Structured light projection for specular surfaces

A system for generating a three-dimensional height image of a reflective target includes an illumination source configured to generate a patterned illumination on the reflective target, and an imaging system configured to acquire an image of the patterned illumination on the reflective target, the illumination source and camera being aligned relative to the target such that the camera acquires a specular image of the patterned illumination. The system further including a controller coupled to the illumination source and the camera configured to generate a first height image of the target based on the acquired image, the first height image being used by the controller to determine a position, a height, and a tilt of the target and calculate an error function based on the determination to compensate the first height image for the calculated error.