Infrared Data Systems
Jeff Welch
jpwelch@spectrixcorp.com
www.spectrixcorp.com
220 Terrace Drive
Mundelein, IL 60060
847.837.8650
Fax: 847.837.8670
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Infrared Data Systems - Introduction
 TV Remote Controls give incorrect image of IR
 High profile IrDA limits view of IR as short distance Point-n-Shoot
 Diffuse IR serves applications requiring:
 greater distances than IrDA
 multiple access, multi-point communications
 less concern for line-of-sight and orientation of device
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse Infrared Applicability
Aircraft Cabins Present an Ideal
Environment for Diffuse-Light Communications
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
What is Diffuse IR?
 Classification of Infrared Transmitters
 narrow beam: infrared laser
 directed: narrow Field of View (FOV) -- like a flashlight
 diffuse: wide FOV -- like an unshaded light bulb
 Classification of Infrared Receivers
 narrow Field of View (FOV) detectors using imaging
optics
 wide FOV: detectors using non-image optics
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
What is the Spectrix System?
 Wireless Diffuse Infrared network
 Aviation-compliant under ARINC 763 (IEEE 802.11
interoperability)
 IEEE 802.3 compatible
 4 Mbps bandwidth (10-16 Mbps in Y2000)
 Secure and non-interfering communications
 Supports up to 250 wireless nodes per LAN segment
 16,000 square feet coverage per LAN segment
 Guaranteed service levels
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Spectrix Wireless Diffuse Infrared Network
8-16 Port Infrared Hub
Base
Station
Infrared Antenna
Network Interface Card &
SpectrixLite Interface Card
PEDs
Ethernet Cabling
250 per LAN Segment
Docking Portable PC
on Ethernet LAN
Fixed Workstation
on Ethernet LAN
4/13/2015
1,000 sq.ft. per Antenna
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse Infrared Network Cabin Implementation
4/13/2015
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Today’s Spectrix Network Configuration
SpectrixLite
WindowsNT TCP
/IP
Server
NetWare
Server
ODI
(IPX)
NIC
Wireless
LAN
Adapter
SpectrixLite
NDIS
Driver
Windows
98/95/NT/3.x
Platforms
Base Station
NIC
SpectrixLite
Network
Manager
Ethernet
UNIX
Host
4/13/2015
TCP
/IP
Ethernet
NIC
Filtering
Bridge
Function
IR Hub
Antenna
NIC
Wireless
LAN
Adapter
SpectrixLite
ODI
DOS Platform
Driver
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Next-Generation Spectrix System
SpectrixLite
WindowsNT TCP
Server
/IP
NetWare
Server
ODI
(IPX)
NIC
Wireless
LAN
Adapter
NIC
PC Card
Dongle
Ethernet
SpectrixLite
Network Manager
4/13/2015
SpectrixLite Windows 2000/
NDIS
98/95/NT/3.x
Driver
Platform
IR Hub
Windows
Platform
TCP
/IP
NIC
UNIX
Host
TCP
/IP
NIC
Antenna
PC Card
Dongle
Wireless
LAN
Adapter
SpectrixLite
ODI
Driver
DOS Platform
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse IR Applications
 Commercial Aviation (Cabin LAN “C-LAN”)
 Secured Military Installations
 Offices
 Financial Trading Floors
 Classrooms
 Hospitals
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The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse IR Compared to FastIR
4/13/2015
Diffuse IR
FastIR
 Transmitter FOV:
Diffuse (120º)
Directed (30º)
 Receiver FOV:
Wide (120º)
Narrow (30º)
 Communications:
Multi-point
1-to-1
 Link Range
16.5 m
1m
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse IR compared to Radio Frequency
4/13/2015
Diffuse IR
RF
 Data Rate:
4-16 Mbps
2 Mbps
 RF Interference:
Not Applicable
Inclined
 Security:
Contained
Hackable
 Regulation:
Open/Publicly
Available
Crowded/License
Required
 Health-Safety Concerns:
No
Maybe
 Location Reporting:
Yes
No
The wIReless LAN for people in motion
Diffuse IR LAN Designs
 IEEE 802.3 - Cabled Ethernet LANs

MAC Protocol: CSMA/CD
(Carrier Sense, Multiple Access/Collision Detection)
 IEEE 802.11 - Wireless LANs

MAC protocol: CSMA/CA
(Carrier Sense, Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance)




Roaming
Hidden Nodes
IR Modulation: 16-PPM (1Mbps) and 4-PPM (2 Mbps)
10 meters
 Spectrix

MAC Protocol: TDMA
(Time Division, Multiple Access with Deterministic Reservation & Polling)




4/13/2015
IR Modulation: RTZBI (4-16 Mbps)
Roaming
Supports large number of nodes (250/LAN segment)
16.5 meters
The wIReless LAN for people in motion