nir-vana innovation network

Spanish SME with extensive experience in the digital TV sector and more than 15 years of innovative experience within its R&D department developing breakthrough solutions in digital and communication technologies, helping the company strengthen its role in the market. Its R&D department is currently committed to implement a LiFi based communication system to access high quality audio-visual content in collective transportation environments, as well as the demonstration of the benefits of perovskites as opto-electronic components for the future of LiFi communications networks.

Consumers have higher demands and expectations on their access to audiovisual content in situations of mobility, such as the frequent commutes by train or bus. Currently there are no services that can guarantee this experience due to technological limitations like range, speed, and bandwidth, as well as the interference with radiofrequency waves from other services in a radio spectrum that is increasingly saturated.

There are existing products with an integrated luminaire used in smart homes, media & game streaming, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) that use device-to-device communication enabling downlink rates of >1Gbps and uplink rates of <600Mbps. For short range communication (mm to cm range) data rates are up to 12.5Gbps in a P2P scenario. For long range communication (cm to m range) data rates up to 1Gbps and P2P, P2MP, MP2MP scenarios.

The combination of LiFi with other wireless communication technologies, complemented with IoT (Internet of Things) will boost the Smart Cities era supporting sustainable and safe mobility.

To this end, the developed technology includes:
• The LiFi router, consisting of a visible light emitter and infrared (IR) receiver, is connected to the internet server and luminaria LiFi.
• The Luminaire LiFi, consisting of a white LED light that transmits data through pulses managed by a microcontroller.
• The photodetector to receive data through IR.
• The Dongle receives the data and after the amplification and processing, it is offered to the user device.
• The system is completed with the ascendant link between the user’s device and the luminaire using IR technology.

At one end the source device is placed, consisting usually of an LED light whose behaviour as data transmitter is managed by a microcontroller. This microcontroller modulates the light being emitted by the LED creating light pulses at very high frequencies undetectable to the human eye. This enables a dual function: light source and wireless communications link for the transmission of multimedia content.

At the other end of the system, a photodetector receives the transmitted data encapsulated within the light beam and, after the amplification and processing phases, the data are offered to the user device. The system is completed with the ascendant link between the user’s device and the luminaire.
These results open the door to the use of LED lamps already installed on plains, trains and buses to facilitate reading as a means of transporting data, reducing costs of installation while eliminating the problems caused by the saturation of the spectrum.

Summarizing, the installation of LEDs has no need for novel infrastructures for its implementation which reduces deployment costs and the environmental impact, increasing the return on investment in terms of energy savings and low maintenance costs.

The SME is looking for companies in the telecommunications sector to work under research or technical cooperation agreement. The required profile is a company, research center or MNE interested in the development of the technology. Ideal partners would be operating in the field of 5G, telecommunications or related. Expected outcome is carrying out a joint R&D research in order to develop the technology.

Advantages & innovations

In addition to the use of LiFi technology to access high quality contents in mobility scenarios, LiFi technology brings other future applications. The two main advantages of LiFi over other wireless technologies like radiofrequency (RF) or infrared (IR) are the bigger bandwidth and higher transference rate when establishing dedicated links between each reading-light and the end user located below -theoretically reaching rates in the order of Gbps-. On the other hand, the major drawback of LiFi is the inability of light to pass through walls. However, this feature could become one of the great advantages as two LiFi systems in different rooms do not interfere with each other. Representing a degree of restricted communication, which can be used to provide security in these systems. Furthermore, this inability to pass through opaque objects makes LiFi especially useful in electromagnetic-waves-free-environments, becoming a green alternative to existing radiofrequency. Therefore, examples of potential applications are high risk enclosed areas such as Defence facilities (e.g. handling explosives), nuclear power plants, or hospitals (operating rooms, diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy, etc.) Summarizing, LiFi systems can be implemented as intercommunication systems in inaccessible and/or undesirable environments for the current WiFi technology without affecting the habits of professionals, workers, patients and users; avoiding flooding the working environment with radiofrequency signals. Additionally, LiFi can be combined with WiFi or 4G-5G technology to increase connectivity in areas of poor phone or internet coverage, as well as for disaster management such as tunnels, galleries, mines, etc.

Stage of development

Available for demonstration

Partner sought

The SME is looking for companies/research centers/MNEs interested in collaborating under research or technical cooperation agreement. Ideal partners would be companies from the/ in the field of 5G/ in the telecommunications sector or related. Expected outcome is the conducting a joint R&D project in order to complete the technology.