Wireless data by light in miniature: Fraunhofer unveils the Li-Fi TinySpot module
Fraunhofer IPMS has developed a Li-Fi module weighing just one gram that transmits data by light at up to 20 megabits per second while drawing as little as 5 milliwatts.
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The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS in Dresden has presented Li-Fi TinySpot, a particularly small optical transceiver. It transmits data wirelessly using light instead of radio and is intended for devices where space and energy are scarce, such as sensors, wearables and embedded systems. The module measures 15 by 21 by 3.3 millimetres and weighs one gram.
TinySpot reaches up to 20 megabits per second in both directions simultaneously, with a latency of 170 nanoseconds. Range varies from a few centimetres to several metres depending on transmit power and field of view; power consumption starts at 5 milliwatts. The module is eye-safe (Class 1), connects via the common UART and SPI interfaces and can replace older infrared interfaces based on the IrDA standard.
"Li-Fi TinySpot shows how optical communication can be scaled down for compact embedded systems," says Dr René Kirrbach, group leader for Li-Fi at Fraunhofer IPMS. The module was developed in the "CommUnity" project of the Micro/Nano High Performance Center.