Patent ID: 6930765

Claim:
A system for measuring a surface of an object comprising: a first electromagnetic signal source for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal toward a first position on the object in a first plane of incidence at a first angle of incidence that is not a substantially normal to the surface; a second electromagnetic signal source for transmitting a second electromagnetic signal toward said first position on the object at a second angle of incidence that is not substantially normal to the surface and in a second plane of incidence that is substantially normal to said first plane of incidence; a first magnification unit, disposed to receive said first elctromagnetic signal, for magnifying said first electromagnetic signal by a first magnification factor to modify a first beam diameter of said first electromagnetic signal wherein said first factor is modifiable; a second magnification unit, disposed to receive said second electromagnetic signal, for magnifying said second electromagnetic signal by a second magnification factor to modify a second beam diameter of said first electromagnetic signal wherein said second magnification factor is modifiable; a first lens, for focusing said magnified first electromagnetic signal on said first position on said object, said size of said first position dependent upon said magnification factor; a second lens, for focusing said magnified second electromagnetic signal on said first position on said object, said size of said first position dependent upon said second magnification factor; a position sensitive detector, receiving a portion of a first specular light, said first specular light comprising said magnified first electromagnetic signal after reflecting from said object, for generating a first output signal; a scattered light detector, receiving at least one of a first or second scattered light signal, said first scattered light signal resulting from said magnified firs electromagnetic signal after scattering from said object, said second scattered light signal resulting from said magnified second electromagnetic signal after scattering from said object, for generating at least one of a first scattered output signal derived from said first scattered light signal and a second scattered output signal derived from said first scattered light signal; and a processor, receiving at least one of said first output signal, said first scattered output signal and said second scattered output signal, for generating a characteristic signal representing at least one of a height of said first position, a slope of said first position, an index of refraction at said first position, a roughness of said first position, a scratch at paid first position or a thickness of a layer on said first object.