Patent ID: 7502053
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An information-processing device having the following functions: performing free-space optical communication to receive predetermined pieces of information from a remote transmitter device having a light source that emits light containing at least the aforementioned pieces of information; capturing an image of a certain imaging range; and obtaining position information of the light emitted from the light source of the transmitter device present within the imaging range in parallel to capturing plural frames of images of the same imaging range, and the information-processing device includes: a) an imaging device including a photo-receiver having a two-dimensional array of normal pixel cells, each of which performs photoelectric conversion, and a readout circuit for reading out a pixel signal produced by the photoelectric conversion at each pixel cell; b) a binning processor for creating a set of binned images having different resolutions from each frame of the image, where each binned image is created using signals of expanded pixel cells, each of which is created by virtually adding pixel signals of adjacent pixel cells selected from all the normal pixel cells of the imaging device; c) an evaluator for processing the signal of a given normal or expanded pixel cell to determine whether the pixel cell is receiving the light emitted from the light source, by analyzing a predetermined number of frames of images that are temporally adjacent to or in proximity to each other and calculating an evaluation index that reflects a presence of the emitted light; and d) a pixel cell locator for performing a process including the following steps: