MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

IF you want the original copy of this document please mail me at

Gmail: Sasiach5@gmail.com
Facebook: Juppy_man@live.com

Abstract
Now a days Speed of the internet is major issue. It is necessary to get right information at the
right time and right place which, requires fast internet connectivity. Li-Fi is a wireless optical
networking technology that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) for transmission of data. Li-fi is
typically implemented using white LED light bulbs. These devices are normally used for
illumination by applying constant current through the LED. VLC using LEDs is emerging as a
key technology for a ubiquitous communication system, because LED has the advantages of fast
switching, long life expectancy, being less expensive and being visible light that is safe for the
human body. The intensity of light varies at a very high rate and cannot be followed by human
eye. Li-Fi provides better bandwidth, efficiency, availability and security than Wi-Fi and has
already achieved high speeds in the lab. LI-Fi can be used in such area where radio waves are
problematic such as in aircrafts cabins, hospitals and nuclear power plant without using
electromagnetic interference.
Keywords: Light Fidelity, Visible Light Communication, Wi-Fi, LED, communication with
Laser light, Optocoupler.

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
2. Working Principle of LI-FI ......................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Architecture of LIFI .............................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Technical Aspects and Modulation ....................................................................................... 4
2.3. Demodulation ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.4. LED as Light Source ............................................................................................................ 6
2.5. Signal encoding and decoding ............................................................................................. 6
2.6. Differential Manchester encoding........................................................................................ 8
3. Comparison of LI-fi with other Technology............................................................................. 10
4. Advantages of Li-Fi .................................................................................................................. 10
5. Disadvantages of Li-Fi .............................................................................................................. 11
6. Applications of LI-FI ................................................................................................................ 11
7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 13
References ................................................................................................................................. 14

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LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

List of Figures
Figure 1: Principle of Li-Fi technology ......................................................................................... 2
Figure 2 Architecture of Li-fi ......................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3 Six step process of data transmission using Li-Fi ............................................................ 6
Figure 4 modulation scheme using Manchester encoding .............................................................. 7
Figure 5 Signal simulation .............................................................................................................. 8
Figure 6: The Differential Manchester Coding ............................................................................... 9
Figure 7 Comparison of Li-Fi with other technology ................................................................... 10

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LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

1. Introduction
Li-Fi is a wireless optical networking technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data
transmission. Li-Fi bulbs are outfitted with a chip that modulates the light imperceptibly for
optical data transmission. Professor Harald Haas coined the term LI-fi and is also recognized as
the founder of Li-Fi and co-founder of pure Li-fi. He gave a demonstration in which he used a
table lamp with an LED bulb to transmit a video of a blooming flower that was then projected
onto a screen at the TED Global conference in Edinburgh on 12th July 2011. During the talk, he
periodically blocked the light from the lamp with his hand to show that the lamp was indeed the
source of the video data [1]. The LED has been studied as a future energy-saving light source.
LEDs are solid-state electronics, meaning they can be controlled in much the same way as any
other electronic component, and switched at a high speed. It uses light instead of radio waves to
transmit information. Visible light communication (VLC) is a data communications medium
using visible light between 400 THz (780 nm) and 800 THz (375 nm). A microchip is added to
any humble LED bulb, making it blink on and off at a phenomenal speed, millions of times per
second. Light frequency can be altered by encoding different data channels by using red, green
and blue LEDs which gives maximum speed of 10 Gbps. Li-Fi Technology has higher potential,
it is very much possible to transmit the data via light by changing the flicker rate that provide
different strings of 1 and 0, and its intensity is modulated so quickly that the human eyes cannot
notice. There are around 19 billion light emits worldwide, which in turns may be replaced by
LED [2]. This technology uses LED for transmission and Optocoupler for reception [3].

2. Working Principle of LI-FI

The Li-Fi consist of LED bulbs, photo detector, amplifier and data processing circuitry. The
white LED light bulb is used at the downlink transmitter. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be
switched on and off faster than the human eye can detect since the operating speed of LEDs is
less than 1 s, thereby causing the light source to appear to be continuously on. This invisible
on-off activity enables data transmission using binary codes. The operational procedure is very
simple-, if the LED is on, it transmit a digital 1, if its off it transmit a 0. The LEDs can be
switched on and off very quickly, which gives nice opportunities for transmitting data. It is

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

possible to encode data in light by varying the rate at which LEDs flicker on and off to give
different strings of 1s and 0s.
This method of using rapid pulses of light to transmit information wirelessly is technically
referred to as Visible Light Communication (VLC).The term Li-Fi has been inspired due to its
potential to compete with conventional Wi-Fi.
Data rates of greater than 100 Mbps can be achieved by using high speed LEDs with adequate
multiplexing. Parallel data transmission using arrays of LEDs where each LED transmits a
separate stream of data can be used to increase the VLC data rate.

