San-Francisco, Feb. 4th, 2014 – Nanoelectronics research center, imec, showcases at this week’s 2014 SPIE Photonics West conference and exhibition its ultra-compact hyperspectral imaging sensor technology integrated into different commercial camera vendor partners including ADIMEC (The Netherlands), 3D-One (The Netherlands), Tattile (Italy), and SPIE 2014 PRISM awarded finalist BaySpec (USA).

“We are excited to announce the successful integration of our first generation hyperspectral image sensor prototypes by several camera vendor companies. These strategic partnerships on different applications highlight the broad potential of this unique optical-filter-on-chip sensor solution;” said Rudi Cartuyvels, senior vice president of smart systems at imec. Our technology expertise will enable our partners to add new range of products to their offering, effectively opening up new markets in the booming field of imaging spectroscopy”.

“Based on imec’s hyperspectral sensor technology, we developed the OCI-1000, an exciting handheld spectral imaging ‘point-and-shoot’ device that enabled our company to be finalist at the SPIE PRISM award this year” commented William Yang, President and CEO at spectroscopy company BaySpec.

Hyperspectral imaging is not new in the world of high-end remote sensing instruments such as satellites and airborne systems. By applying narrow-band spectral filters at pixel level using semiconductor thin-film processing, imec’s technology enables hyperspectral image sensor solutions with extreme compactness, low weight, high reliability and proven capabilities to be mass produced at low cost in volume. Such sensor solution is extremely valuable for camera vendors to access new markets such as drone UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) for precision agriculture, food quality grading in machine vision or in-vivo imaging for classification of medical tissues, among others.

The different hyperspectral imaging camera prototypes will be showcased at imec’s booth at Photonics West. For a demonstration, please visit imec on booth #4529 at SPIE Photonics West exhibition.

BaySpec, Inc., founded in 1999 with 100% manufacturing in the USA (San Jose, California), is a vertically integrated spectral sensing company. The company designs, manufactures and markets advanced spectral instruments, from UV-VIS spectrometers, benchtop and portable NIR and Raman analyzers, to confocal Raman microscopes, for the biomedical, pharmaceuticals, chemical, food, semiconductor, homeland security, and the optical telecommunications industries. http://www.bayspec.com/category/spectroscopy/hyperspectral-imaging/

Tattile (Italy) designs and manufactures embedded vision systems and custom advanced electronic solutions for industrial applications, the road traffic control and the railway industry since 1988. Its industrial division offers a wide range of embedded products for industrial imaging applications: digital cameras, smart cameras, multi camera vision controllers, software and accessories for the creation of advanced vision solutions, used in many different fields from pharmaceutical, packaging, printing, semiconductors, automotive to electronic production.http://www.tattile.com/

3D-ONE (The Netherlands) provides intelligent vision modules for stereoscopic, multi-spectral camera and measurement systems. 3D-ONE focuses on supplying hyperspectral multi-sensor solutions as OEM to system integrators. http://3d-one.com/

Adimec (The Netherlands) defines, designs & produces application specific leading edge camera
solutions to enhance its customers' competitiveness. Adimec provides high-performance cameras to market leading system integrators world-wide in machine vision, medical and defense & security imaging applications. Adimec solutions offer a unique combination of excellence in image quality, resolution, speed, and reliability. Adimec generally customizes its cameras for optimized functionality, optical and image quality fit to the needs of specific applications.http://www.adimec.com/

Imec (Belgium) performs world-leading research in nanoelectronics. Imec leverages its scientific knowledge with the innovative power of its global partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Imec delivers industry-relevant technology solutions. In a unique high-tech environment, its international top talent is committed to providing the building blocks for a better life in a sustainable society. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, US, China, India and Japan. Its staff of over 2,080 people includes more than 670 industrial residents and guest researchers. In 2012, imec's revenue (P&L) totaled 320 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be.