Inter-building PLC-VLC integration based on PSK and CSK techniques

Abstract

This paper presents the implementation of an integration technique used to combine power line communications (PLC) and visible light communications (VLC) channels in inter-building scenarios. It considers the narrow band PLC (NBPLC). Phase-shift keying (PSK) is used to convey the information over the PLC link and colour shift keying (CSK) technique is used on the VLC link. The colour wheel method is exploited to map PSK symbols to colours. We define a parameter x, which represents different magnitudes of the PSK complex symbol observed over the PLC channel. x is adjusted to an optimal value to meet the requirement of the CSK design. The bit error rate (BER) is analysed and the performance of the system is presented for multiple values of the modulus of the detected PSK symbol. A practical implementation is performed to verify the PSK-CSK mapping method. The impact of the sun's rays on the red-green-blue (RGB) symbols is analysed and the interference source is highlighted.