System design of tactical communications with Solar Blind Ultraviolet Non Line-of-Sight systems

Abstract

Recent advances in component technology now make it possible to exploit of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum for short range, medium bandwidth, low probability of intercept (LPl) communications. BAE Systems will report on analysis of hardware and phenomenology for the near term application of Solar Blind Ultraviolet Non Line-of-Sight Communications (SB UV NLOS Comm). Communications in the presence ofRadio Frequency (RF) interference from Counter-lED jamming is a formidable challenge for our war-fighters on the battlefield of today and the future. Here we discuss approaches to exploit the Solar Blind (SB) Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum to provide a short range (-500m), medium bandwidth (28.8 kbps), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), networked communications system as an alternative to traditional RF communications systems.

Survey of ultraviolet non-line-of-sight communications

“…Finally, [58,59] present work related to more-recently developed operational NLOS UVC systems. Although [58] focuses on a general design analysis, including the novel use of a nonimaging UV concentrator that alters the effective FOV of the receiver to comprise impinging rays with elevation angles from −20 • to 60 • , a set of hand-held battery-powered transceivers with practical form factors are referenced, and the demonstration of UV voice communication is reported at more than 80 and 600 m for NLOS and LOS configurations, respectively. Meanwhile, [59] discusses an operational NLOS UVC link using a system based on a computer-hosted software radio, the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP).…”

Solar-Blind Optical Wireless Communications Over 80 Meters Using a 265-nm High-Power Single-Chip DUV-LED Over 500 mW in Sunlight

“…Daniel et al [11] also used micro-LED technology and designed a wavelength division multiplexing UV communication system based on three-band light sources, and finally achieved high-speed communications of 10 Gbps at a distance of 0.5 meters. NLOS communications capabilities have also greatly developed with data rates close to Mbps and ranges of hundreds of meters [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]. Theoretical models for estimating the performance of communication links based on Rayleigh and Mie scattering have also been extensively studied [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24].…”

High Data Transfer Rate Spatial Division Multiplexing for Short Range non-Line-of-Sight Ultraviolet Optical Transmission

“…In the OWC systems, solar blindness and strong scattering propagation in the atmosphere make NLOS wireless optical links feasible in ultraviolet (UV) spectrum [4]- [8]. In addition, the rapid development of ultraviolet devices based on semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photon multiplier tubes (PMTs) has promoted various researches on short-range UVC systems [9], [10]. In the latest UVC experimental systems, the achievable data rate of LOS UVC within a few meters has reached gigabits per second (Gbps) [11]- [14], while that of NLOS UVC is only up to kilobits per second (Mbps) [15], [16].…”