Berlin Team Sets Far UVC Data Speed Record
Far-UVC LED with lens and reflector. The hermetically sealed housing ensures enhanced reliability and robustness in demanding operating environments.© FBH/schurian.com
Researchers from the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) in Berlin, working with partners at the University of Strathclyde and the University of Cambridge, have achieved a new milestone in optical wireless communication. Using novel far UVC LEDs developed at FBH, the team transmitted data at speeds of up to 1.5 gigabits per second.
According to a press release, the result sets a record for wireless optical communication at wavelengths below 235 nanometers. The breakthrough could help address a growing challenge: the increasing demand for reliable wireless connectivity in applications such as autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial machinery, robotics and civil protection systems.
One key advantage of far UVC communication is its ability to operate in a spectral range where virtually no solar radiation reaches the Earth's surface. This means outdoor optical links can function with almost no interference from sunlight, a problem that affects systems based on visible or infrared light.
The researchers optimized the LEDs for high optical power and fast modulation. By dividing the emitting surface into many smaller sections, they increased the devices' modulation bandwidth and improved their suitability for high speed data transmission.
The experimental system achieved the record data rate over a distance of 30 centimeters with a direct line of sight between transmitter and receiver. The tests were carried out under normal indoor lighting conditions.
The next step is to investigate communication over longer distances and without a direct line of sight. Researchers believe atmospheric scattering of far UVC light could allow signals to reach receivers even when obstacles block the transmission path, potentially opening up new use cases for optical wireless communication.