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Spectricity signs up for 'smart' skincare collaboration

29 Aug 2024

Memorandum of understanding with Samsung affiliate will demonstrate skin analysis with multispectral sensors.

Spectricity, an imec spin-out offering miniaturized multispectral image sensors suitable for smart phone integration, says it has signed a deal to demonstrate the technology for “smart” skincare.

A memorandum of understanding with Lululab - a spin-off from Samsung's "venture C-lab" working on AI-powered skin analysis - will see the two firms collaborate to create new applications in skincare and bring them to market via a mobile platform.

Skincare revolution
“The additional spectral signatures embedded in these spectral images provide enriched insights for skin analysis,” stated the Mechelen, Belgium, startup.

“The combination of Spectricity's unique multispectral imaging technology and Lululab's AI-based skin analysis platform will reveal previously hidden skin condition data and enable the next generation of smart skincare and personalized recommendations for the consumer.

“Integration with a mobile platform will allow the user to experience professional level skincare advice in the comfort of their homes.”

CEO Glenn Vandevoorde added: “Lululab's unique AI technology is well suited to take advantage of the detailed spectral information from our sensors and revolutionize the field of personalized skincare.”

Yongjoon Choe, his counterpart at Lululab, noted: “The small size of Spectricity's sensor allows us to integrate the solution in mobile consumer devices and observe detailed skin information that was previously hidden from normal cameras.

“With this technology we expect to provide enhanced recommendations and advice with higher detail and accuracy.”

Mass production
Founded in 2018 following 15 years of technology development at imec, Spectricity is now selling multispectral imaging cameras that capture light across visible and near-infrared wavelengths through 16 color channels.

The fabless firm has previously worked with Germany-based chip foundry X-FAB to manufacture the multispectral sensors, and describes its “S1” product as “the world’s first truly miniaturized, mass-manufacturable mobile spectral image sensor and camera module”.

Earlier this year Spectricity announced a collaboration with mobile technology giant Qualcomm to develop a reference design combining Qualcomm’s widely used “Snapdragon” platform with the multispectral sensors.

That collaboration is expected to result in improved smart phone photography, for example portraits capturing accurate skin tone, as well as novel approaches to cosmetics, color picking, and skin health analysis.

Spectricity will also be taking part in the forthcoming Vision 2024 Expo in Stuttgart, where it plans to show off the S1 sensor and corresponding “S1-M” camera module supporting a video rate of 30 frames per second.

Hamamatsu Photonics Europe GmbHHÜBNER PhotonicsUniverse Kogaku America Inc.AlluxaCHROMA TECHNOLOGY CORP.LASEROPTIK GmbHECOPTIK
© 2024 SPIE Europe
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