Gbps Wireless Optical Network Connection through Visible Light Communications
In the DOE SBIR topic “Advanced Digital Network Technologies and Middleware Services”, the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research seeks grant applications for developments in advanced optical network technologies that enable DOE scientists to communicate with peers, and collect/process data at Gbps data-rates. Providing Gbps wireless connection is a challenge in last-mile networks as the data-rate of Wi-Fi technology is limited to a few hundreds of Mbps. Visible light communication (VLC) is a potential alternative data communication technique for wireless applications that uses optical energy to provide simultaneously lighting needs and data transmission. This technology transmits data using the lighting systems that are already in place for the illumination of indoor environments. VLC is a strong competitor to other communication approaches such as Wi-Fi since it can be integrated with the existing lighting system and offer a compact, dual-use, and energy saving solution. VLC systems are challenging to design because they must provide both high speed communications and fulfill the lighting requirements of the indoor environment. Furthermore, the modulation bandwidth of the available white LEDs is limited to 50 MHz and transmitting Gbps data using these LEDs requires sophisticated modulation and coding schemes. In the Phase I of this project, VLNComm developed a prototype for VLC systems and demonstrated the feasibility of this technology. VLNComm aims to further develop the prototype with increased data-rate that can resolve practical issues in VLC systems, such as user mobility, shadowing (blocking direct light from luminaries) and uplink traffic. VLNComm will also decrease the size, cost and energy consumption of the current prototype to get it closer to the final product. Accomplishing such a project will not only increase speed and security of the data communication, but also will be a huge step forward in energy saving and a greener environment. Advancement in this technology will provide a double incentive for implementing economical LED lighting systems. VLNComm will use tri-chromatic white LEDs to broadcast the data at Gbps rates inside the indoor environment, and will use infrared light for the uplink connection. VLNComm will provide small USB modems to VLC users to plug into their laptops/computers and connect to the VLC network. VLNComm will consider three options to connect the LED lights and panels to the internet: a) electric grid using Power Line Communications, b) Ethernet cable and c) Optical Fiber. A fiber-wired building infrastructure will enable multiuser end-to-end Gbps wireless connectivity.
- Research Organization:
- VLNComm LLC
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0013195
- OSTI ID:
- 1471400
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase II)
- Report Number(s):
- 919; 9195210201
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: Ali Haddadpour, Mohammad Noshad. Camera Based Beam Selection. US patent 62/650,082. 2017. Ali Haddadpour, Mohammad Noshad. Camera-Assisted Access-Point Selection in Optical Wireless Communications, US patent 62/673,732. 2017 Jie Lian, Maite Brandt-Pearce. Clipping-Enhanced Optical OFDM for IM/DD Communication Systems. US patent 62/668,879. 2017 Mohammad Noshad, Jongseok Lee. Energy Efficient Hybrid Infrared-Visible Light Communication System, US patent 62/667,221, 2017 Mohammad Noshad, Indoor Floor Mapping and Navigation through Visible Light Positioning, US patent 62/673,729, 2017. Jie Lian, Maite Brandt-Pearce, Joint Optimal Waveform Design for Multiuser VLC Systems over ISI Channel, US patent 62/668,890, 2017 Mohammad Noshad, Li-Fi Mesh Networking Through Optical Wireless Communication, US patent 62/672,506, 2017
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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