Lightbulb surfing the internet? Researchers use LEDs as Routers

Lightbulb surfing the internet? Researchers use LEDs as Routers

 

Now, WiFi is an essential thing in our life. We use it to read, entertain, work ......, The magic radio waves are carrying data that keeps moving between devices and wireless routers. However, wireless network signals are not ubiquitous. Sometimes users in complex environments, big-sized houses or villas often need to deploy wireless extenders to increase the coverage of wireless signals. Electric lights are everywhere in the room. If we can transmit wireless network signals through the light bulb, isn't it better?

Send wireless network signals via LEDs (Image Source: lighting.qianjia.com)

Professor Maite Brandt Pearce from the department of electronics and computer engineering at the University of Virginia is conducting an experiment using LEDs to send wireless signals, which is faster than the current standard network connection speed. Researchers named the project "LiFi" and sent wireless data via LED bulbs without using any additional energy. Now more and more lamps have been replaced with LED lights, in the future, LED Bulbs distributed in different locations in the home can be connected to a wireless network for Internet access.

Connect to the wireless network through a lightbulb (Image Source: storiesbywilliam ams.com)

However, Professor Maite Brandt Pearce pointed out that he should not discard the wireless routers in the house. The LED bulb emits wireless network signals and cannot replace WiFi. It is only an auxiliary means to expand the wireless network. In this way, any place in the environment where the light bulb can be installed can become a Wi-Fi access point, and the LiFi connection method is very secure. At present, some companies have begun to use LiFi technology to connect light waves of lamp to the Internet.

Will have a profound impact on IOT (Image Source: www.bkjia.com)

Using LED bulbs to send wireless signals is only a technology that has a significant impact on Iot. By connecting to the wireless network provided by the lightbulb, the coffee, refrigerator, and water heater in the house can be connected over the network. In the future, we do not need to extend the wireless network provided by the wireless router to all the rooms at home, and connect the electrical appliance to it. More convenient LiFi technology makes it really worth looking forward to when we use wireless networks at home!