Three-dimensional optical profilometry using a four-core optical fibre

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2004.07.005

This paper describes the use of a four-core optical fibre for measurements of three-dimensional rigid-body shapes. A fringe pattern, which is generated by interference of four wavefronts emitted from the four-core optical fibre, is projected on an object's surface. The deformed fringe pattern containing information of the object's Surface topography is captured by a digital CCD camera and is analysed using a two-dimensional Fourier transform profilometry. It is demonstrated for the first time that the use of such a four-core optical fibre increases the compactness and the stability of the fringe projection system.