A

Project report
On
Audio Transmission Using Li-Fi
Submitted in the partial fulfillment of B-Tech degree in Electronics and
Communication Engineering from Rajasthan Technical University, Kota

Submitted to:

Submitted by:

Prof. Danveer Rajpal

HOD (ECE.)

Mohit Bishnoi
Roll No.:13EVEEC015
B.Tech.VII Sem.

VYAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Department of Electronics & Communication

VYAS INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING &

TECHNOLOGY
Department of Electronics & Communication

Certificate
This is to certify that Mr. Mohit Bishnoi, student of IV
year B. Tech VII semester, Department of Electronics &
Communication Engineering has completed the minor project on
Audio Transmission using Li-Fi for partial fulfillment of B. Tech
course for the session 2015-16 under the guidance of Mr. Saurabh
Pareek.

Saurabh Pareek
Assistant Professor

Danveer Rajpal
HOD (ECE)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my profound gratitude towards the esteemed faculty members and
fellow students whose immense help and support enabled me to complete this project. I
would like to extend my gratefulness towards Mr. Saurabh Pareek (Asst. Prof.), who was
there to guide me at each step along the way. His advice and suggestions at different points of
time during the project became stepping stones for me.
I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Asharam Suthar and Mr. Dhanuprakash Purohit. It was
because of their skillful teaching and instruction that I have been able to successfully
complete this project. I would not have been able to do half as much as I have done without
their meticulous instructions and careful help. They taught me everything that I could have
learnt in the course of this project. They were always very critical of my mistakes, and
because of their constructive critical nature I have been able to learn so much in the
laboratory. They were always very considerate of me and gave me independence to work in
the laboratory.
I would also like to thank Mr. Danveer Rajpal, Head of Department of ECE, for providing
the basic infrastructural facilities in the department to successfully finish this project.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the immeasurable guidance and valuable insights I
received from all the faculty members which helped me through these years of pursuing
Bachelors.

Name: Mohit Bishnoi

Roll no.:13EVEEC015

VIET(ECE),JODHPUR

PREFACE

Whether youre using wireless internet in a coffee shop, stealing it from the guy next door, or
competing for bandwidth at a conference, youve probably gotten frustrated at the slow
speeds you face when more than one device is tapped into the network. As more and more
people and their many devices access wireless internet, clogged airwaves are going to make
it increasingly difficult to latch onto a reliable signal. But radio waves are just one part of the
spectrum that can carry our data. What if we could use other waves to surf the internet? One
German physicist, DR. Harald Haas, has come up with a solution he calls Data Through
Illuminationtaking the fiber out of fiber optics by sending data through an LED light bulb
that varies in intensity faster than the human eye can follow. Its the same idea behind
infrared remote controls, but far more powerful. Haas says his invention, which he calls DLight, can produce data rates faster than 10 megabits per second, which is speedier than your
average broadband connection. He envisions a future where data for laptops, smartphones,
and tablets is transmitted through the light in a room. And security would be a snapif you
cant see the light, you cant access the data. Li-Fi is a VLC, visible light communication,
technology developed by a team of scientists including Dr. Gordon Povey, Prof. Harald Haas
and Dr. Mostafa Afgani at the University of Edinburgh. The term Li-Fi was coined by Prof.
Haas when he amazed people by streaming high definition video from a standard LED lamp,
at TED Global in July 2011. Li-Fi is now part of the Visible Light Communications (VLC)
PAN IEEE 802.15.7 standard. Li-Fi is typically implemented using white LED light bulbs.
These devices are normally used for illumination by applying a constant current through the
LED. However, by fast and subtle variations of the current, the optical output can be made to
vary at extremely high speeds. Unseen by the human eye, this variation is used to carry highspeed data, says Dr. Povey, Product Manager of the University of Edinburgh's Li-Fi
Program D-Light Project I have made this report file on the topic Li-Fi Technology; I have
tried my best to elucidate all the relevant detail to the topic to be included in the report. While
in the beginning I have tried to give a general view about this topic.

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Table of Contents
S.no. Title

Page no.

1 Introduction
2 Block Diagram
2.1 Description
2.1.1 Input
2.1.2 Comparator
2.1.3 Lamp Driver
2.1.4 LEDs
2.1.5 Photo Detector
2.1.6 Amplifier And Speaker
2.1.7 Output
3 Circuit Diagram &Working
3.1 Transmitter Circuit
3.2 Circuit Working
3.3 Circuit Components
3.3.1 Power Supply
3.3.2 Capacitors
3.3.3 Resistors
3.3.4 Op-Amp IC - a 741
3.3.5 Potentiometer
3.3.6 Transistor BC 548
3.3.7 Light Source Led
3.4 Receiver Circuit
3.5 Circuit Working
3.6 Circuit Components
3.6.1 Photo Detector Solar Cell
3.6.2 Speaker
3.7 The Pcb Layout
3.7.1 Pcb Design
3.7.2 Electronic Design Automation Tools
3.7.3 Pcb Design Procedures
3.7.3.1 Drawing The Circuit Schematic
3.7.3.2 Design Rule Check And Net List
Creation
3.7.3.3 Creating The Pcb Artwork
3.7.3.4 Pcb Fabrication
3.7.3.5 Etching
3.7.3.6 Drilling
3.7.3.7 Soldering
3.7.4 Pcb Layout

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4 Comparison Between Li-Fi And Wi-Fi

5 Chapter 5-Result And Analysis
5.1 Advantages
5.1.1 Capacity
5.1.2 Efficiency
5.1.3 Availability
5.1.4 Security
5.1.5 No Limit For Connectivity
5.2 Limitations
5.2.1 Li-Fi Cannot Penetrate Through Walls
5.2.2 Requires Los.
5.3 Applications
5.3.1 Education Systems
5.3.2 Medical Applications
5.3.3 Cheaper Internet In Aircrafts
5.3.4 Underwater Applications
5.3.5 Disaster Management
5.3.6 Applications In Sensitive Areas
5.3.7 Traffic Management
5.3.8 Replacement For Other Technologies
6 Conclusion
7 References

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List of Figures
S.no. Title

Page no.

1 Electromagnetic spectrum

2 Block Diagram of Li-fi

3 Audio Transmission Circuit

12

4 LM7805-Pinout Diagram

14

5 9V Battery

14

6 Capacitor

15

7 Resistor

15

8 Op-Amp IC 741

17

9 Potentiometer

18

10 BC548 Transistor

19

12 LED

19

13 LED Architecture

20

14 Receiver Circuit

21

15 Solar Cell

22

16 Speaker

22

17 Li-Fi Transmitter Layout

28

18 Li-Fi Transmitter

30

19 Li-Fi Receiver

31

List of Tables
S.no. Title
1. Resistor Color Codes
2. Comparison between current and future wireless
Technology

Page no.
16
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CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION
Over the past few years there has been a rapid growth in the utilization of the RF
region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is because of the huge growth in the number of
mobile phones subscriptions in recent times. This has been causing a rapid reduction in free
spectrum for future devices. Light-fidelity (Li-Fi) operates in the visible light spectrum of the
electromagnetic spectrum i.e. it uses visible light as a medium of transmission rather than the
traditional radio waves.
Li-Fi stands for Light-Fidelity. Li-Fi is transmission of data using visible light by sending
data through an LED light bulb that varies in intensity faster than the human eye can follow.
If the LED is on, the photo detector registers a binary one; otherwise its a binary zero. The
idea of
Li-Fi was introduced by a German physicist, Harald Hass, which he also referred to as Data
through Illumination. The term Li-Fi was first used by Haas in his TED Global talk on
Visible Light Communication. According to Hass, the light, which he referred to as DLight, can be used to produce data rates higher than 1 Giga bits per second which is much
faster than our average broadband connection. The high speed achievement of Li-Fi can be
explained using frequency spectrum of Electromagnetic Radiations. From the
electromagnetic spectrum we can see that the frequency Band of the visible light is in
between 430THz to 770THz and that of Radio Frequency Band is in between 1Hz to 3THz,
Hence the Frequency Bandwidth of the visible light is about 400 Times greater than the
Radio Frequency Bandwidth. So more Number of bits can be transferred through this
Bandwidth than in the radio frequency bandwidth. Hence Data rate will be higher in the Li-Fi
and higher speed can be achieved. Using Li-Fi we can transmit any data that can be
transferred using conventional Wi-Fi network. That can be Images, Audio, Video, Internet
connectivity, etc. but the advantages over the Wi-Fi Network Are High speed, Increased
Security, More Number of Connected Devices, and Less cost. In coming years number of
devices that support Li-Fi will hit the Market. It is estimated that the compound annual
growth of Li-Fi market will be 82% from 2015 to 2018 and to be worth over $6 billion per
year by 2018.

VIET(ECE),JODHPUR

Figure.1.1Electromagnetic Spectrum
This Mini Project discusses the implementation of the most basic Li-Fi based system to
transmit Sound signal from one device to another through visible light. The purpose is to
demonstrate only the working of the simplest model of Li-Fi with no major consideration
about the data transfer speed. This model will demonstrate how the notion of one-way
communication via visible light works, in which Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are employed
as the light sources or Transmitter antennas. The model will transmit digital signal via direct
modulation of the light. The emitted light will be detected by an optical receiver. In addition
to the demonstration purpose, the model enables investigation into the features of the visible
light and LEDs incorporated in the communication model.

CHAPTER 2-BLOCK DIAGRAM

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Figure.2.1 Block Diagram

2.1 DESCRIPTION
The basic block diagram consists of

Input from the Source

Comparator.

Lamp Driver.

LEDs.

Photo Detector.

Amplifier and Speaker.

Output at the Destination

2.1.1 INPUT
Input consists of analog signal, which is usually taken from the Audio output of the
Mobile Phone, Laptop or any other Musical Instruments. The signal will be at low voltage
level which is not enough to drive an LED, so in order to drive the LEDs we have to amplify
the signal using amplifiers.
2.1.2 COMPARATOR
The input signal from an audio device will be at low voltage level, so in order to
modulate the signal using visible light, we have to convert the signal in to a Pulse wave
format (signal representing 0 & 1). to accomplish this task, we use an Op-Amp Comparator
which uses
A 741 Op-Amp IC. The comparator compares the input signal with a reference voltage and
produces an output which will be in Pulse wave form. The pulse wave so formed is amplified
and modulated at the Lamp Driver.
2.1.3 LAMP DRIVER
The pulse wave from the comparator has to be amplified to drive the LEDs. And Modulation
of the input signal and Carrier Light signal is also taking place at the Lamp driver using a

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Transistor called BC 548, which is general purpose Silicon Transistor uses as Amplification
transistor as well as Modulation transistor.
The amplified and modulated pulse signal is used to drive the LEDs. These LEDs transmit
the modulated signals to the receiver.
2.1.4 LEDs
In Li-Fi Transmission, the most important requirement of light source is its ability to turn ON
and OFF Repeatedly in very short intervals (in ns range). So we use LEDs which have very
low switching time. These LEDs turn ON and OFF in Nano second based on the Pulse signal.
Since the switching taking at a faster rate, it cannot be detected by Human eye. So it will
appear as illuminating even though they are blinking. Thus modulated signal is transmitted to
receiver via Visible Light.
2.1.5 PHOTO DETECTOR
The transmitted signal from the LEDs has to be detected, demodulated and acknowledged.
So in order to detect the message signal from the blinking LED light, we use a photo cell or a
Solar Cell (which comprises large no of photo cells connected in series). The solar cell
detects only the variation of the light, since the blinking can be easily detected and output of
the solar cell will be the message signal in the analog form. So using solar we could detect
and demodulate the message signal transmitted.

