A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

A device exposing a wafer to charged-particle beams in an exposure process generates a plurality of micro beams and controls deflection of each of the micro beams, relative to whether or not the micro beams reach the wafer, in accordance with control data. A data processing unit inserts data-position-adjustment data into the control data for each exposure. A first data-storage unit stores the control data, inserted with the data-position-adjustment data, and outputs the control data at a time of the exposure process. Storage positions of the control data in the first data-storage unit are adjusted by the data-position-adjustment data so that the control data can be continuously read from the first data-storage unit for maintaining a continuous exposure process.

A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.

A method for providing charged particle beam exposure onto an object having a plurality of chip areas with a plurality of aligning marks formed in correspondence to each of said chip areas. A charged particle beam is irradiated upon an object mounted on a mobile step based upon positions of the aligning marks. Actual positions of the alignment marks are detected and compared to the design positions of the alignment marks to determine approximate relationships which are used to calculate an actual position to perform exposure.

Adjusting variable delay circuit 311, receiving signal S1, is connected to the input of drive circuit 312. A time point t1, when the output potential of drive circuit 312 traverses reference potential VA between the potential Va of traveling wave V1F of the output potential and 0 V, is detected by comparator 52 for detecting the front edge of V1F, detecting variable delay circuit 50 for delaying signal S1 and D flip-flop 51 for holding the output of comparator 52 at the timing of front edge of the signal outputted from delay circuit 50. A time point t2, when the output potential of drive circuit 312 traverses reference potential VB between the superimposed potential of traveling wave V1F and reflected wave V1B and VA, is detected by comparator 62 for detecting the front edge of V1B, detecting variable delay circuit 60 for delaying signal S1 and D flip-flop 61 for holding the output of comparator 62 at the timing of front edge of the signal outputted from delay circuit 60. The delay time of adjusting variable delay circuit 311 is set so that value {t1+(t2-t1)/2} becomes substantially same as to all the output potentials of drive circuit 31 and so on.