Abstract: An inspection system includes a CMOS integrated circuit having integrally formed thereon an at least two dimensional array of photosensors and providing an inspection output representing an object to be inspected. A defect analyzer is operative to receive the inspection output and to provide a defect report.

Abstract: A scanner system acquires images of articles using a sensor acquiring an image of a portion of an article and defining a field of view, a displacer operative to provide mutual relative displacement between the article the sensor at a generally uniform rate of displacement, and a field of view freezer operative to provide a generally motionless image during image acquisition. The scanner system is particularly useful in the field of automated optical inspection.

Abstract: Apparatus for scanning a beam across a surface including a scanner scanning a pulsed laser beam across a surface and a position indicator receiving an input from the pulsed laser beam at a plurality of locations across the surface, and outputting position indications indicating a position of said pulsed laser beam along said surface. The position indications are used to modulate data in apparatus for exposing patterns on surfaces, for example electrical circuit patterns on photosensitized surfaces. One use of such apparatus is the manufacture of electrical circuits.

Abstract: A defect detection system for inspecting objects such as reticles, photomasks, semiconductor wafers, flat panel displays and other patterned objects has two or more stages, whereby the object is examined separately for fine defects, by inspecting a binary level representation of the object, and for ultra fine defects, by inspecting a gray level representation of the object. The system also includes re-inspection apparatus for re-inspection of detected defects, thereby to reduce the false alarm rate, and for classifying the remaining defects by size, area and type.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing high repetition rate optical pulses, including: a beam generator that produces an initial pulsed light beam having an initial pulse repetition rate; a pulse repetition rate multiplier, which receives the initial pulsed light beam and produces at least one pulsed light beam having a higher pulse repetition rate than the initial rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting information at a data rate, comprising:

Abstract: A system for inspecting a display panel including a plurality of pixels, the system including a selective pixel actuator which causes only some of the plurality of pixels to be actuated, a sensor for acquiring an image of a pattern which is generated on the panel, and an image processor operative to identify nonuniformities in the intensities of pixels of the panel.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a display panel including a plurality of pixels, the system including a selective pixel actuator which causes only some of the plurality of pixels to be actuated, a sensor for acquiring an image of a pattern which is generated on the panel, and an image processor operative to identify nonuniformities in the intensities of pixels of the panel.

Abstract: An inspection method including the steps of providing a patterned object to be inspected and compared with a reference, inspecting the patterned object and providing an output of information relating to the visual characteristics of the patterned object, comparing binary level information relating to the visual characteristics of the patterned object to binary level information relating to the visual characteristics of the reference, and comparing gray level information relating to the visual characteristics of the patterned object to gray level information relating to the visual characteristics of the reference.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to provide an improved system for inspection of and detection of defects in objects such as reticles, photomasks, semiconductor wafers, flat panel displays and other patterned objects. Preferably, the system has two or more stages, whereby the object is examined separately for fine defects, preferably by inspecting a binary level representation of the object, and for ultra fine defects, preferably by inspecting a gray level representation of the object. The system also preferably includes reinspection apparatus for reinspection of detected defects, thereby to reduce the false alarm rate, and for classifying the remaining defects by size, area and type.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically inspecting an article, includes an illuminating system, an imaging system, and portable polarizing devices including a polarizer in the illuminating system, an analyzer in the imaging system, and a phase compensator in one of the systems. The illuminating system directs the light from the light source to the objective lens along an axis which is parallel to, but is laterally displaced from, the axis of the objective lens, such as to illuminate the inspected article with a cone of light which is tilted at an angle relative to the axis of the objective lens to thereby permit contrast enhancement of the illuminated inspected article by the null-ellipsometric effect.

Abstract: Optical inspection apparatus includes an illumination system illuminating an area of the workpiece surface with a sky of illumination which is, with respect to each point in the illuminated area, substantially circularly symmetric over a solid angle around the optical axis passing perpendicularly through the electro-optical sensor and the workpiece surface.

Abstract: An illumination system particularly useful for inspecting a workpiece by an optic scanner includes darkfield illumination produced mainly by two elongate light sources each having a reflector focussing member and a lenticular lens sheet spreading the light from its light source over its reflector focussing member to produce an approximate image of its light source on the line to be scanned. The illumination system further includes brightfield illumination produced mainly by a third elongate light source mounted laterally of the scanner optic axis, a refractive focussing member, and a further lenticular lens sheet producing an approximate image of the third light source on the line to be scanned. A beamsplitter aligned with the scanner optic axis reflects the light from the refractive focussing member towards the workpiece, and conducts therethrough both the darkfield and brightfield illumination reflected from the workpiece to the optic scanner.

Abstract: A telecentric imaging system includes a Fresnel lens mountable in proximity to an object to be imaged, a source of light for illuminating the object, and an aperture stop located at least in the telecentric imaging system is incorporated into an optical inspection machine which permits optical distortion produced by the telecentric imaging system to be corrected using a look-up table.