GINC Technology
Sensing, Timing & Navigation

Advanced Imaging & Photonic Sensing

The capacity to see beyond the visible: multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, photonic sensing and the electro-optical technologies that turn light into information.

Capability group
Sensing, Timing & Navigation
Domain
Critical Technology · Hard Power
Identifier
factbase.org/cap/VYG5EBQH28
Reference
Hyperspectral imaging Wikipedia

Papers

48.6k

2020–2024

Paper growth

+19%

2020–24 on 2015–19

Patent families

90.6k

2020–2024

Filed abroad

32%

families in more than one office

Framework

What it covers

What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.

Bounds

Covers imaging and photonic sensing technology; intelligence exploitation of imagery belongs to National Security, and photonic components are shared with the connectivity and materials groups.

Lineage

Carried from v0.0 (formerly Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors) with the same identifier, absorbing Photonic sensors (retired): one electro-optical sensing capacity, previously split between an application and a component.

Indicators

  • research publication share in imaging and photonic sensingResearch
  • hyperspectral and electro-optical payloads producedPending
Research

Who publishes it

Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors and Photonic sensors.

Papers by year

The five leading nations, papers by year

Share of papers, 2020–2024

Of papers with a known author nation; 24% have none and are left out.

  1. 1China33.8%15,558 papers
  2. 2United States8.8%4,038 papers
  3. 3India6.7%3,069 papers
  4. 4Germany3.1%1,426 papers
  5. 5Japan3.1%1,417 papers
  6. 6Italy3.0%1,370 papers
  7. 7United Kingdom3.0%1,364 papers
  8. 8France2.2%1,022 papers
  9. 9Russia2.0%926 papers
  10. 10Spain2.0%923 papers

Leading institutions, 2020–2024

By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.

  1. 1Harbin Institute of Technology266fractional papers
  2. 2Wuhan University of Technology238fractional papers
  3. 3Chinese Academy of Sciences236fractional papers
  4. 4Northeastern University229fractional papers
  5. 5Tianjin University208fractional papers
  6. 6Harbin Engineering University199fractional papers
  7. 7Xidian University193fractional papers
  8. 8Zhejiang University193fractional papers
  9. 9Shenzhen University187fractional papers
  10. 10Huazhong University of Science and Technology187fractional papers
Patents

Who patents it

Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.

Families by priority year

The five leading origins, families by year

20,520 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 10% of families (HHI 35 of 10,000: unconcentrated).

Share of families by origin, 2020–2024

  1. 1China56.2%50,913 families
  2. 2Japan10.7%9,735 families
  3. 3South Korea10.7%9,703 families
  4. 4United States8.8%8,015 families
  5. 5Germany4.3%3,921 families
  6. 6Taiwan2.3%2,062 families
  7. 7France1.3%1,209 families
  8. 8Switzerland0.6%585 families
  9. 9United Kingdom0.6%510 families
  10. 10Canada0.4%387 families

Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024

Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.

  1. 1SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORP3,006international families
  2. 2SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD2,309international families
  3. 3CANON KK1,320international families
  4. 4BOSCH GMBH ROBERT978international families
  5. 5PANASONIC IP MAN CO LTD797international families
  6. 6FUJIFILM CORP758international families
  7. 7TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MFG CO LTD674international families
  8. 8HUAWEI TECH CO LTD615international families
  9. 9SONY CORP574international families
  10. 10BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD558international families

Classification read

  • G01J3/00 Spectrometry, including hyperspectral imaging spectrometers · 425.3k documents
  • G01J5/00 Infrared radiation measurement and thermal imaging · 262k documents
  • G01J9/00 Optical phase and wavefront measurement · 19.2k documents
  • G01S17/00 Lidar systems · 429.5k documents
  • G01S7/48 Lidar components and signal processing · 329.4k documents
  • H04N23/20 Infrared cameras · 25.4k documents
  • H04N5/33 Infrared image conversion · 11.5k documents
  • H10F39/00 Image sensors and detector arrays · 862.1k documents
  • H10F30/00 Photodetectors · 86.8k documents
  • G01D5/353 Fibre-optic sensors · 35.8k documents
  • G02B23/12 Night-vision and image-intensifying sights · 8.5k documents

Shares inventions with

Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).

Companies

Who makes it

The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.

50 companies in this capability, from 24 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.

