Tutorial: how on-chip filter technology enables compact, high-resolution and video-rate hyperspectral cameras
January 10, 2023
Learn what makes imec’s technology unique and which applications it enables.
Traditional hyperspectral imaging technology is based on precision optics in glass. It requires careful alignment and regular calibration. A true feat of engineering, but with restricted applicability due to its bulkiness and limited acquisition speed.
Enter imec’s on-chip hyperspectral imaging technology. To minimize the system, imec researchers replaced the diffraction grating optics with a hyperspectral filter that’s directly deposited on a commercial image sensor.
The result is a sensor that enables compact cameras that take hyperspectral imaging out of the lab, and even video-rate hyperspectral cameras with a host of new and exciting applications.
What you will learn
In this tutorial, you will:
- Learn in detail about imec’s unique on-chip filter technology. And about its use in high-resolution and video-rate cameras.
- See a demonstration of the technology, broadcasted from imec’s fully-equipped demo room.
- Meet our partner, Scientific Imaging, who brings imec’s technology to OEMs and end users in the US.
Throughout the tutorial, we will inspire you with examples of the many applications of on-chip hyperspectral imaging. From micro- to macro-scale. And from inspection of materials such as food products and semiconductors, to life sciences imaging.
Speakers
Wouter Charle is manager for hyperspectral imaging technology at imec, leading the off-the-shelf and evaluation system activities. He has a background in physics and software engineering. After starting his career in 3D machine vision, he joined imec in 2014 to help grow the hyperspectral imaging business.
Amin Abbasi received his BS and MSc in applied physics (lasers) from the University of Tabriz, Iran, in 2009. In 2016, he finished his PhD degrees in ultra-high-speed directly modulated DFB lasers at Ghent University (UGent). He continued his research at imec/UGent on 100 Gb/s single-channel EAM modulators until 2017. Afterwards, he joined AntwerpSpace/OHB as photonic team leader on microwave photonics for satellite communication. There, he contributed to various development projects for the space segment, such as OBF for SAR radar and Q-band frequency converters and receiver development for free-space communication. He joined imec in September 2020 as a business development manager, covering imec’s SiN/Si 200- and 300mm photonic platforms for sensing applications. He currently focuses on photonics integrated circuits (in Si/SiN) for optical switching and optical beamforming for lidar applications. He has (co-)authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications.
Ash Prabala has more than thirty years of experience in photonics, optics and imaging. He founded DVC Company in 1998 to design and manufacture cameras for scientific imaging applications such as life sciences microscopy, materials sciences and inspection. In 2011, DVC Company was acquired by Thorlabs. After spending several years as chief technologist at Thorlabs, Ash serves in an advisory capacity at several companies and as managing director of Scientific Imaging, Inc. He has a passion for helping scientists and engineers succeed in their scientific imaging projects.