| Summary |
This article introduces image sensor communications (ISC), a subset of visible light communication (VLC), that use high-speed image sensor and its application to automotive.
Li-Fi (light fidelity) and OCC (optical camera communication) or also know as CamCom are also VLC family.
Li-Fi is a high-speed wireless system and is currently in the process of being standardized in IEEE 802.11.
The OCC uses an ordinary camera, e.g. a smartphone camera, as a receiver while ISC uses a high-speed image sensor as a reception device. The principal component of a camera, an image sensor, is used for both ISC and OCC.
The main difference is that ISC focuses on a high-speed image sensor while OCC concentrates on low-cost consumer applications using smartphones and similar contemporary devices.
For automotive usage, a high-speed image sensor is the best choice for the VLC receiver because the image sensor has a spatial separation of noise and target source.
The VLC family uses LED as the transmitter and LED light sources are everywhere on streets: in signs, traffic lights, street lights, and other stationary objects.
So if we can send IDs or exact location data (latitude and longitude) by way of VLC from those LEDs, then they can be used as anchor nodes placed on roads, sidewalks, or landmarks.
Those anchor nodes help autonomous cars and connected vehicle for robust navigation with centimeter accuracy.
The image sensor is the suitable detection device as it can be used for both positioning and VLC data detection.
The author has been working on ISC for automotive applications.
In this article, some of the author research, as well as his findings, are introduced.
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