Towards the use of re-configurable intelligent surfaces in VLC systems : beam steering

Ndjiongue, Alain R. and Ngatched, Telex M. N. and Dobre, Octavia A. and Haas, Harald (2021) Towards the use of re-configurable intelligent surfaces in VLC systems : beam steering. IEEE Wireless Communications, 28 (3). pp. 156-162. ISSN 1536-1284 (https://doi.org/10.1109/MWC.001.2000365)

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Abstract

The emergence of visible light communication (VLC) technology as a solution to solve radio frequency impediments, such as spectrum shortage, is continuously appealing. In addition to its large and unlicensed bandwidth, VLC provides a high level of security in a closed room with zero radio frequency interference. However, loss of the VLC signal is experienced when the receiver rotates or moves. This challenge requires a special solution for integration into portable devices. On the other hand, re-configurable intelligent surface (RIS) is a technology exploited in radio frequency to solve dead zones and loss of signal. RIS elements are characterized by tunable physico-chemical characteristics including physical depth and refractive index. In this article, we exploit these RIS attributes to steer the incident light beam, offer the VLC receiver a large range of rotation angle, and improve its field-of-view. We show that instead of using convex, parabolic, or spherical lenses, adopting a meta-lens with artificial muscles or a thin-film Liquid-Crystal with embedded Titanium dioxide nano-disk, a VLC receiver can detect light rays at a high incidence angle with high precision and considerable improvement in the detected light intensity, even with a miniaturized single photodetector.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:78100
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    5 July 2021
    Published
    23 April 2021
    Accepted
    Notes:© 2021 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting /republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
    Subjects:Technology > Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
    Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Electronic and Electrical Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:08 Oct 2021 14:34
    Last modified:23 Apr 2024 12:44
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/78100
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