2.1.6 AMPLIFIER AND SPEAKER

The demodulated signal will be at low voltage range. So it is Amplified to the arbitrary
voltage level using an amplifier. This amplifier will be same type of amplifier which we used
in transmitter side. This is due to the fact that if any phase errors occurred, it will be cleared
at this stage. The speaker will convert the electrical signal to the audible form using electro
magnets present in the speaker.
2.1.7 OUTPUT
The demodulated audible signal is transmitted from speaker to its final destination. So that
the audience can listen to the message that has been transmitted from the source

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CHAPTER 3-CIRCUIT DIAGRAM &WORKING

3.1 TRANSMITTER CIRCUIT

Figure.3.1.1 Li-Fi Audio Transmitter Circuit

3.2 CIRCUIT WORKING
The above figure depicts the transmitter circuit of the Li-Fi circuit. We know that carrier
waves can take signals along destinations, so this is simple concept when we put photons
with speed of light by source to destination it can also carry signals of low frequency to
destination. so we build a circuit which can modulate light with low frequency signals.
Take input from an audio device, the input will be very low audio signals of 20Hz to 20KHz.
These signals paces through C1 (100nf) where DC (Direct Current) components are filtered
and removed. Through R3 100k which is a current limit for comparator A741 (Op-Amp)
to protect it from the high current which cause destruction of the Op-Amp. Through R1
100k and R4 100k, voltage at the inverting terminal of the Op-Amp limit to 5v/2 = 2.5v.
Input signal at pin 3 of op-amp and compare with pin 2 of Op-Amp and output will be

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present at the Pin No 6 of the Op-Amp IC. 470k pot or feedback gain controller to control
volume at output of the Op-Amp If there is no input is fed to the Comparator, a Positive DC
wave will present at pin 6 of Op-Amp, which make transistor Q1 keep alive and LED starts
to glow Continuously. The Capacitors C3, C4 (Both are 470F) are filters to reduce AC
components spike in circuit.
Whenever signals interrupt through pin 3 of op-amp (input from Audio device). The
Comparator compares the input signal with the Reference Voltage and produce a Pulse wave
output at the Pin 6. The width of the pulse wave is controlled by the Input Signal Frequency.
The Pulse signal is equivalent to the ON/OFF Signal which control the intensity of the Light
Source aka LED (D1). The Pulse wave is further Amplified and Modulated using Transistor
BC548 (T1), which is an Amplifier Modulator having high current gain. The transistor will
act as a Lamp Driver and drives the LED. LED emits light according to the pulse wave form
and make VLC (Visible light communication) alive. Since the blinking of the LED is
controlled by the input signal, it will take place in Nano Seconds (ns) it cannot detect by
Human eyes.
3.3 CIRCUIT COMPONENTS
The Basic Components of the Transmitter Circuits are

Power Supply (9V Supply)

Capacitors

Resistors

Op-Amp IC - A 741

Potentiometer (Audio / Feedback Controller)

Transistor BC 548

Light Source LEDs

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3.3.1 POWER SUPPLY

The power supply is the most indispensable part of any project. IC Regulators are versatile
and relatively inexpensive and are available with features such as current/voltage boosting,

internal short circuit current limiting, thermal shutdown and floating operation for high
voltage applications. The regulated circuit is used to maintain constant output level. The
regulator IC here used is LM 7805. It provides regulated 5V to the Circuit. Its maximum
input voltage is 35V and minimum voltage is 8V. Output is Constant 5V.
The Pin out diagram of LM 7805 IC is given below
LM 7805 Have several Features; they are listed
below.
Figure.3.3.1.1 LM7805 Regulator IC
Features of LM 7805 Regulator are

Output current is up to 1.5A

Output Voltage of 5,5.2,6,8,8.5,9,12,15,18,24V

Thermal overload Protection

Short circuit Protection

Output Transition SOA Protection

Maximum input Voltage = 35V
We can also use 5V DC Cell for the power supply of the circuit.

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Figure.3.3.1.2 9V Battery

3.3.2 CAPACITORS

Figure.3.3.2.1 Capacitor
A capacitor is a two-terminal, electrical component. Along with resistors and
inductors, they are one of the most fundamental passive components we use. What makes
capacitors special is their ability to store energy; theyre like a fully charged electric battery.
Caps, as we usually refer to them, have all sorts of critical applications in circuits. Common
applications include local energy storage. Capacitance is its Unit. Not all capacitors are
created equal. Each capacitor is built to have a specific amount of capacitance. The
capacitance of a capacitor tells you how much charge it can store; more capacitance means
more capacity to store charge. The standard unit of capacitance is called the farad, which is
abbreviated F. It turns out that a farad is a lot of capacitance, even 0.001F (1 milli farad
1mF) is a big capacitor. Usually well see capacitors rated in the Pico- (10 -12) to microfarad
(10-6) range.
3.3.3 RESISTORS

Figure.3.3.3.1 Resistors
Resistors are the most commonly used component in electronics and their purpose is
to create specified values of current and voltage in a circuit. The unit for measuring
resistance is the OHM. (The Greek letter - called Omega). Higher resistance values are

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represented by "k" (kilo-ohms) and M (Mega ohms). For example, 120 000 is represented
as 120k, while
1200000 is represented as 1M. The dot is generally omitted as it can easily be lost in the
printing process. In some circuit diagrams, a value such as 8 or 120 represents a resistance in
ohms. Another common practice is to use the letter E for resistance in ohms. The letter R can
also be Resistor Markings. Resistance value is marked on the resistor body. Most resistors
have 4 bands. The first two bands provide the numbers for the resistance and the third band
provides the number of zeros. The fourth band indicates the tolerance. Tolerance values of
5%, 2%, and 1% are used. The following table shows the Color Code used to identify resistor
values.
COLOR

