Consumer Infrared (CIR) vs. Li-Fi
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
Consumer Infrared (CIR) is a line-of-sight optical wireless communication standard utilizing near-infrared light (typically 940 nm or 880 nm) modulated on a 36 kHz to 56 kHz subcarrier (38 kHz nominal). Governed by established encoding protocols (NEC, Philips RC-5/RC-6, Sony SIRC), it is the global standard for televisions, audio systems, and HVAC remote controls.
Light Fidelity (Li-Fi, standardized under IEEE 802.11bb in 2023) is a high-speed, bidirectional, fully networked optical wireless communication (OWC) technology. Utilizing invisible infrared (800–1000 nm) or visible LED light emitters, it transmits data at multi-gigabit speeds with zero radio frequency (RF) emissions, immune to electromagnetic interference.
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Optical Wavelength
|
940 nm (Near-Infrared, invisible to human eye) | — |
|
Subcarrier Modulation Frequencies
|
36 kHz, 38 kHz (Dominant standard), 40 kHz, 56 kHz | — |
|
Major Protocol Formats
|
NEC (32-bit Pulse Distance), Philips RC-5 (Bi-Phase/Manchester 36 kHz), Sony SIRC (12/15/20-bit Pulse Width) | — |
|
Typical Range
|
5 to 10 m (line-of-sight / reflected indoor surfaces) | — |
|
Data Payload Rate
|
Low (~100 to 1,000 bps) | — |
|
Receiver Filtering
|
Integrated Photodiode + 38 kHz Bandpass Filter IC (e.g. Vishay TSOP series) | — |
|
IEEE Standard
|
— | IEEE 802.11bb-2023 |
|
Optical Wavelengths
|
— | 800 to 1000 nm (Near-Infrared) and 380 to 780 nm (Visible Light Spectrum) |
|
Peak PHY Data Rates
|
— | Commercial systems have demonstrated over 1 Gbps; lab demonstrations have reached far higher (a 2021 IEEE study cited up to 224 Gbps), though the 802.11bb standard itself does not fix a single peak rate |
|
Modulation Schemes
|
— | OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) with QAM/DCO-OFDM |
|
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
|
— | Zero (100% RF-free) |
|
Security Boundary
|
— | Physical room containment (Light cannot penetrate opaque walls) |
|
Primary Applications
|
— | Hospital surgical suites, defense/government SCIFs, commercial aviation cabin networking, industrial automation |