Figure 1: Principle of Li-Fi technology [2]

2.1 Architecture of LIFI

The architecture of Li-Fi consists of server, streaming content power, Lamp Driver, Led lamp,
Photo detector, amplication & processing and receiver app.

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

Figure 2 Architecture of Li-fi

The internet data is encoded in the LED lamp through a controller, which converts that data into
a series of flashing and dimming light that the human eye is too slow to see. Li-Fi needs two
voltages power i.e. +12V & +5V, as working voltages. Here Atmel AT89 series is use for micro
controller it is an series of Intel 8051 compatible of 8 bit microcontroller due to industry
standards Atmel89 has become very popular as microcontroller and it is low in cost compare to
AT90 series it is powerful. A switch connected with lamp driver and LED lamp also connected
this lamp driver through fiber optics cable. Here the main purpose of lamp driver is to turns the
LED on and off, or dims and brightens it. Also the driver is used to transmit encoded data by
controlling the LED light. Opto Coupler acts as isolation between input and output main reason
for using optocoupler is there will be a rapid changes in voltage and circuit from damaging
components near LED optocoupler is connected as light source which converts electrical signal
into light. Electric current flowing from power supply is modulated and generates electrical
energy. The light sensitive device photo detector receives the signal and converts it back into
original data. The photo detector registers a binary one when the LED is on; and a binary zero if
the LED is off same as microprocessor [4]. This photo detector senses light and converts into the
respected pulses [5]. The pulses received from the photo detector are then amplified and
processed to achieve the original data stream [5].

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

2.2 Technical Aspects and Modulation

Visible Light Communication (VLC) refers to any use of the visible light portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum to transmit information. A VLC interest group is certified by the IEEE
802.15 with the final standard being approved in 2011. The standard of VLC specifies VLC
consisting of mobile-to-mobile (M2M), fixed-to-mobile (F2M) and infrastructure-to-mobile
(I2M) communications. The main purpose of VLC is to focus on medium-range communications
for intelligent traffic systems at low-speed and on short-range mobile to mobile and fixed to
mobile communications at high speeds to exchange data. Data rates are supported from some
100 kbps up to 100 Mbps using various modulation schemes [6].
In order to actually send out data by means of LEDs, it is required to modulate these into a
carrier signal. The carrier signal consists of light pulses sent out at short intervals.
Li-Fi systems use the following different modulation schemes:
1. On-Off Keying (OOK): The 802.15.7 standard uses Manchester coding so that the period of
positive pulses is same as the period of negative ones, however this doubles the bandwidth
required for transmission. For higher bit rates, run length limited (RLL) coding is used which is
spectrally more efficient [1].
2. Variable Pulse Position Modulation (VPPM): PPM encodes the data using the position of the
pulse within a set time period. The duration of the period containing the pulse must be long
enough to allow different positions to be identified [1].
3. Colour Shift Keying (CSK): This is used if the illumination system uses RGB-type LEDs. By
combining different colors of light, the output data can be carried by the color itself and hence
the intensity of the output can be near constant. Mixing of RGB primary sources produces
different colors which are coded as information bits [1].
4. Sub-Carrier Inverse PPM (SCIPPM): This method is divided into two parts (1) sub-carrier part
and (2) DC part. The DC part is used only for lighting or indicating. When there is no
requirement for lighting or indicating, SCPPM (Sub-Carrier PPM) is used in order to save energy
[1].

