A Universal VLC Modulator for Retrofitting LED Lighting and Signage

A universal visible light communication (VLC) modulator design is presented in this paper. The modulator is used to retrofit LED lighting and signage to enable VLC by connecting it between the LED driver output and LED lighting input. The modulator can work with both major types of LED drivers, i.e., constant current type and constant voltage type, and can support a wide input voltage range. Experiments are conducted to verify the modulation function and its impact on the light intensity of the luminaire.