Patent ID: 8817249

Claim:
A system for inspecting defects in semiconductor wafers comprising: a) a first device for detecting surface defects from variations in the slope of a surface of the wafer b) a second device for detecting surface defects from variations in the intensity of light reflected by a surface of the wafer at a plurality of points, said second device being configured to calculate the intensity of the light at a plurality of image points to generate an image of the reflected intensities; c) a third device for detecting the intensity of the light diffused by the surface of the wafer; d) a detection and classification device coupled to an output of each of the first, second and third devices; e) a light source common to the first device and the second device, the light source comprising a projection member configured to project a pattern of substantially vertical alternate fringes of continuous light and dark bands onto the surface of the wafer, the projection member comprising a screen having a luminosity of at least 300 cd/cm 2 ; f) a controller for displacing the pattern produced by the light source in at least one direction relative to the wafer; g) an image capture sensor common to the first, second and third detection devices, the image capture sensor being capable of measuring local light intensity during displacement pattern reflected by the wafer.