An apparatus, comprising: an image sensor and a light source driver circuit (105; 205) integrated in a same semiconductor chip package having configuration register space (208; 408) configured to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object and wherein: the information specifies that the light source is to be simulated as being closer to the object than it actually is or farther away from the object than it actually is; the light source driver circuit is configured to generate a light source drive signal; the image sensor comprises depth capture pixels; the configuration register space is coupled to timing and control circuitry (104; 204) within the same semiconductor chip package , said timing and control circuitry configured to adjust relative phases of the light source drive signal and a clock (315; 415) that is directed to the depth capture pixels wherein the relative phases of the light source driver signal and the depth capture pixels clock are configured to be adjusted to be closer together in time to simulate an object that is closer and the relative phases of the light source drive signal and the depth capture pixel clock are configured to be adjusted to be farther apart in time to simulate an object that is farther away; and the light source driver circuit includes circuitry configured to increase or decrease the optical signal received at the image sensor responsive to said information wherein a stronger optical signal from a closer object is simulated by increasing the gain of the depth capture pixels to capture more charge and therefore generate a higher amplitude signal from the depth capture pixels and a weaker optical signal from an object that is farther away is simulated by decreasing the gain of the depth capture pixels to capture less charge and therefore generate a lower amplitude signal from the depth capture pixels. the information specifies that the light source is to be simulated as being closer to the object than it actually is or farther away from the object than it actually is; the light source driver circuit is configured to generate a light source drive signal; the image sensor comprises depth capture pixels; the configuration register space is coupled to timing and control circuitry (104; 204) within the same semiconductor chip package , said timing and control circuitry configured to adjust relative phases of the light source drive signal and a clock (315; 415) that is directed to the depth capture pixels wherein the relative phases of the light source driver signal and the depth capture pixels clock are configured to be adjusted to be closer together in time to simulate an object that is closer and the relative phases of the light source drive signal and the depth capture pixel clock are configured to be adjusted to be farther apart in time to simulate an object that is farther away; and the light source driver circuit includes circuitry configured to increase or decrease the optical signal received at the image sensor responsive to said information wherein a stronger optical signal from a closer object is simulated by increasing the gain of the depth capture pixels to capture more charge and therefore generate a higher amplitude signal from the depth capture pixels and a weaker optical signal from an object that is farther away is simulated by decreasing the gain of the depth capture pixels to capture less charge and therefore generate a lower amplitude signal from the depth capture pixels. <EOS>