KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

CASE STUDY
ON

Color Shift Keying (CSK) in Li-Fi Communication

Project Members: Supervisor:

Samip Aryal (31025) Bijaya Shrestha
Yagya Bahadur Shahi (31073) DoEEE, KU
Sameer Subedi (31052)

June 2024
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION............................................................................................2
1.1 Importance of Modulation........................................................................................2
CHAPTER II: DIGITAL MODULATION TECHNIQUES..................................................3
1.2 Binary Amplitude Shift Keying...............................................................................3
1.3 Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK).................................................................3
1.4 Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK).........................................................................4
1.5 Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK).................................................................5
1.6 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)............................................................6
CHAPTER III: Color shift keying (CSK) in li-fi communication.........................................8
1.7 Li-Fi Communications..............................................................................................8
1.8 Color Shift Keying (CSK) Overview......................................................................9
1.9 CSK modulation Process.........................................................................................9
1.10 Types of Modulation Schemes within CSK..........................................................10
1.11 CSK usage within Li-Fi.........................................................................................12
1.12 Future Prospects of Li-Fi.......................................................................................14
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................15
References.............................................................................................................................16
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1:Binary amplitude shift keying..................................................................................3

Figure 2: binary frequency shift keying.................................................................................4
Figure 3: Binary phase shift keying........................................................................................5
Figure 4: Quadrature Phase Shift Keying...............................................................................6
Figure 5: Constellation Diagram............................................................................................6
Figure 6: Quadrature amplitude shift keying.........................................................................7
Figure 7: x-y-z color matching function.................................................................................9
Figure 8: color space and constellation triangle...................................................................10
Figure 9: General block diagram for CSK modulation in Li-Fi..........................................12
 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

Modulation involves two key signals: a low-frequency message signal and a high-
frequency carrier signal. The carrier signal, being a high-frequency sinusoidal wave, can
travel much farther than the baseband signal. Modulation is a fundamental process in
communication systems, where a high-frequency sinusoidal carrier signal is varied
according to the instantaneous value of the information-bearing (message) signal. This
process is essential for effectively transmitting information over longer distances.
Modulation is divided into two parts: Analog Modulation and Digital Modulation. The
analog modulation is divided into three types: amplitude modulation, frequency
modulation, and phase modulation whereas digital modulation is divided into four types:
Binary Amplitude Shift Keying (BASK), Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK), Binary
Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM).
In analog communication systems, modulation is categorized into amplitude modulation
(AM) and angle modulation (frequency and phase modulation). For digital communication,
modulation schemes encode digital information into the amplitude, phase, or frequency of
the transmitted signal. Digital modulation techniques include Binary Amplitude Shift
Keying (BASK), Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK), Binary Phase Shift Keying
(BPSK), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
(QAM).

1.1 Importance of Modulation

Modulation plays a critical role in communication systems:

 Antenna Size Reduction: The size of the antenna is inversely proportional to the
frequency of the transmitted signal.
 Increased Communication Range: Higher frequencies allow for greater
transmission distances.
 Multiplexing: Enables the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals.
 Noise Reduction: Modulation can improve signal robustness against noise and
interference.

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 CHAPTER II: DIGITAL MODULATION TECHNIQUES

Digital modulation involves the encoding of digital information into a carrier signal's
amplitude, frequency, or phase. It is an essential aspect of modern digital communication
systems, ensuring efficient data transmission over various media. Below are the key digital
modulation techniques discussed in the document, including their equations and brief
explanations:

2.1 Binary Amplitude Shift Keying

In Binary Amplitude Shift Keying, binary data is represented by switching the amplitude of a
carrier signal. Specifically, a binary '1' is represented by a sinusoidal carrier signal of a
fixed amplitude, while a binary '0' is represented by the absence of the carrier signal.

Carrier signal:𝑐(𝑡) = 𝐴c cos (2𝜋𝑓c𝑡)

Ac cos (2πfc t), for binary ′1′
ASK modulated signal: 𝑠(𝑡) = {
0, for binary ′0′

Figure 1:Binary amplitude shift keying

2.2 Binary Frequency Shift Keying (BFSK)

Binary Frequency Shift Keying distinguishes binary symbols '1' and '0' by using two
different frequencies. Each binary digit is represented by a different frequency of the carrier
wave.

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Carrier signals: 𝑐1(𝑡) = 𝐴c cos (2𝑓1𝑡) and 𝑐2(𝑡) = 𝐴C 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝑓2 𝑡)
𝐴𝑐 √(2𝐸b/𝑇b) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝜋𝑓1𝑡), for binary ′1′
BFSK modulated signal: s(t) = {
Ac √(2𝐸b/𝑇b), for binary ′0′

Figure 2: binary frequency shift keying

2.3 Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK)

Binary Phase Shift Keying encodes binary data by shifting the phase of the carrier wave.
A binary '1' might be represented by one phase, and a binary '0' by another phase, typically
differing by 180 degrees.

