Image synchronization without input clock and data transmission clock in a pulsed fluorescence imaging system

A system comprising:

• an emitter that pulses a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation;
• an image sensor comprising a pixel array that detects electromagnetic radiation and outputs image data comprising:
• a visible frame sensed by the pixel array in response to the emitter pulsing a visible wavelength of electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• a fluorescence frame sensed by the pixel array in response to the emitter pulsing a fluorescence excitation wavelength of electromagnetic radiation;
• a plurality of bidirectional data pads on the image sensor configured to output image data and receive configuration data;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the image sensor and the emitter;
• wherein the controller synchronizes operations of the emitter and the image sensor and instructs the emitter to pulse the plurality of pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a blanking period of the image sensor;
• wherein the controller instructs the emitter to separately pulse the visible wavelength and the fluorescence excitation wavelength in a variable pulse cycle;
• and
• wherein the image sensor is configured to vary the blanking period according to the variable pulse cycle.