IP Library Granted Patent US 9,166,810
Granted Patent B2
US 9,166,810 · App. 13/902,215 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Information communication device of obtaining information by demodulating a bright line pattern included in an image

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,166,810
App. No.
13/902,215
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a 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; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image.

Claims (18)

1. An information communication method of obtaining information from a subject using an image sensor including a plurality of exposure lines, the information communication method comprising:

obtaining first image data by starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines in the image sensor each at a different time and performing image capture with a first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines; and

obtaining second image data by starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time and performing image capture with a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines, and obtaining information by demodulating a bright line striped pattern that appears in the second image data, the bright line striped pattern corresponding to the plurality of exposure lines,

wherein in the obtaining of second image data: the second exposure time is set to less than or equal to 1/480 second to cause the bright line striped pattern to appear in the second image data; and the information is obtained by demodulating a frequency specified by the bright line striped pattern.

2. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the obtaining first image data and the obtaining second image data are switchable.

3. An information communication device that obtains information from a subject using an image sensor including a plurality of exposure lines, the information communication device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory memory having stored thereon executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform:

obtaining first image data by starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines in the image sensor each at a different time and performing image capture with a first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines; and

obtaining second image data by starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time and performing image capture with a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines, and obtaining information by demodulating a bright line striped pattern that appears in the second image data, the bright line striped pattern corresponding to the plurality of exposure lines,

wherein in the obtaining of second image data: the second exposure time is set to less than or equal to 1/480 second to cause the bright line striped pattern to appear in the second image data; and the information is obtained by demodulating a frequency specified by the bright line striped pattern.

4. The information communication device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the normal imaging unit and the visible light communication unit are switchable.

5. A non-transitory recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for use in a computer, the computer obtaining first image data by (i) starting exposure sequentially for a plurality of exposure lines each at a different time, the plurality of exposure lines being included in an image sensor and (ii) performing image capture with a first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines, the computer program causing the computer to execute instructions comprising:

obtaining second image data by starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time and performing image capture with a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time so that an exposure time of each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps with an exposure time of an adjacent one of the plurality of exposure lines; and

obtaining information by demodulating a bright line striped pattern that appears in the second image data, the bright line striped pattern corresponding to the plurality of exposure lines,

wherein in the obtaining of second image data: the second exposure time is set to less than or equal to 1/480 second to cause the bright line striped pattern to appear in the second image data; and the information is obtained by demodulating a frequency specified by the bright line striped pattern.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 033182/0895 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2014
From: OSHIMA, MITSUAKI; YAMADA, KAZUNORI; AOYAMA, HIDEKI; FUCHIGAMI, IKUO; SHIN, HIDEHIKO; MUKAI, TSUTOMU; MATSUSHITA, YOSUKE; IIDA, SHIGEHIRO; NAKANISHI, KOJI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032085/0799 →