Portable Multi-Spectral Imaging: Devices, Vertical Integration, and Applications

Recent advances in semiconductor and packaging technologies have accelerated the miniaturization of portable sensing devices including visible-domain cameras, IR cameras, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) radars. Simultaneously, image and sensor data processing capabilities based on Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) have evolved as well to the extent toward the goal of implementing learning-based automatic recognition capabilities. This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities associated with the vertical sensors-to-software integration of portable systems capable of performing multi-spectral imaging, where data from different portions of the EM spectrum is captured, processed, and displayed simultaneously. An example hardware implementation, multi-spectral image data, and potential applications are discussed.