DIGIT

MULTIPLIER TOLERANCE

Silver

x 0.01 W

10%

Gold

x 0.1 W

5%

TC

Black

x1W

Brown

x 10 W

1%

100*10-6/K

Red

x 100 W

2%

50*10-6/K

Orange

x 1 kW

15*10-6/K

Yellow

x 10 kW

25*10-6/K

Green

x 100 kW

0.5%

Blue

x 1 MW

0.25%

10*10-6/K

Violet

x 10 MW

0.1%

5*10-6/K

Grey

x 100 MW

White

x 1 GW

1*10-6/K

Table 3.3.3.2 Resistor Color Codes

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3.3.4 Op-Amp IC - A 741

Figure.3.3.4.1 Op-Amp IC - A 741

An operational amplifier (op-amp) is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage
amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output. In this configuration,
an op-amp produces an output potential (relative to circuit ground) that is typically hundreds
of thousands of times larger than the potential difference between its input terminals.
Operational amplifiers had their origins in analog computers, where they were used to do
mathematical operations in many linear, non-linear and frequency-dependent circuits. The
popularity of the op-amp as a building block in analog circuits is due to its versatility. Due to
negative feedback, the characteristics of an op-amp circuit, its gain, input and output
impedance, bandwidth etc. are determined by external components and have little
dependence on temperature coefficients or manufacturing variations in the op-amp itself.
Op-amps are among the most widely used electronic devices today, being used in a vast array
of consumer, industrial, and scientific devices. Many standard IC op-amps cost only a few
cents in moderate production volume; however, some integrated or hybrid operational
amplifiers with special performance specifications may cost over $100 US in small
quantities. Op-amps may be packaged as components, or used as elements of more complex
integrated circuits. The op-amp is one type of differential amplifier. Other types of
differential amplifier include the fully differential amplifier (similar to the op-amp, but with
two outputs), the instrumentation amplifier (usually built from three op-amps), the isolation
amplifier (similar to the instrumentation amplifier, but with tolerance to common-mode
voltages that would destroy an ordinary op-amp), and negative feedback amplifier (usually
built from one or more op-amps and a resistive feedback network).

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Features of Op-Amp IC
Short-Circuit Protection
Offset-Voltage Null Capability.
Large Common-Mode and Differential Voltage Ranges.
No Frequency Compensation Required and Latch up
A-741is general Purpose operational amplifier.
The device exhibits high stability.
It can be configured in inverting and Non-Inverting Mode
It can be used to implement comparators, Astable, Monostable Multvibrators.
Amplifiers, etc.
3.3.5 POTENTIOMETER

Figure.3.3.5.1 Potentiometer
A potentiometer, informally a pot, is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating
contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and
the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat.
The measuring instrument called a potentiometer is essentially a voltage divider used for
measuring electric potential (voltage); the component is an implementation of the same
principle, hence its name.
Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on
audio equipment. Potentiometers operated by a mechanism can be used as position
transducers, for example, in a joystick. Potentiometers are rarely used to directly control
significant power (more than a watt), since the power dissipated in the potentiometer would
be comparable to the power in the controlled load.

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3.3.6 TRANSISTOR BC 548

Figure.3.3.6.1 BC 548 Transistor

It is general purpose silicon, NPN, bipolar junction transistor. It is used for amplification and
switching purposes. The current gain may vary between 110 and 800. The maximum DC
current gain is 800.Its equivalent transistors are 2N3904 and 2SC1815. These equivalent
transistors however have different lead assignments. The variants of BC548 are 548A, 548B
and 548C which vary in range of current gain and other characteristics. The transistor
terminals require a fixed DC voltage to operate in the desired region of its characteristic
curves. This is known as the biasing. For amplification applications, the transistor is biased
such that it is partly on for all input conditions. The input signal at base is amplified and
taken at the emitter. BC 548 is used in common emitter configuration for amplifiers. The
voltage divider is the commonly used biasing mode. For switching applications, transistor is
biased so that it remains fully on if there is a signal at its base. In the absence of base signal,
it gets completely off.
3.3.7 LIGHT SOURCE LED

Figure.3.3.7.1 LED

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The most important requirement that a light source has to meet in order to serve
communication purposes is the ability to be switched on and off repeatedly in very short
intervals. By utilizing the advantage of fast switching characteristics of LED s compared
with the conventional lightning, the LED illumination is used as a communication source.
Since the illumination exists everywhere, it is expected that the LED illumination device will
act as a lighting device and a communication transmitter simultaneously everywhere in a
near future.
Typically, red, green, and blue LEDs emit a band of spectrum, depending on the material
system. The white LED draws much attention for the illumination devices. Comparing the
LED illumination with the conventional illumination such as fluorescent lamps and
incandescent bulbs, the LED illumination has many advantages such as high efficiency,
environment-friendly manufacturing, design flexibility, long lifetime, and better spectrum
performance. LEDs emit light when energy levels change in the semiconductor diode. This
shift in energy generates photons, some of which are emitted as light. The specific
wavelength of the light depends on the difference in energy levels as well as the type of
semiconductor material used to form the LED chip. Solid-state design allows LEDs to
withstand shock, vibration, frequent switching (electrical on and off shock) and
environmental (mechanical shocks) extremes without compromising their famous long life
typically 100,000 hours or more. The basic LED consists of a semiconductor diode chip
mounted in the reflector cup of a lead frame that is connected to electrical (wire bond) wires,
and then encased in a solid epoxy lens. The architecture of LED is shown in Figure.

Figure.3.3.7.2 LED Architecture

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3.4 RECEIVER CIRCUIT

Figure.3.4.1 Receiver Circuit

3.5 CIRCUIT WORKING
The Solar cell is used to detect the Light from the Transmitting LEDs. And it
produces an Analog output corresponding to the input signal. The frequency of the analog
will be same as that of input signal, since the flickering of LED is controlled by the input
signal and solar cell detects only the fluctuation in the LED signal and produces the output.
The output is then amplified using BC 548. It also helps in removing any phase changes
occurs in the transmitted signal. The Amplified signal is fed to the speaker. The speaker
converts the analog signal to the Audible Sound signal using the electromagnet present in the
Speaker.
3.6 CIRCUIT COMPONENTS
The basic Components of the Receiver Circuits are
Photo Detector Solar cell
Transistor - BC 548
Speaker

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3.6.1 PHOTO DETECTOR SOLAR CELL

Figure.3.6.1.1 Solar Cell

A Solar cell is an electrical device that converts the energy of Light Directly to electric signal
or analog signal by the photovoltaic effect, which is a chemical physical phenomenon. When
photons are strikes on its walls electron flow occurs which will store as electrical energy. It
has slower Time response as their area increases. Solar cells are formed connecting large
Number of Photo Detectors connected in series. It works in the Reverse Biased Mode.
Usually the Efficiency of solar cell is Low. Even though it regarded as Green Technology.

3.6.2 SPEAKER

Figure.3.6.2.1 Speaker

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In this project we use Speaker which has in-built Amplifier, which Amplifies the
Analog signal received from the output of the Solar cell. It also helps to remove any phase
errors that may occurred during the Transmitting or Processing of the input signal. The main
Function of a speaker is to convert Electrical or Analog Signals in to the Audible form to
reach the Receptor. It converts the sound signal with the help of Electromagnets Present in
the Speaker. Hence the Receptor Receive the input that has been transmitted from the
Transmitter.
3.7 THE PCB LAYOUT
3.7.1 PCB DESIGN
Design of printed circuit board (PCB) can be considered as the last step in electronic
circuit design as well as the first step in production. It plays important role in the
performance and reliability of electronic circuits, the productivity of the PCBs its
assembling, and its service ability depends on design. All these factors get reflected in a piece
of electronic equipment. It is clear that task of PCB design is not very simple or always
straight forward. The schematic is follower by layout generation. Layout design is the stage
where engineering capacity combined with creativity is the governing inputs.

3.7.2 ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION TOOLS

Most product testing is being done is done with the help of computer programs. The
term Electronic Design Automation (EDA) is being used to describe the use of these tools.
With the help of advanced powerful computing systems and interactive software tools and
development of electronic circuits has undergone automation. Thus the software and
hardware tools, which enables this automation includes PCB designing, IC design, circuit
simulation etc. These tools help us in such a way that we can draw the circuit; test the
functioning of the circuit in response to test inputs in simulation software.
After successfully simulation we can get the PCB art work done by replacing the
routing software. The design automation tool used here is EXPRESS PCB.

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3.7.3 PCB DESIGN PROCEDURES

The PCB designing procedure consists of following steps:
3.7.3.1 DRAWING THE CIRCUIT SCHEMATIC

Drawing of circuit is done through EXPRESS PCB. It includes many libraries with thousands
of component symbols. We can select the required symbol from the library and place it in the
schematic page. After placing the component symbols, we can complete the interconnection
using wire or bus control. The next step is to assign part reference. Each component has to be
assigned footprint or PCB pattern name. The footprint gives the actual size physical
representation of components on the PCB artwork. The component symbol and foot symbol
should correspond in all respects.

3.7.3.2 DESIGN RULE CHECK AND NET LIST CREATION

After the circuit schematic is completed with all required information such as part
reference and footprints, the design rule check can be used for checking errors in the design.
It will check for duplicate symbols, overlapped lines and dangling lines.
After the schematic design file passes the DRC check, it is processed by a program called an
electric rule checker (ERC) that checks for writing errors. The final operation to be done
before starting PCB artwork is the net list creation.
A net list creation of the components and interconnection along with other information such
as foot prints, track width etc. A net list software or tool can take the circuit schematic as
input and generate net list. The net list can be used as an information source for the
remaining stages.
3.7.3.3 CREATING THE PCB ARTWORK

In automatic design, the net list obtained from the previous stage is used for getting the
required foot print and interconnections. The software used for the PCB artwork design in the
EXPRESS PCB.
3.7.3.4 PCB FABRICATION

You need to generate a positive (copper black) UV translucent art work film. You will
never get a good board without good art work, so it is important to get the best possible
quality at this stage. The most important thing is to get a clear sharp image with a very solid
opaque black. Art work is done using EXPRESS PCB software. It is absolutely essential that

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your PCB software prints holes in the middle of pads, which will act as center marks when
drilling. It is virtually impossible to accurately hand-drill boards without these holes. If you
are looking to buy PCB software at any cost level and want to do hand-prototyping of boards
before production, check that this facility is available when defining pad and line shapes, the
minimum size recommended (through-linking holes) for reliable result is 50 mil, assuming
0.8mm drill size; 1 mil= (1/1000) th of an inch. You can go smaller drill sizes, but through
linking will be harder. 65mil round or square pads for normal components.
ICs, with 0.8 mm hole, will allow a 12.5mil, down to 10mil if you really need to.
Center-to-center spacing of 12.5 mil tracks should be 25 mil-slightly less may be possible if
your printer can manage it. Take care to preserve the correct diagonal track-track spacing on
mitered corners; grid is 25 mil and track width 12.5mil. The art work must be printed such
that the printed side is in contact with PCB surface when exposing, to avoid blurred edges. In
practice, this means that if you design the board as seen from the component side, the bottom
(solder side) layer should be printed the correct way round, and top side of the doublesided board must be printed mirrored.

3.7.3.5 ETCHING

Ferric chloride etchant is a messy stuff, but easily available and cheaper than most
alternatives. It attacks any metal including stainless steel. So when setting up a PCB etching
area, use a plastic or ceramic sink, with plastic fitting and screws wherever possible, and seal
any metal screws with silicon. Copper water pipes may be splashed or dripped-on, so sleeve
or cover them in plastic; heat-shrink sleeve is great if you are installing new pipes. Fume
extraction is not normally required, although a cover over the tank or tray when not in use is
a good idea. You should always use the hex hydrate type of ferric chloride, which should be
dissolved in warm water until saturation. Adding a teaspoon of table salt helps to make the
etchant clearer for easier inspection. Avoid anhydrous ferric chloride. It creates a lot of heat
when dissolved. So always add the powder very slowly to water; do not add water to the
powder, and use gloves and safety glasses. The solution made from anhydrous ferric chloride
doesnt etch at all, so you need to add a small amount of hydrochloric acid and leave it for a
day or two. Always take extreme care to avoid splashing when dissolving either type of ferric
chloride, acid tends to clump together and you often get big chunks coming out of the
container and splashing into the solution. It can damage eyes and permanently stain clothing.
If you are making PCBs in a professional environment where time is money you should get a
heated bubble-etch tank. With fresh hot ferric chloride, the PCB will etch in well under 5
minutes. Fast etching produces better edge-quality and consistent line widths. If you arent

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using a bubble tank, you need to agitate frequently to ensure even etching. Warm the etchant
by putting the etching tray inside a larger tray filled with boiling water.
3.7.3.6 DRILLING

If you have fiber glass (FR4) board, you must use tungsten carbide drill bits. Fiberglass eats
normal high-speed steel (HSS) bits very rapidly, although HSS drills are alright for older
larger sizes (> 2mm). Carbide drill bits are available as straight-shank or thick-shank. In
straight shank, the hole bit is the diameter of the hole, and in thick shank, a standard size
(typically about 3.5 mm) shank tapers down to the hole size.
The straight-shank drills are usually preferred because they break less easily and are usually
cheaper. The longer thin section provides more flexibility. Small drills for PCB use usually
come with either a set of collets of various sizes or a three-jaw chuck. Sometimes the 3-jaw
chuck is an optional extra and is worth getting for the time it saves on changing collets. For
accuracy, however, 3-jaw chucks are not brilliant, and small drill sizes below 1 mm quickly
formed grooves in the jaws, preventing good grip. Below 1 mm, you should use collets, and
buy a few extra of the smallest ones; keeping one collect per drill size as using a larger drill
in a collet will open it out and it no longer grips smaller drills well. You need a good strong
light on the board when drilling, to ensure accuracy. A dichroic halogen lamp, under run at
9V to reduce brightness, can be mounted on a microphone gooseneck for easy positioning. It
can be useful to raise the working surface above 15 cm above the normal desk height for
more comfortable viewing. Dust extraction is nice, but not essential and occasional blow
does the trick! A foot-pedal control to switch the drill off and on is very convenient,
especially when frequently changing bits. Avoid hole sizes less than 0.8 mm unless you really
need them. When making two identical boards, drill them both together to save time. To do
this, carefully drill a 0.8 mm whole in the pad near each corner of each of the two boards,
getting the center as accurately as possible. For larger boards, drill a hole near the center of
each side as well. Lay the boards on the top of each other and insert a 0.8 mm track pin in
two opposite corners, using the pins as pegs to line the PCBs up. Squeeze or hammer the pins
into boards, and then into the remaining holes. The two PCBs are now nailed together
accurately and can be drilled together.
3.7.3.7 SOLDERING

Soldering is the joining together of two metals to give physical bonding and good
electrical conductivity. It is used primarily in electrical and electronic circuitry. Solder is a
combination of metals, which are solid at normal room temperatures and become liquid
between 180 and 200 degrees Celsius. Solder bonds well to various metals, and extremely
well to copper. Soldering is a necessary skill you need to learn to successfully build

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electronics circuits. To solder you need a soldering iron. A modern basic electrical soldering
iron consists of a heating element, a soldering bit (often called a tip), a handle and a power
cord.
The heating element can be either a resistance wire wound around a ceramic tube, or a thick
film resistance element printed on to a ceramic base. The element is then insulated and
placed into a metal tube for strength and protection. This is then thermally insulated from the
handle. The heating element of soldering iron usually reaches temperatures of around 370 to
400 degree Celsius (higher than need to melt the solder). The strength or power of a soldering
iron is usually expressed in watts. Irons generally used in electronics are typically in the
range of 12 to 25 watts. Higher powered iron will not run hotter. Most irons are available in a
variety of voltages; 12V, 24V, 115V and 230V are most popular.
Today most laboratories and repair shops use soldering irons, which operate at 24V. You
should always use this low voltage where possible, as it is much safer. For advanced
soldering work, you will need a soldering iron with temperature control. In this type of
soldering irons, the temperature may be usually set between 200 and 450 degrees Celsius.
Many temperature control soldering iron designed for electronics have a power rating of
around 40 to 50 watt. They will heat fast and give enough power for operation, but are
mechanically small.
You will occasionally see gas-powered soldering irons which use butane rather than the main
electrical supply to operate. They have a catalytic element which once warmed up, continues
to glow hot when gas passes over them. Gas powered soldering irons are designed for
occasional on the spot used for quick repairs, rather than for main stream construction or
for assembly work.
Currently, the best commonly available, workable, and safe solder alloy is 63/37. That is,
63% lead, 37% tin. It is also known as eutectic solder. Its most desirable characteristic is that
it solids (pasty) state, and its liquid state occur at the same temperature -361 degree
Fahrenheit. The combination of 63% lead and 37% tin melts at the lowest possible
temperature. Nowadays there is tendency to move to use lead free solders, but it will take
years until they catch on normal soldering work. Lead free solders are nowadays available,
but they are generally more expensive or harder to work on than traditional solders that they
have lead in them.
The metals involved are not the only things to consider in a solder. Flux is vital to a good
solder joint. Flux is an aggressive chemical that removes oxide and impurities from the parts
to be soldered. The chemical reactions at the point(s) of connection must take place for the
metal to fuse. RMA type flux (Rosin Mildly Active) is the least corrosive of the readily
available materials, and provides an adequate oxide. In electronics, a 60/40 fixed core solder
is used. This consists of 60% lead and 40% tin, with flux cores added to the length of solder.

