Receiver synchronization for light communications

A method for synchronizing a receiver with a transmitter so as to decode a data input stream transmitted by the transmitter and received at the receiver, comprising:

• receiving a data input stream at a receiver, the data input stream having a first data rate that is set based on a transmitter clock rate;
• generating a wave;
• obtaining a phase error between the data input stream and the generated wave;
• determining a synchronized clock rate by using the phase error to adjust the frequency of the generated wave so as to match the frequency of the generated wave to the transmitter clock rate of the data input stream;
• and
• using the synchronized clock rate to decode the data input stream so as to obtain data encoded in the data input stream, wherein the synchronized clock rate is determined based on a feedback process that modifies the frequency and/or phase of the generated wave until the phase error is below a predefined threshold at which point the transmitter clock rate of the data input stream and the frequency of the generated wave are considered to match.