Optical Communication Using Motion Blur Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical communication systems face limitations in data transmission rates due to frame rate constraints, observable flicker, and sensitivity to motion between optical transmitters and receivers, which restricts bandwidth and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs relative motion between an optical transmitter and an imaging device to capture blurred images with data traces, allowing for decoding of bit stream segments from spatially modulated patterns, enabling higher data transmission rates while minimizing observable flicker and computational complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct frame encoding is used to transmit data, then the system is simple to implement, but the data transmission rate is limited by frame rate to a maximum of 120 Hz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image frame into multiple scan lines that are captured sequentially by the rolling shutter. Each scan line can independently encode data bits, allowing parallel data transmission across multiple lines within a single frame, thereby increasing the effective data transmission rate without requiring higher frame rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from time-based data encoding (single bit per frame) to spatial-based encoding (multiple bits per frame across multiple scan lines). This dimensional shift from temporal to spatial domain allows simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams, dramatically increasing bandwidth while maintaining simple implementation
2Productivity
If rolling shutter encoding is used to increase data rates, then bandwidth is improved, but the optical transmitter must occupy a large portion of the field of view which limits simultaneous data streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different encoding schemes to different regions of the image. Small transmitters use motion blur encoding while larger transmitters use rolling shutter band encoding. This allows small transmitters to occupy minimal field of view (less than 5%) while still achieving high data rates, and enables multiple transmitters of varying sizes to coexist in the same field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically selects the encoding method based on transmitter size and motion characteristics. When transmitters are small and moving, motion blur encoding is used. When transmitters are larger and stationary, rolling shutter band encoding is used. This dynamic adaptation allows efficient use of field of view and supports multiple simultaneous data streams
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rolling shutter encoding is used to eliminate flicker, then observable flicker is reduced, but computationally expensive motion tracking algorithms are required to handle distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the background from the captured image, isolating only the moving transmitter signal. This background removal eliminates the need for complex motion tracking algorithms, as the transmitter data can be directly decoded from the motion blur pattern without requiring sophisticated distortion correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of motion blur, which traditionally degrades image quality, into a beneficial encoding mechanism. The motion blur naturally spreads the transmitter signal across multiple pixels in a pattern that directly encodes the data, transforming a distortion into a useful data representation that requires minimal processing
4Measurement precision
If transmitter size is maximized within field of view to increase data rate, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but the system cannot easily tolerate relative motion between transmitter and receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system dynamically adaptive to relative motion by using motion blur encoding. Instead of requiring the transmitter to be large and stationary for accurate data transmission, the system embraces motion and uses it to create the data encoding pattern. This allows small transmitters to achieve high accuracy even during rapid relative motion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the encoding parameter from spatial occupation (transmitter size) to temporal-spatial pattern (motion blur trajectory). This parameter change allows the system to achieve high data transmission accuracy with small transmitters by encoding data in the motion pattern rather than relying on transmitter size, thereby increasing motion tolerance
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
This approach enhances data transmission frequencies, reduces flicker, and allows for simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams, achieving data rates greater than 2 kbps with the optical transmitter occupying less than 5% of the field of view, thereby improving communication efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
Optical communication methods and systems using motion blur
Data Source
AI summary
Optical communication systems and their method of operation are disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more images of one or more optical transmitters may be collected with an imaging device during relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters. The one or more optical transmitters may transmit bit stream segments as a pattern of sequential modulation cycles. The relative motion between the imaging device and the one or more optical transmitters may be sufficiently fast and an image integration time of the imaging device may be sufficiently long such that one or more bit stream segments transmitted by the one or more optical transmitters may be captured as one or more data traces in the images for subsequent decoding.