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There are certain safety measures which you should keep in mind when soldering. The tin
material used in soldering contains dangerous substances like lead (40-60% of typical
soldering tins are lead and lead is poisonous). Also the various fumes from the soldering flux
can be dangerous. While it is true that lead does not vaporize at the temperature at which
soldering is typically done.
When soldering, keep the room well ventilated and use a small fan or fume trap. A proper
fume trap of a fan will keep the most pollution away from your face. Professional electronic
workshops use expensive fume extraction systems to protect their workers. Those fume
extraction devices have a special filter which filters out the dangerous fumes. If you can
connect a duct to the output from the trap to the outside, that would be great.
Always wash hands prior to smoking, eating, drinking or going to the bathroom. When you
handle soldering tin, your hands will pick up lead, which needs to be washed out from it
before it gets to your body. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working with soldering iron. Do
not place cups, glasses or a plate of food near your working area.

3.7.4 PCB LAYOUT

Figure.3.7.4.1 Li-Fi Transmitter Layout

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CHAPTER 4
4.1 COMPARISON BETWEEN Li-Fi and Wi-Fi
Li-Fi is a term of one used to describe visible light communication technology applied to
high speed wireless communication. It acquired this name due to the similarity to Wi-Fi, only
using light instead of radio. Wi-Fi is great for general wireless coverage within buildings, and
Li-Fi is ideal for high density wireless data coverage in confined area and for relieving radio
interference issues, so the two technologies can be considered complimentary.

Technology

Speed

Data Density

Wireless (Current)
Wi-Fi IEEE 150 Mbps
802.11n

Bluetooth

3 Mbps

IrDA

4 Mbps

***

Wireless (Future)
WiGig

2 Gbps

**

Giga-IR

1 Gbps

***

Li-Fi

>1Gbps

****

Table.4.1 Comparison between current and future wireless Technology

The table also contains the current wireless technologies that can be used for
transferring data between devices today, i.e. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and IrDA. Only Wi-Fi
currently offers very high data rates. The IEEE 802.11.n in most implementations provides
up to 150Mbit/s (in theory the standard can go to 600Mbit/s) although in practice you receive
considerably less than this. Note that one out of three of these is an optical technology.

CHAPTER 5-RESULT AND ANALYSIS

In our project we Designed and implemented a wireless communication device which
Transmit Audio Message wirelessly known as LIGHT FIDELITY (Li-Fi). The project
contains two sections 1 Transmitter Section and 2 Receiver Section. The transmitter

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section Modulate the incoming message audio signal and transmit towards the receiver in the
form Visible Light using LEDs. The receiver section interprets the incoming light which is
detected using a solar panel and converts to the audible sound signal with the help of
Speaker.

Figure.5.1 Li-Fi Transmitter

Figure.5.2 Li-Fi Receiver

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5.1 ADVANTAGES
Li-Fi technology is based on LEDs or other light source for the transfer of data. The
transfer of the data can be with the help of all kinds of light, no matter the part of the
spectrum that they belong. That is, the light can belong to the invisible, ultraviolet or the
visible part of the spectrum. Also, the speed of the communication is more than sufficient for
downloading movies, games, music and all in very less time. Also, Li-Fi removes the
limitations that have been put on the user by the Wi-Fi.
5.1.1 CAPACITY
Light has 400 times wider bandwidth than radio waves. Also, light sources are
already installed. So, Li-Fi has got better capacity and also the infrastructures are already
available.
5.1.2 EFFICIENCY
Data transmission using Li-Fi is very cheap. LED lights consume less energy and are
highly efficient and long lasting.
5.1.3 AVAILABILITY
Availability is not an issue as light sources are presents everywhere. There are billions
of light bulbs worldwide, they just need to be replaced with LEDs for proper transmission of
data.
5.1.4 SECURITY
Light waves do not penetrate through walls. So, they cant be intercepted and
misused.
5.1.5 NO LIMIT FOR CONNECTIVITY
The High speed capability of Li-Fi enables large number users can be connected,
since
speed will not be throttled or slowed down.
5.2 LIMITATIONS
The major Limitations of this technology are

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5.2.1 Li-Fi CANNOT PENETRATE THROUGH WALLS

The artificial light cannot penetrate into walls and other opaque materials which radio
waves can do. So a Li-Fi enabled end device (through its inbuilt photo-receiver) will never be
as fast and handy as a Wi-Fi enabled device if any obstacle is present between Transmitter
and Receiver.

