IP Library Granted Patent US 10,516,832
Granted Patent B2
US 10,516,832 · App. 16/380,190 · Granted Dec 24, 2019

Information communication method

Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima (Kyoto, JP); Koji Nakanishi (Kanagawa, JP); Hideki Aoyama (Osaka, JP); Ikuo Fuchigami (Fukuoka, JP); Hidehiko Shin (Osaka, JP); Tsutomu Mukai (Osaka, JP); Yosuke Matsushita (Osaka, JP); Shigehiro Iida (Tokyo, JP); Kazunori Yamada (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
H04N5/2353H04B10/116H04B10/516
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,516,832
App. No.
16/380,190
Granted
Dec 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information communication method obtains information from a subject using a terminal device that includes an image sensor having a plurality of exposure lines. The method includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to each of the plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including a plurality of bright lines, and obtaining identification information of the subject. In obtaining of the bright line image, 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. A pattern of a change in luminance of the subject is the same as a pattern of a change in luminance of another adjacent subject.

Claims (30)

1. An information communication method for obtaining identification information from a subject using a terminal device that includes an image sensor, the information communication method comprising:

setting an exposure time of the image sensor having a plurality of exposure lines so that, in an image obtained by capturing the subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to each of the plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject;

obtaining a bright line image including a plurality of bright lines, by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time; and

obtaining the identification information of the subject, by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image,

wherein the subject is adjacent to another subject, and a pattern of a change in luminance of the subject is the same as a pattern of a change in luminance of the another subject,

wherein the subject has a first rectangular shape and the another subject has a second rectangular shape, and

wherein the first rectangular shape is aligned in parallel with and adjacent to the second rectangular shape.

2. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein both the subject and the another subject transmit the same information.

3. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the bright line image is obtained by capturing the subject and the another subject.

4. The information communication method according to claim 2 ,

wherein the bright line image is obtained by capturing the subject and the another subject.

5. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein, each of the subject and the another subject has a light source and a diffusion plate to diffuse a light from the light source.

6. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the set exposure time is smaller than or equal to 20 times of a luminance change period of the subject.

7. The information communication method according claim 1 ,

wherein each of the plurality of bright lines appears within the first rectangular shape of the subject in the bright line image, and follows a direction between long sides of the first rectangular shape of the subject in the bright line image.

8. The information communication method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the subject is captured with a view surrounding the subject.

9. The information communication method according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first rectangular shape and the second rectangular shape are adjacent on each long side.

10. An information communication system includes a subject and an information communication device for obtaining identification information from the subject, the information communication device including a processor and an image sensor, the processor executes operations comprising:

setting an exposure time of the image sensor having a plurality of exposure lines so that, in an image obtained by capturing the subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to each of the plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject;

obtaining a bright line image including a plurality of bright lines, by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time; and

obtaining the identification information of the subject, by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image,

wherein the subject is adjacent to another subject, a pattern of a change in luminance of the subject is the same as a pattern of a change in luminance of the another subject,

wherein the first subject has a first rectangular shape and the another subject has a second rectangular shape, and

wherein the first rectangular shape is aligned in parallel with and adjacent to the second rectangular shape.