- Signals: 𝑠1(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐 √(2𝐸𝑏/𝑇𝑏) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝑓𝑐 𝑡) for binary '1' and

𝑠2(𝑡) = − 𝐴𝑐 √(2𝐸𝑏/𝑇𝑏) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝑓𝑐 𝑡) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 ′0′
- Basis function: 𝛷0(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐√(2/𝑇𝑏) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝑓𝑐 𝑡)

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 Figure 3: Binary phase shift keying

2.4 Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK)

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying modulates data by altering the phase of the carrier signal.
QPSK uses four distinct phases to represent data, allowing the transmission of two bits per
symbol.

- QPSK signal:
𝑆𝑛(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐√(2𝐸𝑏/𝑇𝑏) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + (2𝑛 − 1) 𝜋/4) 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 𝑇
- Basis functions:
𝛷1(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐 √(2/𝑇𝑏) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2𝑓𝑐 𝑡) and 𝑡2(𝑡 ) = 𝐴𝑐 √(2/𝑇𝑏) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (2𝑓𝑐𝑡)

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 Figure 4: Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

Figure 5: Constellation Diagram

2.5 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM)

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation combines both amplitude and phase modulation. In
QAM, each symbol is represented by a specific phase and amplitude. This technique allows
for more efficient data transmission and higher data rates. Quadrature Amplitude
Modulation combines both amplitude and phase modulation. In QAM, each symbol is
represented by a specific phase and amplitude. This technique allows for more efficient
data transmission and higher data rates. QAM signal representation involves both phase
and amplitude, typically illustrated using constellations (e.g., 16QAM).

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Figure 6:Quadrature amplitude shift keying

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 CHAPTER III: COLOR SHIFT KEYING (CSK) IN LI-FI
COMMUNICATION

3.1 Li-Fi Communications

Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) is a wireless communication technology that utilizes visible light to
transmit data, offering advantages over traditional Wi-Fi such as increased bandwidth and
potential for high-speed transmission. Li-Fi employs light emitting diodes (LEDs) as
visible light transmitters, allowing for intensity modulated direct detection (IM/DD)
modulation techniques. Single carrier modulation techniques are straightforward for Li-Fi,
but they require computationally complex equalization processes in frequency-selective
Li-Fi channels. Multicarrier modulation techniques, including Color shift keying (CSK),
offer a more efficient solution for Li-Fi in terms of power, spectral efficiency, and
computational complexity. CSK is particularly important in Li-Fi as it allows for data
transmission by modulating the intensity of different color LEDs, enabling higher data rates
and spectral efficiency [1].

Advantages of Li-Fi:

1. High Data Rates: Li-Fi can achieve data rates of up to several Gbps due to the large
bandwidth available in the visible light spectrum.
2. Security: Visible light does not penetrate walls, making Li-Fi communication
secure from eavesdropping.
3. No Electromagnetic Interference: Li-Fi does not interfere with radio frequencies,
making it suitable for environments like hospitals and airplanes.
4. Spectrum Availability: The visible light spectrum is much larger than the RF
spectrum, providing more channels for communication.

Challenges:
a) Ambient Light Sensitivity: Ambient light sources can interfere with the transmitted
signals, requiring robust filtering and signal processing techniques.
b) Line-of-Sight Requirement: Li-Fi typically requires a clear line of sight between
the transmitter and receiver, which can limit its usability in obstructed
environments

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 Applications:
a) Indoor Networking: High-speed internet access in offices and homes.
b) Underwater Communication: Since RF signals do not propagate well
underwater, Li-Fi with CSK can be a viable alternative.
c) Secure Communication: Li-Fi is confined to a physical space, providing a layer
of security against eavesdropping.

3.2 Color Shift Keying (CSK) Overview

CSK is a form of modulation that uses changes in the color of light to convey information. It
involves varying the intensity of the Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) components of light to
create different colors, each representing a unique symbol or data bit.

Features of CSK in Li-Fi:

a) High Data Rates: By utilizing different colors, CSK can encode more bits per
symbol compared to traditional On-Off Keying (OOK).
b) Bandwidth Efficiency: CSK allows more efficient use of the available bandwidth
by multiplexing data streams across different colors.
c) Low Interference: Visible light does not interfere with radio frequency (RF)
communications, making CSK in Li-Fi an excellent complement to existing
wireless technologies.

