Hyperspectral Imaging Under Low Illumination with a Single Photon Camera

Conventional sensors for hyperspectral imaging are limited by noise when operated in low illumination conditions. Recent advances in single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays provide image sensors capable of single photon counting imaging. Such devices provides camera systems which can operate under low illumination levels and high frame rates, with fully digital in-pixel processing capabilities. Here, we present a hyperspectral imaging system based on low level illumination of a target scene using nine LEDs, each with different emission wavelengths. The backscattered light is captured by a SPAD camera, which can recover spectral information based on the number of photon counts received for each illumination wavelength.