VLC MIMO LED Array Segmentation for High-Speed Data Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current visible light communication (VLC) technologies face challenges in increasing transmission rates, particularly with cameras in mobile devices, which typically have frame rates less than 100 frames per second, resulting in communication rates below 1 Mb/s, failing to meet the growing data requirements.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining and utilizing multiple data transmit array elements from light emitting diodes (LEDs) to send data to corresponding receive array elements, enabling Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication, thereby increasing the communication rate by sending multiple channels of data in parallel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single data transmit array element and single data receive array element are used for VLC communication, then the device complexity is low, but the communication rate is limited to less than 1 Mb/s

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication rateVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the LED array into multiple independent data transmit array elements and the camera sensor into multiple data receive array elements. Each element pair forms an independent communication channel, allowing parallel data transmission. This segmentation enables MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) communication, increasing the overall communication rate from less than 1 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If camera frame rate is less than 100 frames/second, then the camera can operate within power consumption limits, but the VLC transmission rate remains below 1 Mb/s

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVLC transmission rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple communication channels by combining multiple data transmit array elements and multiple data receive array elements into a unified MIMO communication system. This merging allows parallel transmission of multiple data streams simultaneously, achieving a cumulative transmission rate of 10 Mb/s without requiring each individual channel to operate at higher frame rates, thus avoiding excessive power consumption while still meeting high-speed communication requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly enhances the VLC transmission rate from less than 1 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s, effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies by utilizing LEDs in devices like smartphones for improved data transfer.

Implementation Method 1

a light source such as a light emitting diode (light emit diode, LED) is used to send a signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LED: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a light detection device such as a photodiode (photo diode, PD) or an avalanche photodiode (avalanche photo diode, APD) is used to receive a signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3700104B1Communication method and device related thereto
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3700104B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3700104B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3700104B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a communication method and a related device. The method includes: obtaining, by a first device, first target information; determining, by the first device based on the first target information, a data transmit array element from light emitting diodes LEDs of the first device, where each data transmit array element of the first device includes at least one LED; and sending, by the first device, to-be-sent data to a data receive array element of a second device by using the data transmit array element, where each data receive array element of the second device includes at least one LED of the second device. Implementation of the method according to the embodiments of the present invention helps increase a VLC transmission rate.