Ethernet-over-OWC Using VCSELs: Transparent Gigabit Links with Low Latency and Robust Alignment Tolerance

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a bidirectional 1 Gbps Ethernet link over free space using VCSELs, achieving low latency, error-free operation, and robust alignment with commercially available components.

Contribution

It introduces a fully transparent, low-latency optical wireless communication system using VCSELs with practical alignment tolerance.

Findings

Error-free 1 Gbps Ethernet over 1 meter free space

Latency less than 25 nanoseconds

Robust alignment tolerance at centimeter scale

Abstract

We demonstrate a fully bidirectional 1 Gbs Ethernet over OWC link over a 1m free space path using a VCSEL-PIN pair and only commercially available components. The unamplified, transparent system achieves error-free operation, with a latency of less than 25 ns, and a centimetre-scale alignment tolerance.