Optical Data Transmission via CMOS Camera Row Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diagnostic methods for automation components, especially simpler devices like power supplies, require additional hardware and face challenges with connectivity, access protection, security, and failure susceptibility, particularly in wireless interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an electronic shutter and CMOS sensors in cameras to capture images row-by-row or column-by-column, forming a data stream through concatenation, and calculating signal frequency to enable high-data-rate optical communication without dedicated hardware, ensuring access protection and reduced failure susceptibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless interfaces like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or proprietary radio systems are used for remote diagnosis, then connectivity and remote access are enabled, but hardware costs, EMC compliance, security, and failure susceptibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wireless radio communication systems with optical communication using visible light. Instead of using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or proprietary radio systems that require significant hardware expansion and EMC compliance, the invention uses a light emitter and camera to transmit diagnostic data optically. This substitution eliminates the need for complex wireless transceivers, antennas, and associated hardware while enabling remote diagnosis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the camera serve multiple functions: it not only captures images for display but also receives modulated light signals for data transmission. The same light emitter serves both as an indicator and a transmitter. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated diagnostic hardware and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining remote access capability.
2Reliability
If dedicated diagnostic hardware is required for interface and communication, then data transmission reliability is improved, but hardware costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the device to communicate using its existing components - the camera and light emitter - without requiring external dedicated diagnostic hardware. The camera captures images that contain encoded diagnostic data, and the light emitter transmits this data optically to a mobile device. This self-service approach eliminates the need for specialized diagnostic equipment while maintaining communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent encodes diagnostic data within image data that is captured and transmitted optically. Instead of using dedicated hardware interfaces, the system creates an optical copy of the diagnostic information through the camera and light emitter, enabling data transmission without requiring specialized hardware connectors or interfaces. This copying approach maintains data integrity while reducing hardware requirements.
3Productivity
If image capture occurs sequentially row-by-row or column-by-column, then data transmission rate is increased, but image completeness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image capture process into sequential rows or columns, capturing each line rapidly and then moving to the next. This segmentation enables the camera to capture data at high speeds by not requiring the entire image to be captured simultaneously. The diagnostic data is encoded across these sequential segments, allowing high data transmission rates while the complete image information is reconstructed from the segmented captures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic scanning of the camera sensor row-by-row or column-by-column to capture the modulated light signal. The camera repeatedly scans through the image lines at a rate synchronized with the light modulation, creating a periodic capture process that enables high data transmission rates. This periodic action allows the system to maintain complete image information while achieving rapid data acquisition through the sequential scanning mechanism.
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 secure, high-data-rate communication directly to mobile devices, reducing hardware costs and susceptibility to interference, while maintaining data integrity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting the modulated signal as a light signal by the light emitter of the transmitter
Implementation Method 2
receiving the light signal by the camera of the receiver, which captures an image
Data Source
AI summary
A method for data transmission in a system includes a) providing at least one piece of data information, b) modulating a carrier signal using the at least one piece of data information to form a modulated signal, c) transmitting the modulated signal, d) receiving the light signal through a camera, which captures an image, sequentially in time, as image rows or image columns, e) determining a first piece of image information and at least one second piece of image information from the image through row-wise or column-wise readings, f) forming a data stream by concatenating the first and the at least one second piece of image information, and g) calculating the signal frequency from the data stream and identifying the at least one piece of data information from the signal frequency.