Method and apparatus for detecting the deformation of objects

1. A method for analyzing an object, the method comprising the steps of:

deforming the object;

taking a sequence of pictures of the object during the deformation using a camera;

determining phase images from the pictures by a computer,

determining the difference between the current phase image or the respective current phase image and the phase image of an initial state by the computer;

displaying the difference on a visual display unit, and

wherein an evaluation and/or representation of the determined difference between the current phase image or the respective current phase image and the phase image of an initial state by the computer is effected at a time at which a whole-body deformation or an undesired deformation has assumed a lower value after assuming a higher value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pictures of the object are taken with holographic interferometry or electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) or with speckle shearing interferometry.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pictures of the object are taken with a lattice projection method or with a moire method.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the phase images is determined from a picture.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the object is irradiated with coherent radiation, including coherent light or laser light, or with partly coherent radiation, including partly coherent light.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the object is irradiated by one or more laser diodes.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein from two or more successive pictures and/or phase images and/or the differences thereof additional information is obtained, by statistical or telecommunications methods.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein successive deformation sections are detected manually or automatically and/or are separated, wherein in particular defect-typical deformations are separated from whole-body movements and/or whole-body deformations.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein an automated detection of features is performed.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the phase images and/or the phase difference images formed from the phase images are visualized as a film.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein time segments and/or partial segments of the deformation are compared with each other.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a whole-body deformation or an undesired deformation is separated from the desired deformation.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein areas of the phase images and/or the phase difference images are compared with neighboring areas and that partial areas with little significance are eliminated.

14. An apparatus for detecting the deformation of objects, the apparatus comprising:

a camera effective to take a sequence of pictures of the object during the deformation of the object,

a computer effective to determine phase images from the pictures taken, and to determine a difference between the current phase image or the respective current phase image and the phase image of an initial state,

wherein an evaluation and/or representation of the determined difference between the current phase image or the respective current phase image and the phase image of an initial state by the computer is effected at a time at which a whole-body deformation or an undesired deformation has assumed a lower value after assuming a higher value, and

a visual display unit effective to display the difference or the differences.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the camera comprises an interferometer and/or a projector and/or a source of coherent radiation or coherent light or partly coherent radiation or partly coherent light.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , comprising one or more laser diodes.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , comprising means for visualizing the pictures taken and/or the phase images and/or the phase images and/or the phase difference images as a film.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , comprising one or more laser diodes.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , comprising means for visualizing the pictures taken and/or the phase images and/or the phase difference images as a film.