Sep 11 2013
pureVLC today announced another breakthrough in the world of light fidelity (Li-Fi) by showing that it does not require a line-of-sight connection. In simple terms, Li-Fi is equivalent to Wi-Fi, but using light waves instead of radio signals.
Simultaneous bi-directional video using reflected light. (Photo: Business Wire)
At the beginning of August, pureVLC announced the world’s first high-speed, bi-directional Li-Fi system as part of their revolutionary product strategy. This work complemented the world’s fastest visible light communications (VLC) link developed by its strategic partner, the University of Edinburgh, as part of the Ultra-Parallel Visible-Light-Communications project under the guidance of Prof. Harald Haas, Chief Science Officer at pureVLC.
Long believed to be the Achilles heal of Li-Fi technology, today, pureVLC has proven that Li-Fi does not require a line-of-sight connection between the transmitter and receiver. Indeed, engineers at pureVLC showed that Li-Fi can operate by using incident light (which includes reflections). The work was conducted in conjunction with the UK’s leading jet engine manufacturer and demonstrated that Li-Fi can achieve the same high speed performance from reflections. pureVLC is the first company to demonstrate high-speed Li-Fi from a reflection, streaming four videos in parallel.
This breakthrough opens a world of possibilities when considering the commercial applications of Li-Fi. By relying on incident light rather than just direct line-of-sight, Li-Fi can penetrate in diverse market segments, from aircraft cabins, to museums, everyday offices and more.
“We are moving forward with big strides. Our engineering efforts are paying dividends and we are very encouraged to see our vision of Li-Fi being realised. Our focus remains on developing our technology as a fully-functional network offering in heterogeneous wireless networks, essential for indoor networking and cellular offload. This achievement only adds to the versatility of our products and proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that pureVLC products can deliver on the Li-Fi promise. We have an aggressive product roadmap that will lets us deliver OEM products to established industry partners”, stated David Kirk, pureVLC Chairman.
About pureVLC and UoE
pureVLC is a spinout of the UoE. The institution has a rich heritage of invention in wireless communications, dating back to the early days of Alexander Graham Bell. Through Prof. Harald Haas, it is the leader in research into Li-Fi.