Optical Wireless Systems – Visible Light Communications and Free Space Optics: Technologies and Markets

 Visible and invisible optical wireless communication (OWC) found multiple applications, supporting security and cost efficiency. OWC is license-free and delivers high-speed data rates in the order of Gb/s. This report addresses contributions to the ICT development made by two groups of related OWC technologies:

- VLC – Visible Light Communication
- FSF – Free Space Fiber.

OWC advantages, such as achievable high data rate, simplicity and efficiency of a communications channel, have fostered significant research efforts aimed at utilizing optical wireless solutions. FSF is much more mature than VLC; though this technology never stopped improving. VLC is currently evolving; with standardization carried out by major organizations, such as the IEEE and other.

In connection with the VLC developments, the report is addressing Light Emitting Diode (LED) technologies and markets. LED, in the near future, will be a dominate source of illumination; and used also as a transmitting device. The VLC LED-based channels promise to deliver high-speed data in office, home and other environments with high signal-to-noise ratio, and minimum infrastructure expenses.

The report is analyzing the emerging VLC industry, technologies, standardization and applications. 

Another OWC technology – FSF – is also addressed in this report. FSF devices are solving access issues in metro and LAN environments. They are relatively inexpensive, support Gb/s rates of transmission; they are also offering low maintenance cost, guarantee a short installation time and security of communications. The report presents the FSF technologies and market analysis as well as discusses their applications together with the survey of vendors and their portfolios.

1.0 Introduction

1.1 General

1.2 Winner - Illumination

1.3 LED as Communications Transmitter

1.4 Free Space Fiber

1.4.1 Li-Fi

1.5 Scope

1.6 Research Methodology

1.7 Target Audience

2.0 LED Specifics

2.1 General

2.2 Spectrum

2.3 Types

2.4 LED Modulation

2.4.1 Limitations

2.5 LED Evolution

2.5.1 General

2.5.2 Development and Market

3.0 Visible Light Communications

3.1 General

3.1.1 Drivers

3.1.2 Industry Activity

3.1.2.1 UC-Light Center

3.1.3 Free Space Fiber and VLC - Summary

3.2 VLC Standards Development

3.2.1 The IEEE 802.15.7

3.2.1.1 Considerations

3.2.1.2 Project

3.2.1.2.1 Coexistence

3.2.1.2.2 Essence

3.2.1.2.3 Base

3.2.1.2.4 Use Cases

3.2.1.2.5 Physical Layer

3.2.1.2.5.1 General

3.2.1.2.5.2 Responsibilities

3.2.1.2.5.3 Types

3.2.1.2.5.4 Error Protection

3.2.1.2.5.5 Rates

3.2.1.2.5.6 Frequency Plan

3.2.1.2.5.7 PHY Services

3.2.1.2.5.8. Regulations

3.2.1.2.6 MAC Layer

3.2.1.2.6.1 Responsibilities

3.2.1.2.6.2 Functionalities

3.2.1.2.6.3 Channel Access

3.2.1.2.7 Security

3.2.2 Jeita (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association)

3.2.2.1 JEITA CP-1221

3.2.2.1 JEITA CP-1222

3.2.3 Visible Light Communications Consortium (VLCC)

3.2.3.1 General

3.2.3.2 Experimental Systems- VLCC Projects

3.3 Details

3.3.1 Communications Channel

3.3.2 Transmitter

3.3.3 Receiver

3.3.4 Major Characteristics

3.3.4.1 General

3.3.4.2 Modulation

3.3.4.3 List

3.3.4.4 Emerging Areas

3.3.4.5 Limiting Factors

3.3.4.6 Applications: Summary

3.4 Companies and Organizations

ECMA

Casio

Nakagawa Laboratories

NEC

Omega Project

PureVLC

Siemens

Supreme Architecture

Tamura

Visilink

4.0 Free Space Fiber

4.1 General

4.2 Major Characteristics

4.3 Protection

4.4 Applications

4.4.1 Requirements

4.4.2 Inter-satellite Links

4.4.3 Intra-building Communications

4.4.4 Inter-building Communications

4.5 FSF Communications Benefits and Limitations: Summary

4.5.1 Weather Factor

4.5.2 Building Swaying

4.6 Design Issues

4.7 Customers

4.8 FSF Market

4.8.1 General

4.8.2 Market Drivers

4.8.3 Competition

4.8.3.1 Fiber Optics Systems

4.8.3.2 Microwave

4.8.3.3 PONs

4.8.4 Forecast

4.8.4.1 General

4.8.4.2 Model Assumptions

4.8.4.3 Structure

4.8.4.4 Market Estimate

4.9 Vendors

AOptix

CableFree

Canon USA

CBL

Dailianxu Engineering Company

Dominion Laserbeam-SkyFiber

fSONA

GeoDesy

Guilin

LightPointe

LSA

Molex

MRV

Optel

PAV

Plaintree

RedLine

4.10 Standards

4.10.1 G.640 - Co-location longitudinally compatible interfaces for free space optical systems

4.10.2 ARIB STD-T50 (OPTICAL WIRELESS LAN SYSTEM) ; v4-2009

5.0 Conclusions

List of Figures:

Figure 1: OWS Connections

Figure 2: LED Price Factor

Figure 3: LED Illustration

Figure 4: LED Spectrum

Figure 5: U.S. LED Bulbs for Illumination: Market Size ($B)

Figure 6: U.S. LED Bulbs for Illumination: Market Size (Bil. Units)

Figure 7: Cost and Brightness- Light Sources

Figure 8: Illustration-VLC Channel

Figure 9: Simplified FSF Device Diagram

Figure 10: FSF Market Segments

Figure 11: TAM: U.S. FSF Equipment Sales ($M)

Figure 12: TAM: U.S. FSF Equipment Sales (Unit 000)

Figure 13: FSF Market Geography

List of Tables:

Table 1: Light Sources Characteristics

Table 2: VLC and FSF

Table 3: Wavelengths (nm)

Table 4: Laser vs. LED

Table 5: Use Cases

Table 6: Devices

Table 7: Channels

Table 8: VLC Properties

Table 9: VLC, IR and RF Communications Applications Comparison

Table 10: Locations Technologies-VLC Place