| Outcome/accomplishment:
Researchers at the NSF-funded Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center
(ERC), headquartered at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, have
developed a time- and expense-saving modeling tool to explore the potential
of a type of lighting that doubles as a wireless data transmitter.
Impact/benefits:
Rather than going through the hassle and expense of fabricating a prototype
lighting setup, a communications engineer can use an ERC-created software
tool called Communication and Lighting Emulation Software (CandLES) to
identify specific bottlenecks affecting performance and to target design
improvements where they are most effective. CandLES allows engineers
to simulate real-world parameters virtually, without physical testing.
Explanation/ background:
Since white LEDs can be
rapidly switched and finely controlled, they can be used for both room
illumination and data communication (known as visible light communications,
or VLC). But instead of immediately building prototypes and installing
such systems, researchers can rely on CandLES.
Prior to prototyping, CandLES
predicts the communication and illumination performance of a system design
within a speci_ed environment. To accomplish this, CandLES integrates models
for modulation, LED, optics, channel, noise, receivers and electronics
into a single software package. The software evaluates communications performance
including achievable data rate, error rate, and coverage, as well as lighting
performance with respect to how well the lighting illuminates a given area.
The power of CandLES as a design tool lies in its ability to simultaneously
consider all the individual components as well as the system as a whole. |
