Patent ID: 7539583
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of inspecting an object, comprising the steps of: providing an optical inspection system comprising a staging platform, an optical platform, and a computing facility, the computing facility comprising a database for storing programs and collected data; staging the object; scanning the object by illuminating at least a portion of the surface of the object and capturing at least one image created by light reflected from the surface of the object; storing data representing the at least one image captured in the scanning step; selecting a defect detection protocol comprising a plurality of defect detection algorithms; analyzing the collected data using the selected plurality of defect detection algorithms; assigning a first weight to a first defect detection algorithm and a second weight to a second defect detection algorithm, the first weight and second weight being different and the first defect detection algorithm and second defect detection algorithm being part of the plurality of defect detection algorithms; building at least one defect mask, wherein each defect mask corresponds to a specific portion of the object surface being inspected and has a value determined by weights assigned to the plurality defect detection algorithms; and determining the existence of a defect based on the defect mask.