PHOCI: Photonic Communications Imager

PHOCI is an optical imaging system that is suitable for both image capture and reception of optical communications data. The system includes a novel image/data capture chip that imbeds a high-speed optical data communications receiver technology into the image capture array of a digital video camera system. In addition to the development of a new image/data capture chip, the system includes the design of a hardware interface that allows the PHOCI system to pass both image and optical communication data through a USB (or similar communications link) to a COTS host computer. In addition to providing the device drivers necessary to communicate with the PHOCI hardware, the system software provides the data structures and graphical user interface (GUI) that allow a system operator to see the camera image along with the location and recent movement vector for communication sources in the image. This phase 1 activity illustrated the technical feasibility of the device and discovered that the technology is commercially feasible, especially for harsh environments that are not normally well suited to electromagnetic communications, such as that found on a factory floor. (12 figures)
Topic no. A01-58.