3.3 CSK modulation Process

CSK modulates the intensity of the visible light emitted by multicolor LEDs for information
transmission. IEEE 802.15.7
defines seven colors bands (000–111) and the
wavelengths from 380 to 700 nm in the
periphery of the color space as shown in Fig.
A triangle is formed by choosing coordinates
at least one from the red (xR, yR), one from the
green (xG, yG) and one from the blue (xB, yB)
in the specified color band which represents Figure 7:x-y-z color matching function

the chromatic coordinates for different colors for x and y direction. Here we have chosen
three color bands namely (000) for B, (010) for G, and (101) for R where commercial LEDs
are available. They form vertices of the triangle shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1.
Combining the powers of three LEDs, M-combinations of white light is possible for M-

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level CSK. Three corners of the triangle provide three constellation points and the rest (M
− 3) constellation points (xn, yn) defined within the triangle [2] are related to R, G and B
chromaticity coordinates as given below.
𝑥n = (𝑥R 𝐿Rn + 𝑥G𝐿Gn + 𝑥B𝐿Bn)/(𝐿Rn + 𝐿Gn + 𝐿Bn)

𝑦n = (𝑦R𝐿Rn + 𝑦G𝐿Gn + 𝑦B𝐿Bn)/(𝐿rn + 𝐿Gn + 𝐿Bn)

Figure 8: color space and constellation triangle

Where ‘L’ represents the LED powers weighted by eye sensitivity factors are calculated on
the color matching functions and the power ratios PRn, PGn and PBn given as:

𝐿Rn = [𝑥¯ (λR) + 𝑦¯(λ R ) + 𝑧¯(λR)]𝑃Rn

𝐿Gn = [𝑥¯ (λG) + 𝑦¯(λ G ) + 𝑧¯(λG)]𝑃Rn

𝐿Bn = [𝑥¯ (λB) + 𝑦¯(λ B ) + 𝑧¯(λB)]𝑃Bn

where n= 1–M and 𝑥¯ (·), 𝑦¯ (·) and 𝑧¯(·) are colors matching functions of human eye at the

chosen wavelengths. From the values of 𝐿Rn, 𝐿Gn, 𝐿Bnand the colour matching functions,
the LED powers 𝑃Rn, 𝑃Rn, 𝑃Bn are obtained. These powers are then multiplied by the peak
powers to find the transmitted LED powers.

3.4 Types of Modulation Schemes within CSK

4-CSK Modulation
4-CSK is a modulation technique used in li-fi communication. It encodes binary data into
four distinct colors: Red, Green, Blue and Yellow. Each color represents a unique 2-bit
symbol. Data is transmitted by rapidly switching between these colors using light-emitting
diodes (LEDs). At the receiver, a photodetector detects the emitted light and decodes it
back into binary data. Data is transmitted by rapidly switching between these colors using

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light-emitting diodes (LEDs). At the receiver, a photodetector detects the emitted light and
decodes it back into binary data. The color mapping under 4-CSK is as follows:

00 -> Red (255, 0, 0)

01 -> Green (0, 255, 0)
10 -> Blue (0, 0, 255)
11 -> Yellow (255, 255, 0)

8-CSK Modulation
8-CSK (8-Level Color Shift Keying) is a modulation technique in Li-Fi communication
that encodes binary data into eight distinct colors. Each color represents a unique 3-bit
symbol, allowing for higher data rates compared to 4-CSK. Data is transmitted by rapidly
switching between these colors using LEDs. At the receiver, a photodetector detects the
emitted light and decodes it back into binary data. 8-CSK leverages the visible light
spectrum more efficiently, providing faster and more reliable wireless communication
while maintaining security and reducing RF interference. The color mapping under 8-CSK
is as follows:

000 -> Red (255, 0, 0)

001 -> Green (0, 255, 0)
010 -> Blue (0, 0, 255)
011 -> Yellow (255, 255, 0)
100 -> Cyan (0, 255, 255)
101 -> Magenta (255, 0, 255)
110 -> Orange (255, 165, 0)
111 -> Purple (128, 0, 128)

16-CSK Modulation
16-CSK (16-Level Color Shift Keying) is a modulation technique in Li-Fi communication
that encodes binary data into sixteen distinct colors. Each color represents a unique 4-bit
symbol, allowing for higher data rates compared to 8-CSK. Data is transmitted by rapidly
switching between these colors using LEDs. At the receiver, a photodetector detects the
emitted light and decodes it back into binary data. 16-CSK leverages the visible light
spectrum more efficiently, providing even faster and more reliable wireless communication
while maintaining security and reducing RF interference. [3]

