Researchers send data wirelessly using LEDs

German researchers have successfully made use of visible light to carry wireless data at speeds of up to 230 megabits per second. Instead of creating new components designed from scratch, the researchers were able to make use of commercially available light-emitting diodes to perform this feat.

Toggling the lights at rates that are far faster than can be detected by the human eye to transmit the data, the researchers increased the transmission speed by tenfold by working only with the blue part of the LED spectrum. Eventually, the team says it is confident of doubling the data rate again "with some modulation adjustments."

While in the research phrase, the results are all the more intriguing, considering that commercial LEDs have a limited bandwidth of only a few megahertz.

Of course, at least one analyst pointed out that data transmission appears to be in one direction only, as opposed to the bidirectional capabilities of Wi-Fi networks. Also, it remains to be seen whether it would be possible to take data transmission using light in an actual living room where there is light of varying intensity from multiple sources.

For now, the researchers are scheduled to present the findings on March 25 at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference.

For more on this story:
- check out the article at Computerworld
- check out the article at InformationWeek 

Related Articles:
Breakthrough could herald terabit Ethernet over fiber optics
Intel showcases wireless power
Millimeter amplifier could open the way for 10Gbps wireless