Patent ID: 8909491

Claim:
A method for measuring multi-point interferometric angle changes comprising the steps of: (a) providing an interferometric device capable of measuring at least one main point and at least one reference point; (b) recording interferometric intensity changes on two or more spots using the main point and the reference point; (c) determining a sequence comprising a plurality of peak, local maximas and a plurality of valley, local minimas of intensities of the main point(s) and reference point(s); (d) sampling a first, partial sequence comprising a main peak, a main valley, a reference peak, and a reference valley; (e) comparing the first, partial sequence with a neighboring, partial sequence for each point of the sequence comprising at least a second main peak, a second main valley, a second reference peak, and a second reference valley; (f) determining a type of permutation of that neighbors each point as selected from the group consisting of ascending, descending, and transition permutations; (g) modifying a phase angle increment depending on the type of permutation for each point; (h) calculating phase angle changes of a plurality of intermediate points located between the main point(s) and the reference point(s); and (i) compiling all phase angle changes for all measured points.