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0000 -> Red (255, 0, 0)
0001 -> Green (0, 255, 0)
0010 -> Blue (0, 0, 255)
0011 -> Yellow (255, 255, 0)
0100 -> Cyan (0, 255, 255)
0101 -> Magenta (255, 0, 255)
0110 -> Orange (255, 165, 0)
0111 -> Purple (128, 0, 128)
1000 -> Light Green (144, 238, 144)
1001 -> Pink (255, 192, 203)
1010 -> Brown (165, 42, 42)
1011 -> Light Blue (173, 216, 230)
1100 -> Dark Green (0, 100, 0)
1101 -> Dark Red (139, 0, 0)
1110 -> Grey (128, 128, 128)
1111-> White (255, 255, 255)

3.5 CSK usage within Li-Fi

Color Shift Keying (CSK) is a modulation technique used in Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) systems
to encode data by varying the color of light emitted by LEDs. Here's a detailed explanation
of how CSK is used in Li-Fi, covering the transmission process, reception process, and the
modulation and demodulation steps involved.

Figure 9: General block diagram for CSK modulation in Li-Fi

Transmission Process
1. Data Input: The data to be transmitted is input to the Li-Fi transmitter. This data
can be in any digital format.

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 2. Symbol Mapping: The input data is mapped to specific symbols. In CSK, these
symbols correspond to different colors, with each color representing a unique
combination of bits.

3. Digital to Analog Conversion (DAC): The mapped symbols are converted from
digital to analog signals using DACs. Each color (Red, Green, Blue) has its
dedicated DAC.

4. LED Modulation: The analog signals from the DACs modulate the intensity of the
respective RGB LEDs. The LEDs emit light in different colors based on the input
signals, representing the encoded data.

The above figure illustrates the transmission process. The symbol mapping block converts data
into color symbols. These symbols are converted into analog signals by DACs and then
used to modulate the RGB LEDs.

Reception Process
5. Light Reception: The modulated light is transmitted through the air and received by
photodetectors at the receiver end. Each photodetector is tuned to detect specific
colors (Red, Green, Blue).

6. Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC): The received light signals are converted back
into electrical signals by the photodetectors. These signals are then converted from
analog to digital using ADCs.

7. Demodulation: The digital signals are processed to demodulate the received data.
This involves identifying the colors of the received light and mapping them back to
the corresponding data symbols.

8. Data Decoding: The demodulated symbols are decoded to retrieve the original data.
This step reverses the initial symbol mapping process, providing the final output
data.

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3.6 Future Prospects of Li-Fi

 Integration with 5G and IoT

Li-Fi technology is expected to complement 5G and IoT by providing high-speed data
links in environments where RF communication is limited or not feasible.
Integration with 5G can enhance indoor coverage and capacity.

 Advances in LED Technology

Ongoing advancements in LED technology, such as the development of high- efficiency
and high-brightness LEDs, will further enhance the performance of Li- Fi systems.
Improved LEDs can support higher modulation speeds and greater data rates.

 Development of Hybrid Li-Fi Systems

Hybrid Li-Fi systems that combine visible light communication with other wireless
technologies (e.g., RF, infrared) can offer more versatile and reliable
communication solutions. These systems can seamlessly switch between different
communication modes based on the environment and user requirements.

 Standardization and Commercialization

The standardization of Li-Fi technology by organizations such as IEEE and ITU will
drive its widespread adoption and commercialization. Standardization ensures
compatibility and interoperability among different Li-Fi devices and systems.

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 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the implementation of Color Shift Keying (CSK) in Li-Fi communication

systems presents a transformative advancement in modern digital communication. CSK
leverages the visible light spectrum to achieve high data rates, secure transmission, and
efficient bandwidth utilization. By modulating data through color variations, CSK
significantly enhances the performance of Li-Fi, making it a viable alternative and
complement to traditional wireless technologies. The ability of CSK to deliver high-speed,
secure, and interference-free communication opens numerous applications, from indoor
networking to secure communications and underwater data transfer.

Li-Fi systems using CSK are implemented in various applications such as indoor
networking, secure communication, and environments where RF interference is a concern
(e.g., hospitals, airplanes). It can also be used for underwater transmission of signals. The
ability to use existing LED lighting infrastructure for data transmission makes CSK-based
Li-Fi a cost-effective and efficient solution for high-speed wireless communication.

As digital communication continues to evolve, the adoption of CSK in Li-Fi systems is

poised to play a critical role in meeting the growing demand for high-performance, reliable,
and secure data transmission.

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 REFERENCES

[1] M. S. &. H. H. Islim, "Modulation Techniques for Li-Fi," no. ZTE Communications., 2017.

[2] S. a. R. R. D. a. L. S.-K. Rajagopal, "IEEE 802.15.7 visible light communication:

modulation schemes and dimming support," vol. 50, no. IEEE Communications Magazine,
2012.

[3] M. Pop, "Design and implementation of Color-Shift keying for visible light communications,"
no. www.academia.edu, 2016.

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