rays which form the generators of a family of cones the common apex of which lies at the said point and the common axis of which is perpendicular to the mask, the family of cones having half-angles between 341 and 4%". 1

In FIG. 2 the typical diffraction pattern obtained on the substrate 3 using the point source 1 shown in FIG. 1, has superimposed on it, a corrected diffraction pat tern, shown in broken outline, using illumination means in accordance with the invention-of effectively annular brightness distribution produced by an orbiting source moving in a circular orbit of 0. I44 radian diameter, the mask-substrate separation in this case being 12 microns.

FIGS. 3 to 6 illustrate different practical arrangements for providing the requisite illumination for shadow printing in accordance with the invention, utilising rotary optical elements.

In FIG. 3 light from the source 1 is directed by an inclined mirror 5 through a rotatable wedge prism 6 in a direction perpendicular to one of. the faces of the prism, and thence through a collimating lens assembly 7 onto the mask-

substrate combination

2, 3 to be illuminated. The prism 6 is driven at a constant rotational speed by means of an electric motor 8 coupled to the prism housing through a belt drive 9, the axis of rotation of the prism 6 being coincident with the optical axis of the collimating lens assembly 7.

The rotation of the prism 6 at constant rotational speed during exposure of the substrate 3 through the mask 2 causes the collimated beam produced by the lens assembly 7 to perform a conical scan of the printing area, which is so arranged that the mask-

substrate assembly

2, 3 is illuminated by an effectively annular source of kind previously specified.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement, similar to that of FIG. 3, in which the wedge prism 6 is mounted in a rotatable housing in the path of the collimated beam emerging from the collimating lens assembly 7.

In FIG. 5 a rotational mirror 10 is used to provide the conical scanning of the collimated light. The mirror 10 is arranged for rotation about an axis which is inclined to the normal to the reflecting surface of the mirror,'so that light reflected by the mirror undergoes a conical scanning movement, the mirror being rotated at a constant speed about the aforesaid axis.

Light is directed onto the mirror 10 from the source 1 by means of a combination of lenses 11a and 11b and ah internally reflecting pentaprism' 12. The light from the source is collimated by lens 11a for passage through a pentaprism 12 and re-focussed by lens 11b to an image before passing to the rotating mirror 10 from a wide field of acceptance of light emitted by the source 1. After reflection at the mirror 10 the scanning light beam passes through the collimator 7 and thence onto the mask-

substrate combination

2, 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates a yet further arrangement whereby the light emitted by the source 1 is directed by a means of a collecting lens assembly14 into a 'rhomb prism 15 which is located in a housing and rotated about an offset axis X-X perpendicular to the plane parallel entry and exit faces of the. prism 15. The emergent light is directed by a mirror 16 into the collimator 7 and thence onto the mask-

substrate combination

2, 3, to produce on the latter a scanning conical beam as aforesaid.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate embodiments of the invention utilising fixed optical elements.

Theprinting radiation is derived from a single source 1, in this casea substantially point source, which is arranged, by means of the optical systemto be described, to illuminate a prepared substrate 3 having a photosensitive surface with radiation in a predetermined pattern.

The substrate 3 is disposed in a printing plane P (FIG. 8) and a mask 2 having a predetermined aperture pattern therein, shown in broken outline in FIG. 8, is positioned in front of the substrate '3. For shadow printing the mask 2 is spaced from the substrate 3 by a distance determined by analysis of typical image intensity distrimicron.

Effective cancellation of diffraction fringes in the printing plane P is obtained by illuminating the printing plane P with radiation emanating from a source with effective annular brightness distribution comprising a central dark area surrounded by a bright zone. This effective brightness distribution is achieved with a fixed optical system comprising, in FIGS. 7 and 8, a multiple prism and a collimator indicated diagrammatically at 21. The collimator 21 may comprise a single lens or a group of lenses, as known per se. The source lis positioned on the' axis of symmetry of the prism 20, this axis being disposed horizontally, and the axis of the collimator 21 is arranged vertically, light being deflected from the prism 20 downwardly into the collimator 21 by a plane mirror 22 inclined at 45 to the horizontal.

