Imec Technology Forum—BRUSSELS (Belgium)— June 6, 2014 —Nanoelectronics research center imec and XIMEA, a progressive creator of machine vision systems, announced their partnership in integrating imec’s Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) sensors together with XIMEA’s xiQ USB3.0 camera product line. Exceptional interoperability between camera and sensor’s technology streamlined the success of this integration.

“Combining imec’s hyperspectral sensor with XIMEA’s impressively compact xiQ cameras is a new milestone for us. The high-speed USB3.0 interface includes power supply over USB that removes the need for expensive and bulky frame-grabbers and separate power supplies. It will enable our partners to design and mass-produce extremely compact hyperspectral imaging camera solutions” stated Andy Lambrechts, program manager for imaging & vision systems at imec.

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. Three types of standard spectral image sensor designs are today available: 100 bands linescan design, 32 bands snapshot tiled design, and a new snapshot mosaic designs featuring 16 bands in a matrix of 4×4 per-pixel filters.

XIMEA coupled imec’s hyperspectral sensors to its xiQ camera product line which features exceptional form factor with unmet specification today for the hyperspectral imaging space: xiQ cameras feature 26.4 x 26.4 x 21.6 mm total dimension and weight of mere 27 grams. With its xiQ series cameras, XIMEA can proudly claim the title of world’s smallest industrial USB3 Vision and hyperspectral imaging camera. XIMEA achieves this ultra-compact footprint by using a single planar rigid board construction as opposed to competing multi-board and multifold flexi-rigid PCB construction, making the xiQ easier to integrate into specialized equipment and OEM designs. XiQ cameras consume only 1.8 W, easing the power and thermal management design challenges of UAVs for example.

“Hyperspectral imaging is not new in the world of high-end remote sensing instruments such as satellites and airborne systems. We are excited by this new partnership with XIMEA as it will bring this unique technology into the hands of the numerous drone and UAVs companies that want to fly compact multispectral / hyperspectral imaging cameras to serve the emerging precision farming industry” added Jerome Baron, Business development manager of imec’s imaging activities.

According to Max Larin, CEO of XIMEA, “This cooperation effectively presents the smallest, lightest, least power consuming and most cost effective solution in hyperspectral field today”.

This press release can be downloaded at http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/imec-XIMEA-hyperspectral-imaging-camera.html 

About XIMEA

For more than 20 years XIMEA has developed, manufactured and sold standard and OEM cameras for machine vision applications in motion control, assembly, robotics, industrial inspection and security, as well as scientific grade cameras for life science and microscopy.
The main distinction is based on flexibility of development and production processes, and extremely robust way the cameras are built while still providing highest speed and power.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the industry, XIMEA offer consists of state-of-the-art cameras with FireWire, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and smart cameras with embedded PC and GigE interface.
Learn more about XIMEA at www.ximea.com

About imec

Imec 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 2013, imec’s revenue (P&L) totaled 332 million euro. Further information on imec can be found at www.imec.be. Stay up to date about what’s happening at imec with the monthly imec magazine, available for tablets and smartphones (as an app for iOS and Android), or via the websitewww.imec.be/imecmagazine
Imec is a registered trademark for the activities of IMEC International (a legal entity set up under Belgian law as a “stichting van openbaar nut”), imec Belgium (IMEC vzw supported by the Flemish Government), imec the Netherlands (Stichting IMEC Nederland, part of Holst Centre which is supported by the Dutch Government), imec Taiwan (IMEC Taiwan Co.) and imec China (IMEC Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.) and imec India (Imec India Private Limited).

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