Panasonic
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Panasonic develops low-light hyperspectral imaging sensor with ‘world’s highest’ sensitivity
Panasonic has developed what it says is the world’s most sensitive hyperspectral imaging technology for low-light conditions. Based on a ‘compressed’ sensor technology previously used in medicine and astronomy, the technology was demonstrated early this year in Nature Photonics. Conventional hyperspectral
imaging technologies use optical elements such as prisms and filters to pass and detect light of a specific wavelength assigned to each pixel of the image sensor. However, these technologies have a physical restriction in that light of the non-assigned wavelengths cannot be detected at each pixel, decreasing the sensitivity. Terefore, they require
illumination comparable to a sunny day outdoors (10,000 lux or more), which decreases these technologies’ usability and versatility.
Te newly developed
hyperspectral imaging technology instead employs ‘compressed’ sensing, which acquires images by “thinning out” the data and then reconstructing it. Such techniques have previously been deployed for MRI examinations, or observing black holes. A distributed Bragg reflector
(DBR) structure that transmits multiple wavelengths of light is implemented on the image sensor. Tis special filter transmits about 45% of incident light, between 450-650nm, and is divided into 20 wavelengths. It offers a sensitivity about 10 times higher than conventional technologies, which demonstrate a light-use efficiency of less than 5%. Te filter is designed to appropriately thin out the captured data by transmitting incident light with randomly changing intensity for each pixel and wavelength. Te
A photograph (a) and optical microscope image (b) of the new hyperspectral image sensor and filter. (c) The ‘thinning out’ light detection method used by the new filter
image data is then reconstructed rapidly using a newly optimised algorithm. By leaving a part of the colour-separating functions to the software, Panasonic has been able to overcome the previous trade-off between the number of wavelengths and sensitivity – the fundamental issue of conventional hyperspectral technologies. Tis approach has made it
possible to capture hyperspectral images and video with what Panasonic says is the world’s
highest sensitivity, under indoor levels of illumination (550 lux). Tis enables a fast shutter speed of more than 30fps, previously unachievable using conventional hyperspectral technologies. Application examples of the
new technology, which was demonstrated alongside Belgian research institute Imec, include inspection of tablets and foods, as this can now be done without the risk of high levels of illumination raising their temperature.
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