Phase error analysis and compensation in fringe projection profilometry

Phase errors are one of the sources of insufficient measurement accuracy of optical 3D surface sensors based on the fringe projection technique. In this paper phase error analysis and compensation is presented which successfully improves the measurement results of disturbed input data. The origins of the phase errors are analyzed and systematic and random errors are distinguished. An error model is introduced which allows the description of arbitrary and locally distinguishing phase errors. The presented new method includes phase error determination and correction independently from the origin of the phase error. Different compensation algorithms are presented which were successfully applied to selected examples of real measurement data.