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Footprint Model in a Navigation System Based on Visible Light Communication

Authors:
Paula Louro
Manuela Vieira
Manuel A. Vieira
Mirtes de Lima
João Rodrigues
Pedro Vieira

Keywords: Visible Light Communication; Indoor navigation; White LEDs; Lambertian model; navigation cell

Abstract:
Indoor navigation is hardly managed by the usual Global Positioning System (GPS) due to the strong attenuation of signals inside the buildings. Alternative based on RF optical, magnetic or acoustic signals can be used. Among the optical technologies, Visible Light Communication(VLC) provides good position accuracy. The proposed system uses commercial RGB white LEDs for the generation of the light, which is simultaneously coded and modulated to transmit information. The receiver includes a multilayered photodetector based on a-SiC:H operating in the visible spectrum. The positioning system includes multiple, identical navigation cells. Inside each cell, the optical pattern defined by the VLC transmitters establishes specific spatial regions assigned each to different optical excitations, which configures the footprint of the navigation cell. Demodulation and decoding procedures of the photocurrent signal measured by the photodetector are used to identify the input optical excitations and enable position recognition inside the cell. The footprint model is characterized using geometrical and optical assumptions, namely the Lambertian model for the LEDs and the evaluation of the channel gain of the VLC link. An algorithm to decode the information is established and the positioning accuracy is discussed. The experimental results confirmed that the proposed VLC architecture is suitable for the intended application.

Pages: 92 to 97

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2021

Publication date: November 14, 2021

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-3514

ISBN: 978-1-61208-918-8

Location: Athens, Greece

Dates: from November 14, 2021 to November 18, 2021