Optimizing Indoor Visible Light Communication Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Multi-LED Configurations

Visible Light Communication (VLC) utilizes LEDs to transmit data through visible light, offering an alternative to traditional RF systems. This study develops a model for indoor VLC environments, focusing on key factors such as illuminance distribution, received power, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. The research examines how different transmitter setups—single, four, and five LED configurations— affect system performance, with particular attention to the bit error rate (BER) for two modulation schemes: On-Off Keying (OOK) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16-QAM). The findings show that multi-LED setups provide enhanced reliability, especially in diffuse propagation scenarios common in NLOS environments. Multi-LED configurations deliver better illuminance distribution and higher SNR, making them suitable for complex indoor environments. However, single- LED setups offer lower BER at higher SNR levels, demonstrating superior performance for simpler setups where direct communication paths are available. The study also compares modulation schemes, finding that OOK is more resilient to noise and achieves lower BER, particularly in single-LED configurations, while 16-QAM offers higher data throughput but is more susceptible to errors in lower SNR conditions. The trade-offs between wider coverage and increased BER in multi- LED setups indicate that configuration must be tailored to specific environmental conditions and system goals. This research contributes to the optimization of VLC systems, suggesting that while multi-LED setups are better suited for complex environments requiring broader coverage, single-LED configurations are more efficient in simpler scenarios where minimizing errors is crucial. The study's insights are expected to facilitate the wider adoption of VLC technology, particularly in secure indoor communication systems where RF signals face challenges like interference and limited bandwidth.