Image Sensor Communication via Selective Exposure Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for home-electric-appliance communication are limited to devices with three color light sources and cannot effectively communicate with devices having low computational performance or without a communication function.
Innovation Solution
An information communication method using an image sensor with multiple exposure lines to capture images, detect the subject's range, set exposure time for luminance changes, and demodulate data from a bright line pattern in the image to enable communication between various devices, including those with low computational performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional communication methods using three color light sources are used, then communication can be established between devices with sufficient computational performance, but communication cannot be achieved with devices having low computational performance or without communication functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image sensor as an intermediary device that captures light emissions from the subject. The image sensor converts optical signals into electrical signals, enabling communication between devices that lack direct communication capabilities. This mediator approach allows devices with low computational performance to participate in communication through simple light emission patterns that can be captured and decoded by the image sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic communication systems with an optical-based communication method. Instead of requiring sophisticated transmitters and receivers, the system uses simple light emission from the subject that is captured by an image sensor. This substitution of mechanical/electronic communication with optical capture simplifies the communication requirements for participating devices.
2Loss of information
If all exposure lines are used for capturing images, then complete image data is obtained, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and uses only the relevant exposure lines from the image sensor that contain information about the subject's light emission patterns. By identifying and processing only the exposure lines where the subject is captured, the system reduces computational load and processing time while maintaining the完整性 of communication information. This selective extraction approach eliminates unnecessary data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image data by dividing it into individual exposure lines and selectively processing only those lines that contain subject information. This segmentation allows the system to handle data in smaller, manageable units rather than processing the entire image frame, thereby reducing overall processing time and computational requirements while preserving essential communication data.
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 efficient communication between devices with low computational performance without the need for special communication devices, enhancing information obtainment efficiency and preventing information loss.
Implementation Method 1
a first imaging step of obtaining a first image by capturing the subject using an image sensor that includes a plurality of exposure lines
Data Source
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AI summary
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: obtaining a first image by capturing a subject (SA21); detecting a range of the subject from the first image (SA22); determining, from among a plurality of exposure lines, predetermined exposure lines for capturing the range of the subject (SA23); setting an exposure time so that, in a second image obtained using the predetermined exposure lines, a bright line appears according to a change in luminance of the subject (SA24); obtaining the second image including the bright line, by capturing the subject that changes in luminance using the predetermined exposure lines (SA25); and demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained second image (SA26).