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.