  1. Very high4 companies
  2. 1

    JapanSony Group

    Sony Semiconductor Solutions is the world's largest CMOS image sensor maker, with about half of global revenue share, and it is also the top international patent applicant in this capability.

    Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1946 · 113k staff

  3. 2

    South KoreaSamsung Electronics

    Samsung's System LSI division makes ISOCELL CMOS image sensors (including 200 MP sensors) and is the second-largest image sensor supplier worldwide.

    Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · South Korea, Suwon · founded 1969 · 268k staff

  4. 3

    United StatesTeledyne Technologies

    Teledyne owns FLIR (thermal imaging), DALSA, e2v, Princeton Instruments and Judson, which makes it the broadest Western supplier of infrared, scientific, space and machine-vision imaging sensors.

    Very high relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Thousand Oaks · founded 1960 · 15k staff

  5. 4

    JapanHamamatsu Photonics

    Hamamatsu is the leading maker of photomultiplier tubes, photodiodes, InGaAs and X-ray image sensors and scientific cameras used in research, medical and industrial photonic sensing.

    Very high relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Hamamatsu · founded 1953

  6. High16 companies
  7. 5

    ChinaOmniVision (OmniVision Integrated Circuits Group)

    OmniVision (formerly Will Semiconductor, which acquired the US-founded OmniVision Technologies in 2019) is the third-largest CMOS image sensor vendor, strong in automotive, security and mobile sensors.

    High relevance · Design · China, Shanghai · founded 2007

  8. 6

    United Statesonsemi

    onsemi leads the automotive image sensor market (the Hyperlux family for ADAS) and supplies industrial and SPAD/SiPM sensors for lidar.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Scottsdale · founded 1999 · 26k staff

  9. 7

    JapanCanon

    Canon designs and makes its own CMOS and SPAD image sensors, optics and imaging systems, and it is the third-largest international patent applicant in this capability.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1937

  10. 8

    SwitzerlandSTMicroelectronics

    ST is the leading supplier of time-of-flight ranging sensors built on SPAD arrays and makes global-shutter and automotive in-cabin image sensors.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · Switzerland, Geneva · founded 1987 · 50k staff

  11. 9

    United StatesL3Harris Technologies

    L3Harris builds space electro-optical imaging payloads (including the WorldView Legion telescopes and weather imagers), WESCAM EO/IR turrets and night-vision systems.

    High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Melbourne · founded 1895 · 47k staff

  12. 10

    United StatesRTX

    Raytheon is a major US maker of EO/IR focal-plane arrays, targeting sensors (such as the MTS family) and space-based infrared and visible imaging instruments.

    High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Arlington · founded 1922 · 186k staff

  13. 11

    FranceSafran

    Safran Electronics & Defense and Safran Reosc make optronic sights, infrared cameras and large space optics, and Safran co-owns the infrared detector maker Lynred with Thales.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · France, Paris · founded 2005 · 100k staff

  14. 12

    FranceThales

    Thales is a top European optronics house (Damocles/TALIOS pods, thermal sights), builds Earth-observation optical instruments through Thales Alenia Space and co-owns infrared detector maker Lynred.

    High relevance · Systems integration · France, Paris · founded 1893 · 83k staff

  15. 13

    ChinaHikvision

    Hikvision is the world's largest video-imaging equipment maker, and its HIKMICRO unit is one of the largest producers of uncooled thermal imaging modules.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Hangzhou · founded 2001

  16. 14

    GermanyCarl Zeiss AG

    Foundation-owned ZEISS supplies precision optics, microscopy and imaging systems, as well as space and defence optics, and is a cornerstone of the European photonics supply chain.

    High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Oberkochen · founded 1846 · 43k staff

  17. 15

    ItalyLeonardo

    Leonardo makes cooled infrared detectors (Leonardo UK in Southampton), EO/IR systems (Leonardo DRS) and space optical instruments, including hyperspectral payloads for PRISMA.

    High relevance · Systems integration · Italy, Rome · founded 1948 · 60k staff

  18. 16

    IsraelElbit Systems

    Elbit's ELOP unit makes EO/IR payloads, space cameras and hyperspectral systems, and Elbit co-owns the infrared detector maker SCD (SemiConductor Devices).

