Information communication method

1. An information communication method of obtaining information from a subject, the information communication method comprising:

setting a first exposure time of an image sensor to obtain a normal image by capturing a first subject;

obtaining the normal image by capturing the first subject by the image sensor with the set first exposure time;

setting a second exposure time of the image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a second subject by the image sensor, a plurality of bright lines corresponding to exposure lines included in the image sensor and related to the set second exposure time appear according to a change in luminance over time of the second subject,

obtaining a bright line image which is an image including the plurality of bright lines, by capturing the second subject changing in luminance over time by the image sensor with the set second exposure time;

obtaining a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image using the set second exposure time; and

obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by the pattern;

wherein in the obtaining of the normal image, electric charge reading is performed on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area including optical black in the image sensor, and

in the obtaining of the bright line image, electric charge reading is performed on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area other than the optical black in the image sensor, the optical black not being used in electric charge reading.

2. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the obtaining of the normal image, electric charge reading is performed on each the plurality of exposure lines in the area including the optical black in the image sensor, after a predetermined time elapses from when electric charge reading is performed on an exposure line adjacent to another exposure line, and

in the obtaining of the bright line image, electric charge reading is performed on each of the plurality of exposure lines in the area other than the optical black in the image sensor, after a time longer than the predetermined time elapses from when electric charge reading is performed on an exposure line adjacent to another exposure line.

3. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the method includes a normal image mode and a visible light communication mode, and

the normal image mode and the visible light communication mode are switchable.

4. The information communication method according to claim 3 ,

wherein the normal image mode includes the setting of the first exposure time and the obtaining of the normal image, and

the visible light communication mode includes the setting of the second exposure time, the obtaining of the bright light image and obtaining the information.

5. An information communication device that obtains information from a subject, the information communication device comprising:

an exposure time setter that sets a first exposure time of an image sensor to obtain a normal image by capturing a first subject by the image sensor with the set first exposure time, and setting a second exposure time of the image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a second subject by the image sensor, a plurality of bright lines corresponding to exposure lines included in the image sensor and related to the set second exposure time appear according to a change in luminance over time of the second subject;

a bright line image obtainer that obtains the normal image by capturing the first subject by the image sensor with the set first exposure time, and that obtains a bright line image, which is an image including the plurality of bright lines, by capturing the second subject changing in luminance over time by the image sensor with the set second exposure time; and

an information obtainer that obtains the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image using the set second exposure time,

wherein in obtaining the normal image, electric charge reading is performed on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area including optical black in the image sensor, and

in obtaining the bright line image, electric charge reading is performed on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area other than the optical black in the image sensor, the optical black not being used in electric charge reading.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for use in a computer, the computer has a normal image mode which includes setting a first exposure time of an image sensor to obtain a normal image by capturing a first subject, obtaining the normal image by capturing the first subject by the image sensor with the set first exposure time, and reading electric charge on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area including optical black in the image sensor, the program causing the computer to execute instructions including:

setting a second exposure time of the image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a second subject by the image sensor, a plurality of bright lines corresponding to exposure lines included in the image sensor and related to the set second exposure time appear according to a change in luminance over time of the second subject;

obtaining a bright line image which is an image including the plurality of bright lines, by capturing the second subject changing in luminance over time by the image sensor with the set second exposure time; and

obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image using the set second exposure time,

wherein in the obtaining of the bright line image, electric charge reading is performed on each of a plurality of exposure lines in an area other than the optical black in the image sensor, the optical black not being used in electric charge reading.