Multispectral Imaging
What is Multispectral Imaging ?
Multispectral cameras capture image data at specific frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths may be separated by filters or by using instruments which are sensitive only to specific wavelengths. This not only includes the visible light but also frequencies beyond such as infra-red. Spectral imaging provides the ability to extract additional information which the human eye or standard industrial vision cameras fail to capture.
Multispectral imaging can consist of spectral bands which are discretely positioned from each other and need not be continuous, such as two and in the visible ie red and blue, a third band in the Near-IR region and a fourth band in the Short Wave Infra-red (SWIR). Both area scan and line scan options are available making this imaging technique very flexible, so able to cover a range of applications.
Applications
- Farming/Food
- Food
- Surgery
- Pharmaceutical
- Electronics
- Recycling
- Print/Textiles
Type of Solution
- Multi-camera
- Filter Wheel
- Snapshot Mosaic
- Multi-camera beam splitter
- Multi-sensor dichroic prism
Key Considerations
- Ease of set-up
- Speed and Resolution
- Number of wavebands
- Flexibility
- Handing data streams
- Cost
Difference between Multispectral and Hyperspectral imaging?
Often assumed to be the same but in fact are quite different, Multispectral Imaging uses distinct bands throughout the electromagnetic spectrum whereas Hyperspectral Imaging uses continuous and contiguous wavelengths for example 400-1100nm in steps of 1nm.
Courtesy of JAI
JAI’s Fusion Series of multispectral prism cameras provide simultaneous images of multiple wavebands through a single optical path. The cameras split incoming light into two or three separate sensors with precise pixel-to-pixel alignment regardless of motion or viewing angle.
If you are a vision system designer with a project that needs multispectral imaging capability, this free webinar can help you decide whether a prism-based multispectral camera is the right approach. There are several different types of multispectral cameras currently available and the one you select can have a major impact on your project’s success.
Complex metrology and imaging applications are beginning to demand higher numbers of spectral channels or possibilities. High-fidelity colour and multispectral imaging are playing key roles in industrial quality control.
JAI