System concept (via Oustanding Technology)
Outstanding Technology unveiled their line of Visual Light Communication (VLC) devices at this year’s LED Next Stage conference held in Tokyo. The unveiling focused on two devices set for commercial use that takes advantage of an LED location service, called the Commulite System, to transmit data instead of using a Wi-Fi signal. The gadgets are visible light transceivers and are essentially the same with the only difference between both are how they connect (one uses a USB connection and the other to a headphone jack) to mobile devices.
Dubbed the TR01, the visible light transceiver uses a Visilink photo detector along with what appears to be a LEC-RP SM1C-E receiver module that’s equipped with ‘light condensing’ functions which is capable of grabbing data through weak and indirect light-sources. The gadget works by obtaining ID’s from the Commulite LED transmitter (at about 500Mb/s) which enables the recipient to garner information on their relevant location. An example would be getting information about an exhibit while walking through a museum or getting in-depth information on products while shopping.
Outstanding Technology’s VLC system could also be used as a communication system for submarines and space-based vehicles that have a hard time getting radio signals due to EMI (Electro-magnetic interference) or other RF obstacles. While the company’s VLC system is certainly sounds useable for mobile device communication, it’s definitely not the first system to use VLC for practical applications. A building in St. Cloud Minnesota had the LVX System (LED visual communication system) installed back in 2010 to replace Wi-Fi congestion in their offices. However, Outstanding Technology is taking the concept everywhere, outside the box - so to speak.
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