    High relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Haifa · founded 1966 · 20k staff

  19. 17

    JapanKeyence

    Keyence is a global leader in industrial photoelectric sensors, laser displacement and profile sensors and machine-vision imaging systems.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Osaka · founded 1974

  20. 18

    United StatesCognex

    Cognex is the largest dedicated machine-vision company, making smart cameras, 3D vision sensors and image-based barcode readers.

    High relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Natick, Massachusetts · founded 1981

  21. 19

    TaiwanTSMC

    TSMC is the leading foundry for CMOS image sensor and stacked-sensor wafers for fabless vendors, and it is a top-ten international patent applicant in this capability.

    High relevance · Contract manufacturing · Taiwan, Hsinchu · founded 1987 · 84k staff

  22. 20

    ChinaHesai Group

    Hesai is the world's largest automotive lidar maker by revenue and volume, building photonic ranging sensors for ADAS and robotics.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Shanghai · founded 2014

  23. Moderate15 companies
  24. 21

    United StatesCoherent Corp.

    Coherent (formerly II-VI) supplies infrared optics and materials, VCSEL arrays for 3D sensing and photodetectors that feed imaging and lidar systems.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Saxonburg · founded 1971 · 26k staff

  25. 22

    Austriaams OSRAM

    ams OSRAM makes spectral sensors, global-shutter CMOS imagers, ambient light/proximity sensors and infrared emitters for consumer, automotive and medical photonic sensing.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Austria, Premstätten · founded 1981

  26. 23

    ChinaSunny Optical Technology

    Sunny Optical is the world's largest maker of vehicle camera lenses and a top supplier of handset lens sets and camera modules.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Yuyao · founded 1984

  27. 24

    ChinaRaytron Technology (iRay)

    Raytron is one of the world's largest makers of uncooled infrared detectors (MEMS microbolometers) and thermal imaging modules.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Yantai · founded 2009

  28. 25

    ChinaWuhan Guide Infrared

    Guide Infrared develops cooled and uncooled IR focal-plane detectors and thermal imaging systems for defence, industry and consumer use.

    Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Wuhan · founded 1999

  29. 26

    United StatesPlanet Labs

    Planet operates the largest commercial fleet of multispectral imaging satellites (Dove/SuperDove, Pelican) and launched the Tanager hyperspectral satellites.

    Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United States, San Francisco · founded 2010

  30. 27

    FranceExosens (formerly Photonis)

    Exosens is a leading maker of image intensifier tubes for night vision, as well as electron multipliers, single-photon detectors and infrared/UV cameras (through Xenics and Telops).

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · France, Mérignac · founded 1937

  31. 28

    GermanyHensoldt

    Hensoldt's optronics units in Germany and South Africa (Pretoria) make periscopes, EO/IR sights and airborne gimbals for armoured vehicles and submarines.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Germany, Taufkirchen · founded 2017 · 8,500 staff

  32. 29

    United KingdomBAE Systems

    Through the 2024 purchase of Ball Aerospace (now BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems), BAE builds space EO/IR instruments and imaging payloads for NASA, NOAA and US defence.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · United Kingdom, London · founded 1999 · 100k staff

  33. 30

    ChinaSmartSens Technology

    SmartSens is a leading fabless CMOS image sensor designer for security, automotive and mobile cameras, with high shipments in surveillance sensors.

    Moderate relevance · Design · China, Shanghai · founded 2011

  34. 31

    ChinaChang Guang Satellite Technology

    Chang Guang builds and operates the Jilin-1 constellation of more than 100 high-resolution optical and video Earth-imaging satellites, and it makes their optical payloads.

    Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · China, Changchun · founded 2014

  35. 32

    GermanyJenoptik

    Jenoptik supplies optical systems, infrared optics, digital imaging modules and photonic sensors for semiconductor equipment, medical and traffic-enforcement imaging.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Germany, Jena · founded 1991

  36. 33

    IsraelIsrael Aerospace Industries (ELTA Systems)

    State-owned IAI makes the Tamam POP/MOSP EO/IR payloads and the OptSat and Ofek electro-optical reconnaissance satellites.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Lod · founded 1953 · 15k staff

  37. 34

    South KoreaSatrec Initiative

    Satrec Initiative designs high-resolution electro-optical satellite cameras and small EO satellites (SpaceEye series) exported to the UAE, Malaysia, Turkey and Spain.

    Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Daejeon · founded 1999

  38. 35

    FinlandSpecim (Konica Minolta)

    Specim, owned by Konica Minolta since 2020, is a global leader in industrial, airborne and laboratory hyperspectral cameras.

    Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Finland, Oulu · founded 1995

  39. Low10 companies
  40. 36

    TürkiyeAselsan

    Aselsan, majority-owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, makes its own cooled infrared detectors, thermal cameras, targeting pods (ASELPOD) and EO/IR gimbals, and it is the Middle East's leading electro-optics producer.

    Low relevance · Systems integration · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1975 · 11k staff

  41. 37

    IndiaBharat Electronics

    Government-controlled BEL is India's main producer of thermal imagers, night-vision devices, EO fire-control systems and image-intensifier-based sights for the armed forces.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Bengaluru · founded 1954 · 8,900 staff

  42. 38

    SingaporeST Engineering

    ST Engineering, majority-held by Temasek, builds EO/IR systems and high-resolution optical Earth-observation satellites (TeLEOS-1, TeLEOS-2), and it is Southeast Asia's leading imaging integrator.

    Low relevance · Systems integration · Singapore, Singapore · founded 1967 · 27k staff

  43. 39

    PolandVIGO Photonics

    VIGO makes uncooled and thermoelectrically cooled mid- and long-wave infrared detectors (HgCdTe and III-V), supplying gas sensing, spectroscopy and space missions.

    Low relevance · Components & subsystems · Poland, Ożarów Mazowiecki · founded 1987

  44. 40

    IndiaPixxel

    Pixxel builds and operates the Fireflies hyperspectral imaging satellite constellation and won an NRO commercial hyperspectral study contract.

    Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · India, Bengaluru · founded 2019

  45. 41

    IndiaTonbo Imaging

    Tonbo designs and exports thermal imaging cores, weapon sights and EO/IR systems for military and security users in India and abroad.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Bengaluru · founded 2008

  46. 42

    UruguaySatellogic

    Satellogic, founded in Argentina with engineering in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, builds and operates sub-metre multispectral and hyperspectral NewSat imaging satellites.

    Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Uruguay, Montevideo · founded 2010

  47. 43

    AustraliaElectro Optic Systems (EOS)

    EOS makes electro-optic fire-control and remote weapon sensors, and it builds laser and optical space-tracking systems, which makes it Oceania's main electro-optics firm.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Australia, Canberra · founded 1983

  48. 44

    South AfricaSimera Sense

    Simera Sense makes compact multispectral and hyperspectral Earth-observation cameras (TriScape, MultiScape, HyperScape) flown on small satellites worldwide.

    Low relevance · Components & subsystems · South Africa, Somerset West · founded 2018

  49. 45

    South AfricaDragonfly Aerospace

    Dragonfly Aerospace builds electro-optical imagers (Gecko, Mantis, Chameleon) and EO microsatellites for commercial constellations.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · South Africa, Stellenbosch · founded 2019

  50. Very low5 companies
  51. 46

    PolandPCO S.A.

    PCO, part of state group PGZ, is Poland's main producer of thermal imaging cameras, night-vision goggles and optronic sights for NATO forces.

    Very low relevance · Hardware & devices · Poland, Warsaw · founded 1972

  52. 47

    United Arab EmiratesSpace42

    Space42 operates the UAE's Earth-observation programme (Falcon Eye optical satellites and a planned EO constellation) and sells geospatial imaging services.

    Very low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2024

  53. 48

    Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)

    PIF-owned SAMI runs an EO/IR systems joint venture with L3Harris, with a production line at SAMI Advanced Electronics to localise sensor manufacturing in the kingdom.

    Very low relevance · Systems integration · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 2017

  54. 49

    VietnamViettel Group

    Vietnam's military-owned Viettel develops thermal imaging cameras, EO/IR targeting sights and the optical payloads for its small Earth-observation satellites through Viettel High Tech and the Viettel Aerospace Institute.

    Very low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Vietnam, Hanoi · founded 1989

  55. 50

    BrazilOpto Space & Defense (Akaer group)

    Opto S&D, now part of Grupo Akaer, designed and built the MUX and WFI multispectral cameras for the China-Brazil CBERS-4 and CBERS-04A Earth-observation satellites.

    Very low relevance · Components & subsystems · Brazil, São Carlos · founded 1985

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