Improving VLC Data Rate and Link Range Using Commercial Electronic Components

In this paper, visible light communication (VLC) link was setup using electronic components commercially available which can achieve a data rate up to 2.55 Mb/s and link range of 80 cm. Generally, VLC link setup for high data rates and long-range communication uses modified LEDs and photodiodes. One of such modification is to enhance modulation bandwidth to increase data rate but it limits the luminosity of LED to be used for lighting, also such modified LEDs are not available for commercial use. The main idea of this research is to setup a VLC link using common commercially available LEDs to integrate lightning and communication to reduce cost and achieve high data rate and long-range communication. In this work, red, white and yellow LEDs are used at transmitter as source with two different LED driver to drive LED to transmit binary data 1’s and 0’s. At receiver BPW34, S1227-66BQ and NRC-815 photodiodes are used based on cost and minimum response time to receive data. In this work different combination of electronic component are tested and results are compared in terms of frequencies versus intensity and rise time to achieve a goal of high data rate and long-range communication.