LiFi Basics: Data Over Light Explained

This page covers the basics of data over light, specifically focusing on LiFi. It explains what LiFi is and how a LiFi system operates.

LiFi is essentially a wireless networking technology that uses light as the medium for transmitting data.

It employs LED bulbs as the light source at the transmitting end and a photodetector as the photoreceptor at the receiving end. Here are some key features of a LiFi system:

• High Data Rates: Initially, LiFi delivered data rates of around 150 Mbps. However, with advancements in LED technology, speeds of up to 10 Gbps are now achievable. This is on par with the data speeds offered by the IEEE 802.11ad WiFi standard.

• Secure Communication: LiFi provides a secure communication method due to its line-of-sight (LOS) operation. Furthermore, light signals cannot penetrate walls, adding another layer of security.

• Interference-Free Networking: LiFi offers an interference-free networking system, making it suitable for environments sensitive to radio frequency interference, such as hospitals and aviation systems.

How LiFi Works?

The illustration above shows the transmitter and receiver components of a LiFi system.

As depicted, the transmitter side consists of an LED lamp driven by a lamp driver. Data interfacing with the internet and server is facilitated through the driver.

The receiver side includes a photodetector, an amplifier, and data processing circuitry. The received data is then fed to a computer for processing, depending on the specific application. These components together are sometimes referred to as a LiFi dongle.

This is a breakdown of how a LiFi system operates.

LiFi Tutorial

This LiFi tutorial delves into the LiFi network architecture, LiFi protocol stack, LiFi PHY, LiFi MAC, LiFi bands, and LiFi modulation types (OOK, VPPM, CSK).