Imaging system, matrix data, and matrix data generation method

Matrix data used to generate N spectral images corresponding to N respective wavelength bands from a compressed image in which information regarding the N wavelength bands is compressed, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the matrix data comprising:

• N submatrices corresponding to the N respective wavelength bands, wherein each of the N submatrices includes numerical values, wherein
• the numerical values correspond to respective pixel values acquired through imaging based on light through an encoding element including regions whose transmission spectra differ from each other,
• a maximum value of each of the numerical values corresponds to a maximum value determined by a number of bits set for a corresponding one of the pixel values, and
• in a case where the maximum value of each of the numerical values is denoted by M and an average of the numerical values included in an i-th submatrix among the N submatrices is denoted by μi, where i is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N,
• i that satisfies μi≤0.8 M exists.

A matrix data generation method performed by a computer, comprising:

• causing an imaging device that has an encoding element including regions whose transmission spectra differ from each other to acquire N images of light corresponding to N respective wavelength bands under adjusted imaging conditions, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2;
• and
• generating matrix data including N submatrices corresponding to the N respective images of light, wherein
• the matrix data is used to generate N spectral images corresponding to the N respective wavelength bands from a compressed image in which the N wavelength bands are compressed,
• each of the N submatrices includes numerical values,
• the numerical values correspond to respective pixel values acquired through imaging based on light through the encoding element including regions whose transmission spectra differ from each other,
• a maximum value of each of the numerical values corresponds to a maximum value determined by a number of bits set for a corresponding one of the pixel values, and
• in a case where the maximum value of each of the numerical values is denoted by M and an average of the numerical values included in an i-th submatrix among the N submatrices is denoted by μi, where i is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N,
• i that satisfies μi≤0.8 M exists.