Patent ID: 7599071

Claim:
A multiple channel interferometer projector for projecting fringes onto a surface of an object, comprising: a plurality of interferometer channels each having a spatially separate optical axis, at least one of the interferometer channels configured to project a respective fringe pattern onto the surface of an object; a plurality of diffraction gratings each disposed along a respective one of the spatially separate optical axes; a positioning stage coupled to the diffraction gratings and configured for positioning the plurality of diffraction gratings in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; an imager substantially fixed in position relative to the diffraction gratings, the imager receiving at least a portion of one of the projected fringe patterns and generating image data responsive thereto; and a processor in communication with the imager and the positioning stage, the processor receiving the image data and determining a position of the diffraction gratings, wherein the positioning stage adjusts the position of the diffraction gratings in response to a difference between the determined position and a measured position.