The multiple prism 20 comprises a number of identi-' cal prism elements 23 spaced apart at equal angular intervals in an annular array. In the illustrated example the multiple prism 20 is made up of six prism elements The multiple prism 20 has a circular outer edge, and each prism element 23 is sector shaped, its outer edge the prism elements 23, wouldbe coated for best transmission in the wavelength range O.36-O.44 micron. In effect the optical system herein described produces six collimatecl beams. Accordingly the illumination intensity afforded by this technique is substantially greater than that which is possible using a single orbiting source or light beam, and the same collimating len'ses.

. 32 of the array. Each mirror is inclined at an equal forming part of the circular outer edge of the prism 20.

Each prism element 23 tapers from a maximum thickness at its vertex to each prism element 23 being inclined to the radialplane'of the multiple prism 20, that is, the plane normal to the axis of symmetry of the prism 20. Typically the face 24 of each prism element 23 which faces towards the source l hasan inclination of 7879 to the axis of symmetry of the prism 20, while the opposite face, 25, of each prism element 23 is inclined, in the opposite direction, at an angle of substantially 63 -64 to the said axis of symmetry.

Each sector shaped prism element 23 is truncated at its vertex so that themultiple prism 20 has a central portion 26, with plane parallel outer faces, the central portion 26 being in'this case in the form of a hexagonal parallelipiped.

The respective prism elements 23 are conveniently formed in practice by grinding respective facets on two circular discs to form the respective faces 24, thereon. The two discs are then cemented together along their plane faces so that the surfaces 24, 25 face outwardly and are angularly aligned to form thereSpective prism element 23.

The radiation emitted by the source 1 and impinging on the multiple prism 20 is divided by the prism 20 into a number of component beams equal in number to the number of prism elements 23. In FIG. 8, two of the prism elements 23, diametrically opposite each other, are shown, with associated rays passing therethrough. Upon reflection in the mirror 22 the respective beams are reflected downwardly as divergent beams defining respective virtual images of the source 1, two of which 1, 1", are shown inFlG. 2. These beams are brought together in the printing plane P by the collimator 21, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8. The relative divergence of the collimated beams at the printing plane P is typically 0.14 radian. V

The beams incident on the printing plane P have an effective intensity distribution such as to produce in the printing plane P an illuminating condition comprising a central dark zone surrounded by a number of (in this example six) bright zones distributed regularly in an annular pattern around the dark zone. This approximates composite reflector 30 are deflected by theplane mirror 22, inclined at 45 to the axis 32, into the collimator 21 to form the desired distribution of illumination in the printing plane P, as previously described with refer- 7 time to FIGS. 7 and 8.

Light from the point source 1 is prevented from passing directly to the collimator 21 without -reflection in the annular array of rnirrors by a centrally. positern determined by a shadow mask having transparent to the ideal annular illumination pattern for producing example all such surfaces, including the faces 24, 25 of regions, and opaque regions collectively defining a pattem' to be illuminated on said substrate, comprising:

a light source assembly of finite predetermined area having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region surrounded by a bright V rim and producing substantially coherent light at a selected wavelength, 7 I i i a shadow mask bearing said pattern to be imaged on said substrate,

1 means supporting said mask at a selected position between said substrate and said light source assembly in the path of the light therefrom, said selected position lying at a distance from said substrate of the 1 same order as the width of said transparent portions of said mask, whereby diffraction of light passing through said transparent regions in said mask results in diffraction fringes which substantially cancel each other out at least adjacent the edges of the pattern determined by said transparent regions, so that a sharp image of said shadow mask is obtained on said substrate when illuminated by said source assembly.

2. Illumination means'accordingto claim 1, in .which said source assembly has an annular shape.

'3. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which said effective brightness distribution of the source as sembly comprises a number of bright zones distributed regularly in an annular pattern around the central dark zone.

4. Illumination'means according to claim 1, in which the source assembly comprises a source and means effecting orbital movement of said source around a circular path to provide an annular effective brightness distribution over the period of an exposure.

5. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which the source assembly comprises a source providing a collimated light beam and means scanning said beam over a conical or cylindrical surface cyclically.