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

5. Frequency Shift Keying (FSK): In this method, data is represented by varying the frequencies
of the carrier signal. Before transmitting two distinct values (0 and 1), there needs to be two
distinct frequencies [1].
6. SIM-OFDM (Sub-Carrier Index Modulation OFDM): This is a new approach to transmission
in which an additional dimension is added to conventional 2D amplitude/phase modulation
(APM) techniques such as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and amplitude shift keying
(ASK). The key idea is to use the sub-carrier index to convey information to the receiver [1].
In Li-Fi system, which is based on visible light communication, data is modulated on the light
source using modulation techniques like pulse position modulation or frequency shift keying. In
the receiver end demodulation is performed using pulse position modulation technique to fetch
the data back from the light source [4].
So it forms a six step process

Read data from Sender

Modulation

Transmit data using Light Source (LED)

CMOS/CCD

Demodulation

Received Data

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

Figure 3 Six step process of data transmission using Li-Fi

2.3. Demodulation
Since this technology is in research phase no proper demodulation scheme has been successfully
used. This means that one way transmission of data is possible till now. We can only encode the
data to send from lamp driver to the communicating devices but we cannot send back the data
from communicating devices to the lamp driver. Pure li-fi team are working to find out the
process for bidirectional transmission of data.

2.4. LED as Light Source

The most important requirement for a light source in order to serve communication purposes is
the ability to be switched on and off repeatedly in very short intervals of time. Due to their
ability to be switched on and off rapidly, LEDs are suitable light sources for Li-Fi. LEDs offer
many benefits over fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps such as higher efficiency,
environment-friendly manufacturing, and flexibility of design, longer useful lifetimes and
improved spectrum performance [1].
LEDs emit light when the energy levels change in the semiconductor diode. This change in
energy generates photons, some of which are emitted as light. Solid-state design allows LEDs to
withstand vibration, shocks, frequent switching and extremes of environment without
compromising their long useful lives of typically more than 100,000 hours [2]. The basic LED
consists of a semiconductor diode chip mounted in the reflector cup of a lead frame that is
connected to electrical (wire bond) wires, and then encased in a solid epoxy lens. The variations
in data rate with the size of LEDs are very important in Li-Fi technology [8]. The micro LED
bulbs allow the light stream to be beamed in parallel thereby transmitting huge amounts of data
in terms of Gbps [9].

2.5. Signal encoding and decoding

A simple way to encode the data bits that does not affect the perceived lighting is Manchester
encoding of the bits. In Manchester encoding a bit is not represented as a steady state of the
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Shashi Shekhar Acharya

signal but as a variation. For example a bit with value one will be encoded by the signal going
from the low state to the high state and a zero will be encoded by the signal going from the high
state to the low state [8].

Figure 4 modulation scheme using Manchester encoding

In the Figure 4 the data to encode is the binary number 1010010, reading from left to right. The
coding occurs on every falling edge of the clock. On the first falling edge of the clock, the coded
signal has a LOW to HIGH transition, because the data is HIGH. On the second falling edge of
the clock, the code has a HIGH to LOW transition because the data is LOW. The same algorithm
is applied for the rest of the signal [8].
Manchester encoding uses the inversion at the middle of each bit interval for both
synchronization and bit representation. By using a single transition for a dual purpose,
Manchester encoding achieves the same level of synchronization as RZ but with only two levels
of amplitude. Like all other coding methods, Manchester code follows an algorithm to encode
data. This algorithm goes like this: The data are represented NOT by logic 1 or 0, but with line
transitions. A logic 0 is represented by a transition from HIGH to LOW, and a logic 1 is
represented by a transition from LOW to HIGH [8].
Data Conversion Module converts data into bytes so that it can be represented as a digital signal.
It can also encrypt the data before conversion. Whereas Transmitter Module generates the
corresponding on-off pattern for the LEDs.

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

Figure 5 Signal simulation

The receiver is just composed of a LED wired between analog input 0 and ground. A parallel
resistor of 1Mohm is added to the LED to avoid capturing noise on the analog input. Using a
LED to receive light is possible. In this case the LED will generate a small current which in turn
generate a voltage thanks to the LED serial resistor and the ADC input impedance. The
interesting things is that the LED is very selective, meaning that a blue LED will only capture
blue light (same for red and green). A white LED won't work as a white LED is just a blue LED
with phosphor coating.
At the receiver side the receiver Module has a photo diode to detect the on and off states of the
LEDs. It captures this sequence and generates the binary sequence of the received signal.
Similarly data Interpretation Module converts data into the original format. If encryption was
done, it also performs decryption.

