Phase profilometry system with telecentric projector

An optical system for computing a height of a target on a surface, the system comprising:

• a light projector for projecting light, the light passing through a patterned reticle and a projector lens so as to illuminate the target with an image of the pattern, the light projected telecentrically between the reticle and the projector lens;
• and
• a camera positioned along a receive optical path, the camera adapted to receive an image of the target through a receive lens, where the target and the pattern are adapted to move through at least three positions with respect to each other, and the camera is further adapter to acquire an image of the object at each of the at least three positions.