All Chemical Imaging Systems are available in three different versions which differ in with the output signal. Therefore different technologies are implemented. While HELIOS Core systems give the output "spatial resoluted hyperspectral imaging data", HELIOS EC3 systems transform that chemical information to "chemical color information" which can easily be processed by standard image processing methods and the following systems can be integrated to existing image processing systems. HELIOS Complete systems are always a fully integrated solutions for sorting applications (plastics, paper, .blueberries ...) providing input signals for an ejection unit. Further all systems are available in different configurations with different sensors.

HELIOS Core:

HELIOS Core systems are hyperspectral imaging camera systems providing spatial resolved spectra as output. These spectra can be provided as raw spectra as well as preprocessed spectra (e.g. 1st or 2nd derivative, normalizing, …) The system is intended to be used by R&D departments and universities that want to develop their own chemical imaging applications and that want to analyze hyperspectral data cubes with  their own tools.

HELIOS EC3:

The brand new EC3 technology is meant as a bridging of spectroscopy and industrial image processing. With that technology our chemical imaging systems can easily be configured for various materials (e.g. different plastics, minerals, food, …) and the chemical information of these materials are provided color coded. This “chemical color information” can easily be processed by standard image processing methods. Mainly the EC3 systems are used by system integrators that are familiar with industrial image processing or by system integrators that want to implement Chemical Imaging systems to existing image processing solutions.  EC3 systems can be configured with the software tool "EC3 Config".

HELIOS Complete:

HELIOS Complete systems are fully integrated smart sensor systems. These systems do all the work from detecting and identifying to classifying materials according to their chemical properties and provide a classified and spatial resolved input signal for ejection units (e.g. a valve block). HELIOS Complete systems are intended to be used by machine builders. These systems are pre-configured for special sorting applications by EVK. HELIOS Complete systems are available for plastic sorting, paper sorting and blueberry sorting.

Chemical Imaging System Configurations:

All Chemical Imaging Systems are available with different sensor types for NIR and SWIR:

NIR Systems:
NIR systems work with InGaAs sensors with a frame rate of 330Hz full frame. For selected applications where regions of interest (of the spectra) can be identified the frame rate can be risen up to 500Hz. This sensor system is typically implemented in plastic sorting machines and food processing machines. NIR systems are available for two different wave length regions:
  •   900 - 1700 nm (NIR)
  • 1100 - 1700 nm (NIR)

SWIR Systems:
SWIR systems work with MCT sensors with a frame rate of 100Hz full frame. This sensor systems are mainly used for applications where  longer wavelengths are useful for classification (darker plastics, minerals or paper). Within approx. one year the frame rate can be risen but it will not reach the frame rates of the InGaAs sensors. At the moment these systems are  used for paper sorting and applications where darker plastic have to be detected. SWIR systems are available for three different wave length regions:
  • 1300 - 2300 nm (SWIR)
  • 1400 - 2400 nm (SWIR)
  • 1500 - 2500 nm (SWIR)