Biomedical subjects

Shlomi Arnon

Publications and source records attributed to Shlomi Arnon.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Non-line-of-sight optical wireless sensor network operating in multiscattering channel.

Networks of sensors are envisaged to be major participants in future data-gathering systems for civilian and military applications, including medical and environmental monitoring and surveillance, home security, agriculture, and industry. Typically, a very large number of miniature sensing and communicating nodes are distributed ad hoc at the location of interest, where they establish a network and wirelessly communicate sensed data either to one another or to a base station using various network topologies. The optical modality is a potential solution for the links, due to the small and lightweight hardware and low power consumption, as well as other special features. Notably, the backscattering of light by molecules and aerosols in the atmosphere can function as a vehicle of communication in a way similar to the deployment of numerous tiny reflecting mirrors. The scattering of light at solar-blind ultraviolet wavelengths is of particular interest since scattering by atmospheric particles is significant and ambient solar interference is minimal. In this paper we derive a mathematical model of a simple and low-cost non-line-of-sight (NLOS) optical wireless sensor network operating in the solar-blind ultraviolet spectral range. The viability and limitations of the internode link are evaluated and found to facilitate miniature operational sensor networks.

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PubMed2006

Evaluation of coherence interference in optical wireless communication through multiscattering channels.

Optical wireless communication has been the subject of much research in recent years because of the increasing interest in laser satellite-ground links and urban optical wireless communication. The major sources of performance degradation have been identified as the spatial, angular, and temporal spread of the propagating beam when the propagation channel is multiscattering, resulting in reduced power reception and intersignal interference, as well as turbulence-induced scintillations and noise due to receiver circuitry and background illumination. However, coherence effects due to multipath interference caused by a scattering propagation channel do not appear to have been treated in detail in the scientific literature. We attempt a theoretical analysis of coherence interference in optical wireless communication through scattering channels and try to quantify the resultant performance degradation for different media. We conclude that coherence interference is discernible in optical wireless communication through scattering channels and is highly dependent on the microscopic nature of the propagation medium.

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PubMed2006

Analysis of the performance of a wireless optical multi-input to multi-output communication system.

We investigate robust optical wireless communication in a highly scattering propagation medium using multielement optical detector arrays. The communication setup consists of synchronized multiple transmitters that send information to a receiver array and an atmospheric propagation channel. The mathematical model that best describes this scenario is multi-input to multi-output communication through stochastic slow changing channels. In this model, signals from m transmitters are received by n receiver-detectors. The channel transfer function matrix is G, and its size is n x m. G(i,j) is the transfer function from transmitter i to detector j, and m > or = n. We adopt a quasi-stationary approach in which the channel time variation has a negligible effect on communication performance over a burst. The G matrix is calculated on the basis of the optical transfer function of the atmospheric channel (composed of aerosol and turbulence elements) and the receiver's optics. In this work we derive a performance model using environmental data, such as documented turbulence and aerosol models and noise statistics. We also present the results of simulations conducted for the proposed detection algorithm.

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PubMed2005

Second-generation laser firefly clusters: improved scheme for distributed sensing in the atmosphere.

We present an improved concept of laser firefly clustering for atmospheric probing, elaborating on previous published work. The laser firefly cluster is a mobile, flexible, and versatile distributed-sensing system, whose purpose is to profile the chemical and the particulate composition of the atmosphere for pollution monitoring, meteorology, detection of contamination, etc. The fireflies are deployed in situ at the altitude of interest and evoke a backscatter response from aerosols and molecules in the immediate vicinity by using a coded laser signal. The enhanced, second-generation system affords better performance at lower energy cost and has a considerably increased scope of application. A numerical example demonstrates the potential of the innovative system.

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PubMed2005

Performance of a laser microsatellite network with an optical preamplifier.

Laser satellite communication (LSC) uses free space as a propagation medium for various applications, such as intersatellite communication or satellite networking. An LSC system includes a laser transmitter and an optical receiver. For communication to occur, the line of sight of the transmitter and the receiver must be aligned. However, mechanical vibration and electronic noise in the control system reduce alignment between the transmitter laser beam and the receiver field of view (FOV), which results in pointing errors. The outcome of pointing errors is fading of the received signal, which leads to impaired link performance. An LSC system is considered in which the optical preamplifier is incorporated into the receiver, and a bit error probability (BEP) model is derived that takes into account the statistics of the pointing error as well as the optical amplifier and communication system parameters. The model and the numerical calculation results indicate that random pointing errors of sigma(chi)2G > 0.05 penalize communication performance dramatically for all combinations of optical amplifier gains and noise figures that were calculated.

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PubMed2005

Performance improvement of optical wireless communication through fog with a decision feedback equalizer.

