Turn on the lights: leveraging visible light for communications and positioning

Steve Hranilovic

doi:10.1117/12.2086360

7 February 2015 Turn on the lights: leveraging visible light for communications and positioning

Steve Hranilovic

Proceedings Volume 9387, Broadband Access Communication Technologies IX; 93870R (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2086360
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The need for ubiquitous broadband connectivity is continually growing, however, radio spectrum is increasingly scarce and limited by interference. In addition, the energy efficiency of many radio transmitters is low and most input energy is converted to heat. A widely overlooked resource for positioning and broadband access is optical wireless communication reusing existing illumination installations. As many of the 14 billion incandescent bulbs in use worldwide are converted to energy efficient LED lighting, a unique opportunity exists to augment them with visible light communications (VLC) and visible light positioning (VLP). VLC- and VLP- enabled LED lighting is not only energy efficient but enables a host of new use cases such as location-aware ubiquitous high-speed wireless communication links. This talk presents the recent work of the Free-space Optical Communication Algorithms Laboratory (FOCAL) at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada in developing novel signaling and indoor localization techniques using illumination devices. Developments in the signaling design for VLC systems will be presented along with several prototype VLC communication systems. Novel approaches to the integration of VLC networks with power line communications (PLC) are discussed. The role of visible light communications and ranging for automotive safety will also be highlighted. Several approaches to indoor positioning using illumination devices and simple smartphone-based receivers will be presented. Finally, a vision for VLC and VLP technologies will be presented along with our ongoing research directions.

Citation Download Citation

Steve Hranilovic "Turn on the lights: leveraging visible light for communications and positioning", Proc. SPIE 9387, Broadband Access Communication Technologies IX, 93870R (7 February 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2086360

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