A new invention by researchers at Oregon State University promises to increase the bandwidth of Wi-Fi systems tenfold by using LED lights to transmit information.
This technology can be integrated into existing systems to address bandwidth issues in crowded areas, such as airport terminals or cafes, but also in homes where there are many Wi-Fi devices.
Recent developments in LED technology have made it possible to adjust LED light more quickly, opening up possibilities for using light for wireless data transmission.
"Using light to transmit signals is an old technology, dating back to the time when Roman soldiers communicated with each other using a simple code of flashes with mirrors," says Thinh Nguyen, assistant professor of electrical/computer engineering and lead researcher on the project.
The system uses inexpensive materials to transmit data at 100 Megabits per second (Mbps). While some modern Wi-Fi systems have similar bandwidth, it must be shared according to the number of devices, so each user receives a small portion (5-10 Mbps, for example), while the hybrid system in question could provide 50-100, as stated in a relevant university press release.
Also, at home, where phones, tablets, game consoles and televisions can all be interconnected to the Internet, increased bandwidth could eliminate problems such as video streaming.
The prototype, called WiFO, uses LEDs that are beyond the human eye's visible spectrum and create an invisible "cone" of light within which data can be received. To address the problem of the small area of effect, Nguyen and his colleagues created a hybrid system that can switch from the LED transmitters on the ceiling to the existing Wi-Fi and vice versa.
The transmitters are small photodiodes that cost less than a dollar each and can be connected via a USB port. “We believe that if this technology takes off, the next generation of laptops will include a photodiode receiver,” he notes.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
