Patent ID: 7002677

Claim:
A surface inspection apparatus comprising: an illumination source for directing a light beam onto a workpiece to generate scattered light that includes light scattered from defects of the workpiece and light scattered in accordance with the ordinary scattering pattern of the workpiece; a programmable light selection array positioned to receive light scattered from the workpiece and direct the light onto a first photodetector array; the first photodetector array is positioned to receive the light from the programmable light selection array and capable of translating the light into an associated electrical signal; circuitry for receiving the associated electrical signal and determining which portion of the light scattered from the workpiece comprises the ordinary scattering pattern of the workpiece; the programmable light selection array further selectively directs the light scattered from defects of the workpiece onto a photosensor where it is translated into an associated defect signal; and processing circuitry for receiving the defect signal and using it to conduct surface analysis of the workpiece.