2nd International IEEE/Create-Net Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks and Communities

Research Article

Visible light communication using OFDM

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/TRIDNT.2006.1649137,
        author={Mostafa Z.  Afgani and Harald  Haas and Hany  Elgala and Dietmar  Knipp},
        title={Visible light communication using OFDM},
        proceedings={2nd International IEEE/Create-Net Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks and Communities},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={TRIDENTCOM},
        year={2006},
        month={7},
        keywords={},
        doi={10.1109/TRIDNT.2006.1649137}
    }
    
  • Mostafa Z. Afgani
    Harald Haas
    Hany Elgala
    Dietmar Knipp
    Year: 2006
    Visible light communication using OFDM
    TRIDENTCOM
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/TRIDNT.2006.1649137
Mostafa Z. Afgani1,*, Harald Haas1,*, Hany Elgala1,*, Dietmar Knipp1,*
  • 1: School of Engineering and Science, International University Bremen, 28759 Bremen, Germany
*Contact email: m.afgani@iu-bremen.de, h.haas@iu-bremen.de, h.elgala@iu-bremen.de, d.knipp@iu-bremen.de

Abstract

In this paper wireless communication using white, high brightness LEDs (light emitting diodes) is considered. In particular, the use of OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) for intensity modulation is investigated. The high peak-to-average ratio (PAR) in OFDM is usually considered a disadvantage in radio frequency transmission systems due to non-linearities of the power amplifier. It is demonstrated theoretically and by means of an experimental system that the high PAR in OFDM can be exploited constructively in visible light communication to intensity modulate LEDs. It is shown that the theoretical and the experimental results match very closely, and that it is possible to cover a distance of up to one meter using a single LED.