Indoor optical wireless communication: a GigaEthernet network prototype at 60 dB link margin

Abstract

The optical wireless system is a promising solution for increasing the available communication bandwidth within a room. This technology can give a very high-speed communication between devices and becomes a good alternative with respect to radio systems. For both technologies, the architecture is similar: a base station is installed to cover zones and transmit data with a defined quality of service. A device may be connected to the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with an adapter that emits and receives on this network.The wireless optical technology has advantageous specific characteristics, such as: secure data transmission, immunity, high data rate, wavelength re-use. Nevertheless, the optical system may have a limit on the network management aspect and link budget. The scope of this paper is to present a prototype developed during a collaborative project. This prototype uses a Giga Ethernet chip and components in the 1550 nm band. Based on OOK modulation, the prototype is fully compatible with the direct conversion of fibre-based Giga-Ethernet to an analogue free space version. Moreover, it also proposes a new class 1 high power emission solution with 30 dBm on 45° HP (Half Power) angle and a new large Field Of View (FOV) module on the reception side. This full duplex system, composed by one Base station and two Modules, transmits data on, at least, one meter. The document will present the prototype characteristics with testbed and experimentation results.

Broadcast of four HD videos with LED ceiling lighting: optical-wireless MAC

“…There is also the well-know Ethernet protocol (IEEE 802.3) but the direct conversion of fiber-based GigaEthernet to optical wireless high data rate is not suitable [16] and [17]. …”