Peter Clarke Opinion: Research institute IMEC, a pioneer of hyperspectral imaging, is helping roll out the technology in high-end markets but we should not lose sight of the fact that hyperspectral imaging is already in use in very high volume in consumer market. The hyperspectral era has begun and it seems likely that CMOS image sensors are about to embark on classic S-shaped adoption curve for the addition of infrared to visible light sensing.

IMEC developed a set of filters to sit on top of a commercially available CMOS image sensor in 2012. And the research has continued to make progress through 2013 and 2014 with IMEC able to define 100 bands across the visible and near-infrared parts of the spectrum from 600nm to 1000nm wavelength.

However, that work by IMEC may have given the impression that complex hyperspectral imaging is aimed at high-value applications in space, in defense, in industy, in agriculture, medical, and surveillance applications. It used to be the case that technologies that started off in high value, low volume applications would, over many years, gradually increase volumes and reduce in price due to economies of scale and manufacturing amortizations and trickle down to consumer electronics.

But things move a lot faster in the 21st century and hyperspectral imaging is already in use in very high volume in consumer markets. […]