An apparatus and methods for the real-time inspection for defects in and
on transparent sheets, such as a sheet of glass, are described. A sensor
detects a transparent light reflective coating on a transparent sheet and
defines a sample profile. An optical inspection system utilizes an
illumination source and an imaging device to obtain images of the
transparent sheets. An image processing system analyzes for defects in
the transparent sheets, including coating defects and defects in edge
deleted perimeters. Inspection variables which correspond to the sample
profile are used by the optical inspection system and image processing
system for real-time inspection.