Image sensor communication and its transmitting devices

This paper focuses on image sensor communication (ISC) using cameras to receive wireless signals transmitted by visible lights. We summarize the technical principles of ISC from the perspective of transmitting devices. An introduction to the development and applications of ISC was provided, starting with the history of image sensors and visible light communication (VLC). Moreover, the communication mechanism of ISC using complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) sensors is explained in this paper. Specifically, we investigate studies using an optical communication image sensor and the rolling shutter technique for high-speed ISC. Further, we highlight three distinctive transmitting devices in ISC: a LED array, rotating LEDs, and displays, and explain them in terms of structure and signal transmission methods. In particular, we present the parallel transmission of LED arrays and their application in traffic systems and introduce an optical flow-based signal transmission method using rotating LEDs. In addition, two visual transmission techniques in displays-based-ISC using brightness-difference and high-frequency flashing are introduced, respectively. This paper intuitively explains these ISC techniques and reveals ISC’s high versatility.