Computer-aided surface reconstruction of interference contours.

A computer-aided system for reconstruction of the surface of an object from optically generated interferometric fringes is described conceptually, and the parts of the system are demonstrated. Fringe patterns of macroscopic objects were produced with moire contouring, while a reflection interference microscope was used to examine minute surface features. Three-dimensional shaded images of the surface were generated using techniques of image processing and computer graphics. An algorithm for obtaining wire frame surface representations from TV images of fringes is described, and the limitations of the proposed system are discussed.