Spectricity S1 Multispectral Image Sensor

Spectricity NV is a fabless semiconductor company founded in 2018 as a spin-out of imec, after more than ten years of research there, and headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium. It brings spectral sensing, previously limited to bulky lab instruments, into smartphones and consumer devices using low-cost CMOS manufacturing.

The S1 multispectral image sensor captures 15 spectral channels from 400 to 700 nm at 864×648 pixels and 30 fps, with spectral filters integrated directly on the CMOS wafer at X-FAB. It ships as the 6.2 mm S1-M camera module with MIPI output and stored calibration, and as the USB-C S1-A evaluation kit with capture apps and Python and Android SDKs. Customers are smartphone makers, camera module suppliers and developers of colour, skin and inspection applications.

• S1 sensor: 15-channel multispectral CMOS image sensor covering 400 to 700 nm.
• Snapshot capture: all spectral channels captured at once at 864x648 pixels and 30 fps.
• S1-M camera module: 6.2 mm module with MIPI output, custom lens and EEPROM calibration.
• S1-A evaluation kit: portable USB-C device for Android phones and PCs with simultaneous RGB capture.
• Software tools: capture app for Android, Windows and macOS plus Python and Android SDKs.
• Application focus: automatic white balance, colour inspection, skin analysis and computational photography.

Camera module and handset manufacturers operating in Vietnam can evaluate the S1-M for upcoming phone models. Cosmetics and dermatology brands can build phone-based skin tone and foundation matching. Paint, textile and printing companies can use the S1-A kit for portable colour inspection on the factory floor.

Smartphone cameras gain accurate white balance and true-to-life colour under mixed lighting, where RGB sensors often fail. The S1-M module measures only 6.2 x 6.2 x 4.9 mm, small enough to sit beside existing phone cameras. Wafer-level filters and CMOS production at X-FAB support high-volume, low-cost supply. The S1-A kit with SDKs lets developers prototype colour measurement and skin analysis apps quickly.

Smartphone makers compete on camera quality, and colour accuracy under artificial and mixed light remains a weak point that extra spectral data can fix. Beauty, retail and inspection apps also want reliable colour and skin measurement on ordinary phones. Most phone and camera-module production sits in China and Southeast Asia, including large handset assembly in Vietnam, which is where such sensors get designed in.

Founded in 2018 as an imec spin-out; registered as Spectricity NV, Stationsstraat 55, Mechelen, Belgium. Raised a 14 million EUR Series B in 2021 (20 million EUR total) led by AtlanticBridge, Capricorn Fusion China Fund and Shanghai Semiconductor Equipment and Material Fund. Production technology installed at X-FAB in 2022; collaborates with Qualcomm. Opened a Shanghai office in October 2026.