2.6. Differential Manchester encoding

The transmission line is kept HIGH when no data is sent (before Start and after End). There are 2
encoding methods: The first is the "Transition on LOW" and the second is the "Transition on
HIGH". Both methods work exactly the same. In the middle of each clock pulse, a transition
occurs, regardless of the bit that was sent or is about to be sent. A data bit is send during each
negative clock transition. If the data bit is 0, then a polarity transition occurs (if was HIGH it
goes LOW, and if it was LOW it goes HIGH), otherwise the line remains unchanged [10].

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

Figure 6: The Differential Manchester Coding

Here the data that is transmitted is the binary '10011101' (starting from left to right). Each data
bit is transmitted during negative transition of the clock. Between each bit transmission, the code
line changes polarity. This is done to help the receiver recreate the clock signal and synchronize
with the transmitter. Here the "Transition on LOW" method. This means that when a bit is
transmitted, if this bit is ZERO the data line changes polarity. Otherwise, if the bit is 1 the data
line polarity remains unchanged [10].
Suppose that to transmit this byte (10011101), the code line is HIGH. The transmission is
initiated by pulling the code line LOW. After half a pulse, the output is pulled HIGH. This is part
of the synchronization transition that occurs every middle of a bit transmission. Half a pulse
next, the first bit is transmitted. The first bit is 1 (starting from left), so the code line polarity
remains unchanged. After half a pulse, the code line polarity changes state and goes LOW. After
one full pulse, the second bit is about to be transmitted. This bit is the 0, so the code line changes
polarity and goes HIGH. The same algorithm is used to transmit all 8 bits of the data. Finally, the
code line is pulled HIGH and the transmission ends [10].

MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

3. Comparison of LI-fi with other Technology

TECHNOLOGY

SPEED

DATA

CONNECTION

DATA

DENSIT

MEDIUM

RATER/RANGE

WIRELESS (CURRENT)
WIFI-IEEE

54 Mbps-

802.11 N

600 Mpbs

BLUETOOTH

2,4 Ghz to 5.4 Ghz

3.0 TO 25
Mbps

INFRARED

Wireless radio

Wireless

1 Mhz Up to 100 Meter

**

24

Bi directionally
***

115 kbps to 4 Mbps

Wireless single

WIRELESS (Future)
Giga - WIFI

2Gbps

***

Radio wave

GIGA IR

1Gbps

****

Infrared

LI - FI

> 1 Gbps

****

Light

5 Ghz to 80 Mhz
125 MByte/Sec 3 Meter
70 Mbps

Figure 7 Comparison of Li-Fi with other technology [6]

4. Advantages of Li-Fi
The Li-Fi technology is based on all kinds of light. The light belongs to the invisible, ultraviolet
or visible part of spectrum, hence no matters the part of the spectrum they belong. This gives the
high speed for the communication purpose, downloading movies, games, music and all
applications more than sufficient. The worldwide present light needs to be replaced by LEDs for
proper transmission data, which makes it cheaper and can be used as free data hotspot [9]. It is
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LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

more secure and have no burden of hacking since it does not penetrate through the walls. It can
be used in areas like aircraft cabins, hospitals and nuclear power plant where radio waves are
problematic. The light can passes through see too so can be useful in undersea explorations.

5. Disadvantages of Li-Fi
Internet cannot be used without a light source. This could limit the locations and situations in
which Li-Fi could be used. Because it uses visible light, and light cannot penetrate walls, the
signal's range is limited by physical barriers. Similarly other sources of light may interfere with
the signal. One of the biggest potential drawbacks is the interception of signals outdoors.
Sunlight will interfere the signals, resulting in interrupted Internet [9]. Another main problem
with LI-Fi is that a whole new infrastructure for Li-Fi would need to be constructed.

6. Applications of LI-FI
Lights are an essential part of operating rooms and Li-Fi can thus be used for modern medical
instruments. Moreover, no electromagnetic interference is emitted by Li-Fi and thus it does not
interfere with any medical instruments such as MRI scanners. Thus it can be effectively used in
medical and health care. Airlines and aviation contains multiple lights where Li-Fi can be used
for data transmission. Wi-Fi is not suitable for sensitive areas like power plants. However, power
plants still require fast and interconnected data systems for monitoring grid intensity, demand,
temperature etc. Li-Fi offers a safe alternative to electromagnetic interference due to radio waves
in environments such as petrochemical plants and mines. Since all the vehicles are fitted with
different back and rare LED lights thus, Li-Fi can be used for effective vehicle-to-vehicle as well
as vehicle-to-signal communications [10].
The Li-Fi Consortium provides the fastest wireless data transfer technology presently available.
Our current solutions offer effective transmission rates of up to 10 Gbps, allowing a 2 hour
HDTV film to be transferred in less than 30 seconds. This can be extended to several 100 Gbps
in future versions. Street lamps can in the future be used to provide Li-Fi hotspots and can also
be used to control and monitor lighting and data [7]. Laptops, tablets, smart phones and various
other mobile devices can interconnect with each other using Li-Fi, much like they interconnect

