Characterization of an Optical Wireless Communication System

Presenter: Giovani H. DeOliveira

Faculty Sponsor: Michael Rahaim

School: UMass Boston

Research Area: Engineering

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A79

ABSTRACT

This research introduces a modular framework for the characterization of Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) systems to understand how system components will impact a transmitted waveform. The first goal of this work is to develop a dataset for different modular combinations of components. The second goal is to provide accessible documentation for others to follow with their dedicated OWC system components and signals. This characterization work defines a structured, repeatable procedure where collected data is reliable for simulation in software such as GNURadio. This process applies, observes, and quantifies characteristics such as linearity, frequency response, and emission/reception patterns, all of which are dependent on the specific combination of system components. Linearity ensures signal clarity by maintaining the LED within an ideal voltage range, improving Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) while minimizing distortion and interference. Frequency response characterizes each system component, such as the Low Pass Filter and DC Block, and their impact on different frequency components of the signal. Emission and reception patterns provide insight into coverage and angle-dependent effects as they help define appropriate network deployment to create systems with good coverage and redundancy. In summary, this data collection procedure eliminates the need for researchers to develop characterization methods for each experiment, reducing setup time and ensuring a common database for future evaluation and comparison. 

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