6. Illumination means according to claim 5, in which said scanning means comprises a reflecting element mounted for rotation in the path of said collimated light beam, and means rotating said element to effect scanning of said beam.

7. Illumination means according to claim 5, in which said scanning means comprises a refracting element mounted for rotation in the path of said collimated light beam, and means rotating said element to effect scanning of said beam.

8. Illumination means according to claim 7, in which the rotatable refracting element comprises a rotatable wedge prism mounted in the path of said light beam from said source, and a collimator through which said beam passes after traversing said prism, the resulting collimated beam performing a conical scan upon rotation of the wedge prism.

9. Illumination means according to claim 7, in which the rotatable refracting element comprises a rotatable wedge prism mounted in the path of the said beam, and including a collimator interposed between the prism and the source, so that the collimated beam upon emerging from the prism performs a conical scan upon rotation of the prism. Y n l 10. Illumination means according to claim 6, in which the rotatable reflecting element comprises a plane mirror mounted for rotation about an axis which is inclined to the normal to the reflecting surface of the mirror and. including a collimator, said plane mirror being positioned in said light path between the light source and said collimator, the resulting collimated beam performing a conical scan upon rotation of the mirror. g

11. Illumination means. according to claim 7, in which the rotatable refracting element comprises a rhomb prism mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to two plane parallel faces through which said light beam passes.

12. ,Illumination means according to claim 1, in which the source assembly provides light having a wavelength of substantially0.4 microns and said means upp tin Said. maska sl t d distance msai strate supports said mask between about 9 and 12 microns from said substrate.

13. Illumination means according to claim 3, in which the source comprises in combination a single point source and a fixed multiple prism comprising a number of prism elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the point source passes through the said prism elements to provide the same number of component beams. r

14. Illumination means according to claim 13 including a collimator through which said component. beams pass to produce the said effective illumination condition in a printing plane.

l5. Illumination means according to claim 14, including a collimator through which said component beams pass to produce the same illumination condition in a printing plane.

16. A method according to claim 15 in-which the me a half-angle of the family of cones contained in the said envelope lies within the range 1 /2" to 5".

17. Illumination means according to claim 3, in which the source comprises a single'point source and a fixed composite reflector having a number of reflector elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the point source forms, by reflection in said reflector elements, the same number of component beams. 1

18. Apparatus for illuminating a substrate with a pattern determined by a shadow mask having transparent regions and opaque regions collectively defining a patterm to be illuminated on said substrate, comprising:

a light source assembly of finite predetermined area having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region and a bright surrounding rim, said light source assembly including, in combination: a single point source oflight of a given wavelength,

a fixed composite optical arrangement having a plurality of optical elements in an annular array inclined such that light from said point source impinges on said optical elements and is formed thereby into a plurality of component beams in a corresponding annular array, and

collimating lens means in the path of said plurality of component beams, a shadow mask having transparent regions and opaque regions collectively defining said pattern t be imaged on said substrate, and y means supporting said mask at a selected position between said substrate and said light source assembly -in the path of the light therefrom, said selected po sition lying at a distance from said substrate of the same order as the width of said transparent portions of said mask, whereby diffraction of light passing through said transparent regions in said mask results in diffraction fringes which substantially cancel each other out at least adjacent the edges of the pattern determined by said transparent regions, so that a sharp image of said shadow mask is obtained on said substrate when illuminated by said source assembly.

19. Illumination means according to claim 18, in which said optical arrangement comprises a fixed multiple prism comprising a number of prism elements arranged in an annular array, light from said point source passing throughvthe said prism elements to provide the same number of component beams.

20. Illumination means according to claim' 19, in which said prism comprises a number of identical adjacent prism elements of sector shape, each prism element tapering in thickness from a maximum at its vertex to a minimum at its outer edge. 4 r

21. Illumination means accordingto claim 20, in which the outer edges of the prism elements lie on a common circle.

22. Illumination means according to claim 20, in which each prism element is truncated at its vertex, said multiple prism having a central portion with plane parallel outer faces.