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Shashi Shekhar Acharya

today using Wi-Fi [5]. These short range links provide very high data rates as well as increased
security. Also Li-Fi is very well suited for indoor wireless communication and data transmission.
The possibilities are numerous and can be explored further. If this technology can be put into
practical use, every bulb can be used something like a Wi-Fi hotspot to transmit wireless data
and we will proceed toward the cleaner, greener, safer and brighter future. The concept of Li-Fi
is currently attracting a great deal of interest, since with this enhanced technology, a growing
number of people and their many devices access wireless internet, on one way, transmit data at
higher rates and on the other it is very cheap as compared with Wi-Fi [6].

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LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

7. Conclusion
Li-Fi is the most ideal solution for effective data transmission due to its basic building block:
Light. Inexhaustible, accurate, fast, safe and cost effective, Li-Fi could potentially be the
successor of Wi-Fi upon further development. Since light is the main source for transmission we
can have clean and green and bright environment. It eliminates the issues related to the speed of
the internet. The unique physical properties of light promise to deliver very densely-packed highspeed network connections resulting in orders of magnitude improved user data rates. Based on
these very promising results, it seems that Li-Fi is rapidly emerging as a powerful wireless
networking solution to the spectrum crisis, and an enabling technology for the future Internet-ofEverything. This may also solve the shortage of radio frequency bandwidth and allow high speed
internet. Implementing this technology data download become fast which also helps in cloud
storage of data. Though it has the criticism such that the technology is limited to direct line-ofsight transmission (though light reflected off walls can be used to bounce signal into a room or
area) but this is increasingly a problem for next-generation Wi-Fi signals as well. LiFi is
definitely the future in wireless communication.

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MSC_CSIT

LI-FI Technology

Shashi Shekhar Acharya

References
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Light," International Journal of Advance Research in Computer Science and Management
studies, p. 1, june 2015 .
[2] M. Mutthamma, "A survey on Transmission of data through illumination - Li-Fi,"
International Journal of Research in Computer and Communication Technlogy, p. 1430,
December- 2013.
[3] P. G. Priyanka Tupe- Waghmare, "Voice Activated Li-Fi Operated Surveillance System,"
International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development, p. 1, Oct-Nov
2015.
[4] S. U. Gupta, "Research on Li-Fi Technology& Comparison of Li-Fi/Wi-Fi," International
Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering, vol. 5, no.
6, p. 2, june 2015.
[5] N. V. Swami, "Li-Fi (LIGHT FIDELITY) THE CHANGING SCENARIO OF
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION," IJRET: International Journal of Research in
Engineering and Technology.
[6] P. B. Puneet Kumar Bhardwaj, "A Comparative Study of Wireless Future Communication
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and Communication Engineering, pp. 89-90, August 2014.
[7] P. (. Y. Singh, "A Comparative and Critical technical Study of the Li-Fi," International
Journal of IT, Engineering and Applied Sciences Research, vol. 2, pp. 2-3, April 2013..
[8] D. Y. singh, "Critical Technical Aspect and Extensuve Research Study of the Light
Fiedelity," International Journal OF IT, Engineering and Applied Sciences Research, pp.
11-12, September 2013.
[9] A. J. A. Amna Mohammed Elzain, "Design of Manchester Digital to Digital Encoding Data

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Transmission," IOSR Journal of Engineering (IOSRJEN), vol. 5, no. 2, p. 2, Feb, 2015.

[10] G.

Lazaridis,

"pcheaven.com,"

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[Online].

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[11] P. T. Anuradha Gupta, "Li-Fi: The Future Technology," International Journal of Advanced
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[12] P. R. O. S. B. Arya.V.1, "Lifi: The Future Technology in Wireless," International Journal
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