Remote interferometry by digital holography for shape control

Modem production requires more and more effective methods for the inspection and quality control at the production place. Outsourcing and globalization result in possible large distances between co-operating partners. This may cause serious problems with respect to the just-in-time exchange of information and the response to possible violations of quality standards. Consequently new challenges arise for optical measurement techniques especially in the field of industrial shape control. A possible solution for these problems can be delivered by a technique that stores optically the full 3D information of the objects to be compared and where the data can be transported over large distances. In this paper we describe the progress in implementing a new technique for the direct comparison of the shape and deformation of two objects with different microstructure where it is not necessary that both samples are located at the same place. This is done by creating a coherent mask for the illumination of the sample object. The coherent mask is created by Digital Holography to enable the instant access to the complete optical information of the master object at any wanted place. The transmission of the digital master holograms to this place can be done via digital telecommunication networks. The comparison can be done in a digital or analogue way. Both methods result in a disappearance of the object shape and the appearance of the shape or deformation difference between the two objects only. The analogue reconstruction of the holograms with a liquid crystal spatial light modulator can be done by using the fight modulator as an intensity modulator or as an phase modulator. The reconstruction technique and the space bandwidth of the light modulator will influence the quality of the result. Therefore the paper describes the progress in applying modem spatial light modulators and digital cameras for the effective storage and optical reconstruction of coherent masks.