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Visible Light Communication

Rice University_083021A
[Rice University]

- Overview

Visible Light Communication (VLC) transmits data wirelessly by rapidly flickering LED lights, invisible to the human eye, which a photodetector reads as 1s and 0s, offering high-speed, secure internet, especially where radio waves are problematic, using the vast, license-free visible light spectrum for applications like indoor navigation and vehicle safety. 

VLC leverages LEDs' fast switching to send data by modulating light intensity, creating a massive, uncongested bandwidth, making it faster and more secure than traditional radio frequencies for various uses, from hospitals to smart cities. 

Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) is a specific implementation of VLC that offers bidirectional, networked communication, much like Wi-Fi but with light. 

1. How it Works:

  • Transmitter: A light source, typically an LED, rapidly turns on and off (modulates its intensity) to encode binary data (1s and 0s).
  • Channel: The visible light travels through the air, carrying the data.
  • Receiver: A photodiode or photodetector captures these light signals and converts them back into electrical signals.
  • Data Interpretation: A transceiver processes these electrical signals into human-readable data, often at speeds imperceptible to our eyes.

2. Key Advantages:
  • Vast Bandwidth: The visible light spectrum (380-750nm) is 10,000 times larger than the radio spectrum, offering massive, license-free capacity.
  • High Speed & Low Latency: Light travels extremely fast, enabling virtually instantaneous, high-speed communication.
  • Security: Light signals don't pass through walls, confining the data to a room and preventing eavesdropping, notes the Science of Security Virtual Organization.
  • No EM Interference: Safe for electromagnetic-sensitive areas like hospitals, airplanes, and nuclear plants, says LotusArise.
  • Infrastructure Integration: Uses existing LED lighting infrastructure, lowering costs.

3. Applications:
  • Indoor Navigation: Precise location tracking in malls or airports.
  • Vehicular Communication: Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) safety warnings (e.g., collision avoidance).
  • Smart Cities & IoT: Connecting sensors and devices.
  • Secure Data Access: In sensitive environments like hospitals.

 

Please refer to the following for more information:

 

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