Simulation and Experimental Validation of Optical Camera Communication

Abstract: While simulation tools for visible light communication (VLC) with photo detectors (PDs) have been widely investigated, similar tools for optical camera communication (OCC) with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors are lacking in this regard. Camera based VLC systems have much lower data rates owing to camera exposure times. Among the few extant OCC simulation tools, none allow for simulation of images when exposure time is greater than the signal period. An accurate simulation of the OCC system can be used to improve the data rate and quality of performance. We propose a simple simulation technique for OCC which allows to test for system performance at frequencies beyond the camera shutter speed. This will allow much needed data rate improvement by operating at the actual frequency a decoding algorithm ceases detection instead of the exposure limit used now. We have tested the accuracy of simulation by comparing the detection success rates of simulated images with experimental images. The proposed simulation technique was shown to be accurate through experimental validation for two different cameras.