23. Illumination means according to claim 19, in which the two outer faces of each prism element are both inclined to the radial plane of the multiple prism.

24. Illumination means according to claim 23, in which the multiple prism comprises two parts, each ground to provide respective parts of said prism elements, and each having a plane radial face, said two parts being cemented together back-to-back at said plane faces with the parts of the prism elements in register with each other.

25. Illumination means according to claim 19, in which said multiple prism comprises at least six identical prism elements.

26. Illumination means according to claim 18, in which said optical elements are reflectors and are so arranged that they form virtual images of the said point light source in a common plane containing said point source.

27. Illumination means according to claim 18, including a stop arranged centrally of the annular array of reflector elements, preventing the direct passage of light through said array without reflection by the reflector:

elements.

28. Illumination means according to claim 18, including a fixed reflector between said array of optical elements and said collimator, the component beams emerging from said composite optical arrangement being deflected through substantially 90 by said fixed reflector before passing through said collimator.

29. A method of shadow printing a pattern from a shadow mask onto a radiation sensitive substrate, comprising the steps of:

positioning in approximately parallel relation to said substrate a shadow mask having transparent and opaque regions collectively defining the pattern desired for said substrate,

spacing said shadow mask from said substrate by a distance of the same order as the widths of said transparent regions of said mask, and

illuminating said substrate via said shadow mask with light of a given wavelength from a light source having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region surrounded by a bright rim so that the illumination condition of said substrate is such that fringes formed on the substrate adjacent the edges of the images of said opaque regions of said mask, on said substrate, substantially cancel one another out to provide a sharp image of vsaid pattern defined by said mask.

30. The method according to claim 29 comprising the step of illuminating said shadow mask and substrate with light from a stationary source'assembly of finite predetermined area and comprising;

a single point source of light of a given wavelength,

and said mask is spaced from said substrate by substan- I tially 9 microns.

32. The method according to claim 29, in which the source illuminates any point on the mask with radiation which lies between two cones having a common apex at said point and a common axis normal to the plane of the mask. r

33. The method according to claim 32, in which said two cones have half-angles of 3%? and 4%".

Claims

1. Apparatus for illuminating a substrate with a pattern determined by a shadow mask having transparent regions and opaque regions collectively defining a pattern to be illuminated on said substrate, comprising: a light source assembly of finite predetermined area having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region surrounded by a bright rim and producing substantially coherent light at a selected wavelength, a shadow mask bearing said pattern to be imaged on said substrate, means supporting said mask at a selected position between said substrate and said light source assembly in the path of the light therefrom, said selected position lying at a distance from said substrate of the same order as the width of said transparent portions of said mask, whereby diffraction of light passing through said transparent regions in said mask results in diffraction fringes which substantially cancel each other out at least adjacent the edges of the pattern determined by said transparent regions, so that a sharp image of said shadow mask is obtained on said substrate when illuminated by said source assembly.

2. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which said source assembly has an annular shape.

3. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which said effective brightness distribution of the source assembly comprises a number of bright zones distributed regularly in an annular pattern around the central dark zone.

4. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which the source assembly comprises a source and means effecting orbital movement of said source around a circular path to provide an annular effective brightness distribution over the period of an exposure.

9. Illumination means according to claim 7, in which the rotatable refracting element comprises a rotatable wedge prism mounted in the path of the said beam, and including a collimator interposed between the prism and the source, so that the collimated beam upon emerging from the prism performs a conical scan upon rotation of the prism.

10. Illumination means according to claim 6, in which the rotatable reflecting element comprises a plane mirror mounted for rotation about an axis which is inclined to the normal to the reflecting surface of the mirror and including a collimator, said plane mirror being positioned in said light path between the light source and said collimator, the resulting collimated beam performing a conical scan upon rotation of the mirror.

11. Illumination means according to claim 7, in which the rotatable refracting element comprises a rhomb prism mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to two plane parallel faces through which said light beam passes.

12. Illumination means according to claim 1, in which the source assembly provides light having a wavelength of substantially 0.4 microns and said means supporting said mask a selected distance from said substrate supports said mask between about 9 and 12 microns from said substrate.

