Smart Cities

At SPIE Photonics West, imec showcased what it claims is the first multi-sensor hyperspectral camera system that covers both the visual and red / near infrared spectral ranges, and has a high resolution RGB sensor. 

Even in scenarios with inherent motion, the system supports data acquisition at video rate, said Imec and helps assess which spectral resolution and range best suit a given application using a single device.

Companies are investigating how hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology can enhance product and / or service offerings, which can require testing several camera options. A challenge is to fuse the data from the various camera options into one dataset to analyse and draw conclusions.

Imec offers a series of hyperspectral snapshot cameras, each covering a specific spectral resolution and range – from the visual (VIS), over near-infrared (NIR), to short wave infrared (SWIR) ranges. All support real time data acquisition, even in motion, said Wouter Charle, program manager of imec’s spectral imaging on-chip activities.

The latest addition to the portfolio is the multi-shot VNIR+RGB – a multi-sensor system that covers the VIS to NIR spectral range, complemented with a high-resolution RGB sensor. The multi-sensor system is intended for companies and research groups engaging in HSI application development.

The hyperspectral camera comes with three sensors, integrated into a single housing, and equipped with a standard F-mount lens. It will allow partners to assess the pros and cons of different spectral resolutions and ranges without needing to invest in a myriad of devices or duplicate experiments, advised Imec.

Inside the camera, the light is directed to three channels. Two of them are equipped with an Imec off the shelf 2Mpixel sensor, covering the VIS and NIR spectral ranges. A third channel sports a high resolution RGB sensor. The camera system covers 30 bands in the 460 to 870nm range, complemented by a true colour, 5Mpixel image. These components work in sync at video rate speed for real time data acquisition (even of dynamic scenes).

It can help companies decide which sensor best suits their needs, said Imec. The system is flexible and is supplied with software. 

According to Imec, the hyperspectral camera systems can support an uncontrollably dynamic scene, such as assisted surgery, environmental monitoring, anomaly detection, automotive vision, precision agriculture and crop inspection.

Imec is a research and innovation centre in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. It leverages its R&D in advanced semiconductor and system scaling, silicon photonics, artificial intelligence, beyond 5G communications and sensing technologies, and in application domains such as health and life sciences, mobility, industry 4.0, agrofood, smart cities, sustainable energy and education.

Imec is headquartered in Leuven (Belgium), and has research sites across Belgium, in the Netherlands and the USA, and offices in China, India, Taiwan and Japan. 

http://www.imec-int.com

Counterfeiting in the cabling industry is a serious challenge which has prompted cable manufacturer, Nexans to  partner with Authentic Vision, a provider of mobile authentication solutions, applying Authentic Vision’s Holographic Fingerprint labels to Nexans’ cable products.

The strategic alliance partnership is based on consumer safety and improving the customer experience, said Nexans. Authentic Vision’s patented Holographic Fingerprint labels have already been applied to Nexans products packaging in Peru and Lebanon and are deployed in other countries. The labels make it easy for customers or distributors to scan and verify the authenticity of a product with any smartphone. According to Nexans, this approach provides value-added services to its customers and protects them from potentially harmful, sub-standard products. 

The most important risk associated with counterfeit cable is cheating on the quantity of copper, which can have dramatic consequences. By reducing the diameter of the copper conductor, counterfeit cables can become abnormally hot when current is passed through them and cause a short circuit and can lead to fire breaking out. 

“Through our partnership with Authentic Vision, digital innovation plays a key role in our customers’ safety,” said Jérôme Fournier, vice president of innovation at Nexans. “It helps Nexans guarantee its products’ conformity in terms of manufacturing and safety standards”, he added.

The Group is now planning to roll out and deploy Authentic Vision’s solution in products around the world.

Authentic Vision’s security labels are secure, easy to use and instantly provides clear positive / negative verification results, said Thomas Weiss, CEO of Authentic Vision. No additional training or specialised equipment is required for use. They cannot be copied, due to the physical randomness used in the production process, revealed Weiss. “Even we are not able to duplicate or copy the labels ourselves”, he said. “Our solution provides customers with proof of authenticity, and in the event a fake attempt occurs, precise geo-location provides brands with actionable data.” 

The labels are based on Meta-Anchor technology which provides every product with a physically and digitally unique identifier (UID) and tracks counterfeiting attempts. This provides valuable data for companies to prosecute counterfeiters and fraudsters, said Nexans. 

The holographic label means anyone can differentiate a genuine product that respects standards in force and one that is manufactured in the frame of the Group Sustainability action plan. “By fighting against counterfeit products, we create value for our customers”, added Elyette Roux, chief sales and marketing, communications officer at Nexans. 

“Beyond ensuring the authenticity of the product, making these products unique and connectable also represents an added value for our customers in terms of information exchange with Nexans, such as installation guide videos or product features brochures,” she added.

Nexans is driving the change towards a safer, more sustainable, renewable, carbon-free world, accessible to all. The Group is a leader in the design and manufacturing of cable systems and services across five main business areas: energy generation and transmission, distribution, usages, industry and solutions and telecomms and data. 

Nexans was the first company in its industry to create a foundation supporting sustainable initiatives bringing energy to disadvantaged communities worldwide. The Group pledged to contribute to carbon neutrality by 2030.

http://www.nexans.com