Researchers at Siemens Corporate Research have succeeded to transmit data at a bandwidth of 100 Mbit/s using visible light. The technology could be used to supplement current WLAN approaches.
The Siemens researchers used a white LED as transmitter, using a digital modulation scheme. A photo detector served as receiver. The company did not provide technical details as to LED, photo detector and the modulation process. The signals were transmitted over a distance of 1 meter under laboratory conditions.
Since direct intervisibility is a precondition for this type of data transmission, it does not aim at replacing existing radio-based WLAN technologies, a spokesperson explained. Against the background of an increasing shortage of radio frequencies however, a light-based transmission technology would be a good supplement to wireless home networks. Two-way transceivers could be integrated into ceiling lamps in order to assure intervisibility.
The research was conducted within the Omega project, co-founded by the European Commission under EU Framework Program 7 (FP7). The program runs until December 2010. Before the end of this period, the research partners intend to establish an IEEE standard defining modulation schemes and other technical details. Korean electronics provider Samsung is said to be a driving force for the standardization of the technology.
