CONTOUR MEASUREMENT OF AN OBJECT HAVING A DISCONTINUOUS SURFACE USING BLOCK POINT IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

Systems, methods, and apparatus for enabling the use of phase measurement profilometry techniques for measuring the surface contour of an object having a surface discontinuity thereon are disclosed. A method for correcting optical phase orders in a computer-generated image includes selecting a local region and linking identified key data points and block points with a blocking line. An intensity value of zero is assigned to each pixel located on the blocking line from which the correct optical phase order for each pixel in the local region can then be determined. Multiple block point identification methods are provided, the particular combination of which is highly efficient in locating block points in an area adjacent a surface discontinuity.