13. Illumination means according to claim 3, in which the source comprises in combination a single point source and a fixed multiple prism comprising a number of prism elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the point source passes through the said prism elements to provide the same number of component beams.

14. Illumination means according to claim 13 including a collimator through which said component beams pass to produce the said effective illumination condition in a printing plane.

15. Illumination means according to claim 14, including a collimator through which said component beams pass to produce the same illumination condition in a printing plane.

16. A method according to claim 15 in which the mean half-angle of the family of cones contained in the said envelope lies within the range 1 1/2 * to 5*.

17. Illumination means according to claim 3, in which the source comprises a single point source and a fixed composite reflector having a number of reflector elements arranged in an annular array such that light from the point source forms, by reflection in said reflector elements, the same number of component beams.

18. Apparatus for illuminating a substrate with a pattern determined by a shadow mask having transparent regions and opaque regions collectively defining a pattern to be illuminated on said substrate, comprising: a light source assembly of finite predetermined area having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region and a bright surrounding rim, said light source assembly including, in combination: a single point source of light of a given wavelength, a fixed composite optical arrangement having a plurality of optical elements in an annular array inclined such that light from said point source impinges on said optical elements and is formed thereby into a plurality of component beams in a corresponding annular array, and collimating lens means in the path of said plurality of component beams, a shadow mask having transparent regions and opaque regions collectively defining said pattern to be imaged on said substrate, and means supporting said mask at a selected position between said substrate and said light source assembly in the path of the light therefrom, said selected position lying at a distance from said substrate of the same order as the width of said transparent portions of said mask, whereby diffraction of light passing through said transparent regions in said mask results in diffraction fringes which substantially cancel each other out at least adjacent the edges of the pattern determined by said transparent regions, so that a sharp image of said shadow mask is obtained on said substrate when illuminated by said source assembly.

19. Illumination means according to claim 18, in which said optical arrangement comprises a fixed multiple prism comprising a number of prism elements arranged in an annular array, light from said point source passing through the said prism elements to provide the same number of component beams.

20. Illumination means according to claim 19, in which said prism comprises a number of identical adjacent prism elements of sector shape, each prism element tapering in thickness from a maximum at its vertex to a minimum at its outer edge.

21. Illumination means according to claim 20, in which the outer edges of the prism elements lie on a common circle.

27. Illumination means according to claim 18, including a stop arranged centrally of the annular array of reflector elements, preventing the direct passage of light through said array without reflection by the reflector elements.

28. Illumination means according to claim 18, including a fixed reflector between said array of optical elements and said collimator, the component beams emerging from said composite optical arrangement being deflected through substantially 90* by said fixed reflector before passing through said collimator.

29. A method of shadow printing a pattern from a shadow mask onto a radiation sensitive substrate, comprising the steps of: positioning in approximately parallel relation to said substrate a shadow mask having transparent and opaque regions collectively defining the pattern desired for said substrate, spacing said shadow mask from said substrate by a distance of the same order as the widths of said transparent regions of said mask, and illuminating said substrate via said shadow mask with light of a given wavelengTh from a light source having an effective brightness distribution incorporating a dark central region surrounded by a bright rim so that the illumination condition of said substrate is such that fringes formed on the substrate adjacent the edges of the images of said opaque regions of said mask, on said substrate, substantially cancel one another out to provide a sharp image of said pattern defined by said mask.

30. The method according to claim 29 comprising the step of illuminating said shadow mask and substrate with light from a stationary source assembly of finite predetermined area and comprising: a single point source of light of a given wavelength, a fixed composite optical arrangement having a plurality of optical elements in an annular array inclined such that light from said point source impinges on said optical elements and is formed thereby into a plurality of component beams in a corresponding annular array, and lens means in the path of said plurality of component beams.

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein said given wavelength of light is substantially 0.4 microns and said mask is spaced from said substrate by substantially 9 microns.

32. The method according to claim 29, in which the source illuminates any point on the mask with radiation which lies between two cones having a common apex at said point and a common axis normal to the plane of the mask.

33. The method according to claim 32, in which said two cones have half-angles of 3 1/4 * and 4 3/4 *.