Automated Fringe Reduction Techniques

Analysis of a fringe pattern to obtain quantitative information, i. e. fringe reduction, has been an important area of research. Numerous techniques have been developed for fringe reduction with varying degrees of automation. The goal of a fully automated fringe reduction technique, however, remains elusive. We have carried out a survey to compare and contrast the various techniques and to identify the important problem areas and their possible solutions. In particular, it has been possible to identify each technique as a combination of three generic operations, namely, noise management, fringe position determination and fringe order assignment. A discussion of various fringe reduction techniques and the role of these operations is presented.