Optical wireless communication (OWC) systems use the atmosphere as a propagation medium. However, a common problem is that from time to time moderate cloud and fog emerge between the receiver and the transmitter. These adverse weather conditions impose temporal broadening and power loss on the optical signal, which reduces the digital signal-to-noise ratio (DSNR), produces significant intersymbol interference (ISI), and degrades the communication system's bit error rate (BER) and throughput. We propose and investigate the use of a combined adaptive bandwidth mechanism and decision feedback equalizer (DFE) to mitigate these atmospheric multipath effects. Based on theoretical analysis and simulations of DSNR penalties, BER, and optimum system bandwidths, we show that a DFE improves the outdoor OWC system immunity to ISI in foggy weather while maintaining high throughput and desired low BER.

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PubMed2004

Optimization of a laser satellite communication system with an optical preamplifier.

We derive a model that optimizes the performance of a laser satellite communication link with an optical preamplifier in the presence of random jitter in the transmitter-receiver line of sight. The system utilizes a transceiver containing a single telescope with a circulator. The telescope is used for both transmitting and receiving and thus reduces communication terminal dimensions and weight. The optimization model was derived under the assumption that the dominant noise source was amplifier spontaneous-emission noise. It is shown that, given the required bit-error rate (BER) and the rms random pointing jitter, an optimal transceiver gain exists that minimizes transmitted power. We investigate the effect of the amplifier spontaneous-emission noise on the optimal transmitted power and gain by performing an optimization procedure for various combinations of amplifier gain and noise figure. We demonstrate that the amplifier noise figure determines the optimal transmitted power needed to achieve the desired BER but does not affect the optimal transceiver telescope gain. Our numerical example shows that for a BER of 10(-9), doubling the amplifier noise figure results in an 80% increase in minimal transmitted power for a rms pointing jitter of 0.44 microrad.

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PubMed2003

Optical wireless communication through fog in the presence of pointing errors.

Terrestrial optical wireless communication (OWC) is emerging as a promising technology, which makes connectivity possible between high-rise buildings and metropolitan and intercity communication infrastructures. A light beam carries the information, which facilitates extremely high data rates. However, strict alignment between the transmitter and the receiver must be maintained at all times, and a pointing error can result in a total severance of the communication link. In addition, the presence of fog and haze in the propagation channel hampers OWC as the small water droplets scatter the propagating light. This causes attenuation due to the resultant spatial, angular, and temporal spread of the light signal. Furthermore, the ensuing low visibility may impede the operation of the tracking and pointing system so that pointing errors occur. We develop a model of light transmission through fogs of different optical densities and types using Monte Carlo simulations. Based on this model, the performance of OWC in fogs is evaluated at different wavelengths. The handicap of a transceiver pointing error is added to the model, and the paradoxically advantageous aspects of the transmission medium are exposed. The concept of a variable field of view receiver for narrow-beam OWC is studied, and the possibility of thus enhancing communication system performance through fog in an inexpensive and simple way is indicated.

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PubMed2003

Performance of an optical wireless communication system as a function of wavelength.

Optical wireless communication (OWC) is gaining acceptance in an increasing number of sectors of science and industry, owing to its unique combination of features: extremely high bandwidth, rapid deployment time, license- and tariff-free bandwidth allocation, and low power consumption, weight, and size. However, the major drawback of OWC in terrestrial applications is the threat of downtime caused by adverse weather conditions, such as fog and haze. Several researchers have proposed and developed communication systems that use far-IR radiation to mitigate weather effects. In this study we analyze the performance of a short-distance terrestrial OWC system as a function of wavelength. A mathematical model for OWC link performance is derived. Using this model, we perform a simulation of our system under different weather conditions. From the results of our calculations, the improvement of link availability for 10 microm compared with 0.785-1.55 microm for a distance of 1-km propagation is 0.2% (99.6-99.8%). This modest improvement should be considered relative to the complexity and cost of quantum cascade laser transmitters and far-IR receivers.

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PubMed2003

Effects of atmospheric turbulence and building sway on optical wireless-communication systems.

Urban optical wireless communication (UOWC) systems are considered a last-mile technology. UOWC systems use the atmosphere as a propagation medium. To provide a line of sight the transceivers are placed on high-rise building. However, dynamic wind loads, thermal expansion, and weak earthquakes cause buildings to sway. These sways distort the alignment between transmitter and receiver, causing pointing errors, the outcome of which is fading of the received signal. Furthermore, atmospheric turbulence causes fluctuations in both the intensity and the phase of the received signal, resulting in impaired link performance. A bit-error probability (BEP) model is developed that takes into account both building sway and turbulence-induced log amplitude fluctuations (i.e., fading of signal intensity) in the regime in which the receiver aperture, D0, is smaller than the turbulence coherence diameter, d0. It is assumed that the receiver has knowledge about the marginal statistics of the signal fading and the instantaneous signal-fading state.

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