5.2.2 REQUIRES LoS.

To function Li-Fi with full efficiency, It Requires Line of Sight. That is the Transmitter
Antenna and Receiver Antenna should be in a line (Face to Face).
Still, Li-Fi could emerge as a boon to the rapidly depleting bandwidth of radio waves. And it
will certainly be the first choice for accessing internet in a confined room at cheaper cost.
5.3 APPLICATIONS
There are numerous applications of this technology, from public internet access
through street lamps to auto-piloted cars that communicate through their headlights.
Applications of Li-Fi can extend in areas where the Wi-Fi technology lacks its presence like
medical technology, power plants and various other areas. Since Li-Fi uses just the light, it
can be used safely in aircrafts and hospitals where Wi-Fi is banned because they are prone to
interfere with the radio waves. All the street lamps can be transferred to Li-Fi lamps to
transfer data. As a result of it, it will be possible to access internet at any public place and
street. Some of the future applications of Li-Fi are as follows
5.3.1 EDUCATION SYSTEMS
Li-Fi is the latest technology that can provide fastest speed internet access. So, it
can replace Wi-Fi at educational institutions and at companies so that all the people can
make use of Li-Fi with the same speed intended in a particular area.
5.3.2 MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Operation theatres (OTs) do not allow Wi-Fi due to radiation concerns. Usage of WiFi at hospitals interferes with the Mobile and PC which blocks the signals for monitoring
equipment. So, it may be hazardous to the patient's health. To overcome this and to make OT
tech savvy Li-Fi can be used to accessing internet and to control medical equipment. This can
even be beneficial for robotic surgeries and other automated procedures.

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5.3.3 CHEAPER INTERNET IN AIRCRAFTS

The passengers travelling in aircrafts get access to low speed internet at a very high
rate. Also Wi-Fi is not used because it may interfere with the navigational systems of the
pilots. In aircrafts Li-Fi can be used for data transmission. Li-Fi can easily provide high
speed internet via every light source such as overhead reading bulb, etc. present inside the
airplane.
5.3.4 UNDERWATER APPLICATIONS
Underwater ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) operate from large cables that
supply their power and allow them to receive signals from their pilots above. But the tether
used in ROVs is not long enough to allow them to explore larger areas. If their wires were
replaced with light say from a submerged, high-powered lamp then they would be much freer
to explore. They could also use their headlamps to communicate with each other, processing
data autonomously and sending their findings periodically back to the surface. Li-Fi can even
work underwater where Wi-Fi fails completely, thereby throwing open endless opportunities
for military operations.
5.3.5 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Li-Fi can be used as a powerful means of communication in times of disaster such as
earthquake or hurricanes. The average people may not know the protocols during such
disasters. Subway stations and tunnels, common dead zones for most emergency
communications, pose no obstruction for Li-Fi. Also, for normal periods, Li-Fi bulbs could
provide cheap high-speed Web access to every street corner.
5.3.6 APPLICATIONS IN SENSITIVE AREAS
Power plants need fast, inter-connected data systems so that demand, grid integrity
and core temperature (in case of nuclear power plants) can be monitored. Wi-Fi and many
other radiation types are bad for sensitive areas surrounding the power plants. Li-Fi could
offer safe, abundant connectivity for all areas of these sensitive locations. This can save
money as compared to the currently implemented solutions. Also, the pressure on a power
plants own reserves could be lessened. Li-Fi can also be used in petroleum or chemical plants
where other transmission or frequencies could be hazardous.
5.3.7 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
In traffic signals Li-Fi can be used which will communicate with the LED lights of
the cars which can help in managing the traffic in a better manner and the accident numbers
can be decreased. Also, LED car lights can alert drivers when other vehicles are too close.

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5.3.8 REPLACEMENT FOR OTHER TECHNOLOGIES

Li-Fi doesnt work using radio waves. So, it can be easily used in the places where
Bluetooth, infrared, Wi-Fi, etc. are banned.

CHAPTER 6-CONCLUSION
The possibilities are numerous and can be explored further. If his technology can be
put into practical use, every bulb can be used something like a Wi-Fi hotspot to transmit
wireless data and we will proceed toward the cleaner, greener, safer and brighter future. The
concept of Li-Fi is currently attracting a great deal of interest, not least because it may offer a
genuine and very efficient alternative to radio-based wireless. As a growing number of
people and their many devices access wireless internet, the airwaves are becoming
increasingly clogged, making it more and more difficult to get a reliable, high-speed signal.
This may solve issues such as the shortage of radio-frequency bandwidth and also allow
internet where traditional radio based wireless isnt allowed such as aircraft or hospitals. The
main shortcoming however is that it only work in direct line of sight.
6.1 FUTURE SCOPE
By using Li-Fi we can have Energy saving Parallelism. With growing number of
people and their many devices access wireless internet, on one-way data transfer at high
speed and at cheap cost. In future we can have LED array beside a motorway helping to light
the road, displaying the latest traffic updates and transmitting internet information to
wirelessly to passengers Laptops, Notebooks and Smart phones. This is the kind of extra
ordinary, energy saving parallelism that is believed to deliver by this pioneering technology.

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REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Fi
www.YouTube.com TED Talk by Harald Hass on Li-Fi
Li-Fi (Light Fidelity)-The future technology in Wireless communication? by Jyoti

Rani. Journal from International Journal of Applied Engineering Research (IJAER);

ISSN 0973- 4562 Vol.7 No.11 (2012)
www.lificonsortium.org/
Priyanka Dixit and Kunal Lala Li-Fi the Latest Technology in Wireless; ISBN

978817515738
seminarprojects.com/s/seminar-report-on-lifi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Fi
http://teleinfobd.blogspot.in/2012/01/what-is-lifi.html
technopits.blogspot.comtechnology.cgap.org/2012/01/11/a-lifi-world/
www.lificonsortium.org/
the-gadgeteer.com/2011/08/29/li-fi-internet-at-thespeed-of-light/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Fi
www.macmillandictionary.com/buzzword/entries/Li- Fi.html
dvice.com/archives/2012/08/lifi-ten-ways-i.php
Will Li-Fi be the new Wi-Fi? New Scientist, by Jamie Condliffe, dated 28 July 2011
http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Li-Fi
Visible-light communication: Tripping the light fantastic: A fast and cheap optical
version of Wi-Fi is coming, Economist, dated 28Jan 2012

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