Performance analysis of an indoor visible light communication system using LED configurations and diverse photodetectors

Abstract

This study evaluates the implementation and performance of a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system designed to transmit text data between two personal computers (PCs). The proposed system utilizes three distinct light-emitting diode (LED) -Single LED, 2 × 2 LED Array, and 4 × 4 LED Array-as transmitters and three types of photodetectors-BPW34 photodiode, solar cell, and light-dependent resistor (LDR)-as receivers. Controlled by an Arduino, the system investigates the relationships between data rate, transmission distance, beam angle, LED configurations, and detector types. Experimental results confirmed that the BPW34 photodiode outperformed the solar cell and LDR in terms of maximum achievable data rate and transmission distance, consistent with its superior bandwidth and sensitivity characteristics. The findings also reveal that, at a zero-degree beam angle, the system employing the BPW34 photodiode achieved a maximum transmission distance of 9.15 m at 1 kilobit per second (kbps) with a single LED configuration, diminishing to 1.24 m at 4 kbps. The 2 × 2 LED array extended the distance 14.20 m at 1 kbps and 2.30 m at 4 kbps. Conversely, the 4 × 4 LED array exhibited the most extensive propagation distances, achieving 16.30 m at 1 kbps and maintaining 3.25 m at 4 kbps. These findings underscore the efficacy of increasing LED array size in enhancing propagation distance, particularly at lower data rates. The study highlights the potential of VLC systems for efficient indoor optical communication, providing valuable insights for optimizing LED configurations and receiver technologies in future applications.