Image Sensor Bright Line Communication for Low-Performance Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for communication between devices, especially those with low computational performance, are limited to three-color light sources, making it difficult to establish effective communication with devices that lack sufficient computational resources or do not have a communication function due to cost constraints.
Innovation Solution
An information communication method that uses an image sensor to capture a bright line image corresponding to changes in luminance, sets a longer exposure time to obtain a normal captured image, and generates a synthetic image by superimposing a signal object onto the normal image to identify the spatial position of the bright line, allowing data demodulation and information retrieval from the pattern of the bright line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional three-color light source methods are used for communication, then communication between devices can be established, but devices with low computational performance or without communication functions cannot participate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera as an intermediary device to capture light emissions from appliances. Instead of requiring direct communication hardware in each appliance, the camera captures visible light patterns (bright lines) emitted by the appliance's light source, which are then processed to extract communication data. This mediator approach allows appliances without communication functions to participate in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces specialized communication hardware with a camera-based optical detection system. By capturing the bright line patterns emitted by the appliance's light source and processing these optical signals, the system substitutes complex communication circuits with a simpler camera-based approach that can extract data from light variations.
2Reliability
If specialized communication devices are used, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but cost increases and devices without communication functions cannot join
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera serve multiple functions: it acts as both an imaging device for capturing appliance images and as a communication receiver for detecting data transmitted through light patterns. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication hardware, reducing costs while maintaining reliable data transmission through the dual-purpose camera system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables appliances to communicate using their existing light-emitting components (such as indicator lights or backlighting) without requiring additional communication modules. The light source serves its primary function of illumination or indication while simultaneously encoding communication data through controlled luminance changes, allowing the appliance to self-communicate using existing hardware.
3Measurement precision
If exposure time is set to capture bright line patterns, then data demodulation accuracy improves, but spatial position identification becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by generating a synthetic image that combines the bright line image (containing data) with a normal image (containing spatial context). This synthetic image is created before final data extraction, allowing the system to preserve spatial position information while maintaining the bright line patterns needed for accurate data demodulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two types of images: the bright line image captured with specific exposure settings for data demodulation, and a normal image captured with standard exposure for spatial context. By combining these images into a synthetic image, the system simultaneously preserves both the high-contrast bright line patterns needed for accurate data extraction and the spatial position information needed for locating the light source.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables communication between various devices, including those with low computational performance, without the need for specialized communication devices, by utilizing the change in luminance to transmit information through visible light communication.
Implementation Method 1
setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing the subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject
Data Source
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AI summary
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor (SK21); obtaining a bright line image including a bright line, by capturing a subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time (SK22); setting a longer exposure time than the exposure time (SK23); obtaining a normal captured image by image capture by the image sensor with the longer exposure time (SK24); generating a synthetic image by specifying, in the normal captured image, a part that corresponds to the bright line included in the bright line image and superimposing a signal object on the normal captured image, the signal object being an image indicating the part (SK25); displaying the synthetic image (SK26); and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image (SK27).