The tapestry cellular automata phase unwrapping algorithm for interferogram analysis

A newly developed phase-unwrapping algorithm, which is termed Tapestry Cellular Automata, are presented. Fundamental restrictions of traditional path-dependent phase unwrapping algorithms such as noise propagation and inconsistent data reconstruction are discussed first. The advantages and drawbacks of a path-independent algorithm, Cellular Automata, are then examined. The parallel and distributed processing nature of Tapestry Cellular Automata is shown to be able to keep the merits of traditional Cellular Automata algorithm while taking advantage of the rapid advancement of personal computers such as distributed computing over internet or intranet and multi-tasks operating environment. Both numerical simulation and experiments used to examine the effectiveness of this newly developed algorithm are presented in detail as well. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.