One shot profilometry using a composite fringe pattern

• Profilometry with discontinuous objects using the projection of only one image is demonstrated.
• A single composite fringe pattern containing three different frequencies is used.
• The phase equivalent to projecting one fringe period is obtained as an intermediate result.
• Fringe orders of the high frequency pattern are successfully calculated.

A method is proposed to solve one of the problems that profilometry encounters when fringe projection techniques are used: the difficulty to discern between surface discontinuities that cause phase shifts greater than 2π2π. Based on fringe projection of a single composite fringe pattern containing three different frequencies, such problem can be solved. Experimental results are presented using Fourier methods.