Wireless Laser Torch-Based Voice Transmitter and
Receiver 
Debnath Bhattacharyya
1*
, Bijoy Kumar Manadal
1
, Suntae Kim
2
 
 
1
Department of Computer Science and Engineering,  
Faculty of Engineering and Technology,  
NSHM Knowledge Campus  Durgapur,  
Durgapur-713212, India. 
d.bhattacharyya@ieee.org, writetobijoy@gmail.com 
2
Department of Computer Engineering, Kangwon National University,  
Kangwon-Province, South Korea 
2
Corresponding Author: stkim@kangwon.ac.kr 
 
Abstract.  In  this  paper  we  designed  the  circuit,  using  that  circuit  we  can 
communicate with our neighbors wirelessly. Instead of RF signals, light froma 
laser torch is used as the carrier in the circuit. The laser torch can transmit light 
up to a distance of about 500 meters. The phototransistor of the receiver must 
be accurately oriented towards the laser beamfromthe torch. If there is any 
obstruction  in  the  path  of  the  laser  beam,  no  sound  will  be  heard  fromthe 
receiver.  The  transmitter  circuit  comprises  condenser  microphone  transistor 
amplifier BC548 followed by an pomp stage built around A741. The gain of 
the op-amp can be controlled with the help of 1-mega-ohmpotmeter VR1.The 
AF output fromIC1 is coupled to the base of transistor BD139 (T2), which, in 
turn,  modulates  the  laser  beam.  The  transmitter  uses  9V  power  supply. 
However, the 3-volt laser torch (after removal of its battery) can be directly 
connected to the circuitwith the body of The torch connected to the emitter of 
BD139 and the spring-loaded lead protruding frominside the torch to circuit 
ground. The receiver circuit uses an NPN phototransistor as the light sensor 
that is followed by a two-stage transistor preamplifier and LM386-based audio 
Power amplifier. The receiver does not need any complicated alignment. J ust 
keep the phototransistor oriented towards the remote transmitters laser point 
and adjust The volume control for a clear sound To avoid 50Hz humnoise in 
the speaker, keep the phototransistor away fromAC light sources such as bulbs. 
The reflected sunlight, however, does not cause any problem. But the sensor 
should not directly face the sun. 
 
Keywords: Laser, LST, RF, LM386, Wireless.  
1  Introduction 
Laser as a communication medium can provide a good substitute for the present day 
communication  systems  as  the  problem  of  interference  faced  in  case  of 
electromagnetic waves is not there and high deal of secrecy is available. It will easily 
 A d v a n c e d    S c i e n c e    a n d    T e c h n o l o g y    L e t t e r s  
 V o l . 3 0    ( I C C A    2 0 1 3 ) ,    p p . 2 0 3 - 2 1 0  
 h t t p : / / d x . d o i . o r g / 1 0 . 1 4 2 5 7 / a s t l . 2 0 1 3 . 3 0 . 4 2
 I S S N :    2 2 8 7 - 1 2 3 3    A S T L  
 C o p y r i g h t        2 0 1 3    S E R S C
give a communication distance of several hundred meters, and with a parabolic light 
reflector, up to several kilometers [1]. The laser-induced lubricant pockets generated 
high local pressures and thus caused a thicker lubricant film, allowing an optimal 
separation of the contact surfaces even at lower sliding velocities [2]. It transmits 
high quality audio and the link is virtually impossible for anyone else to tap into. An 
important feature of transmission by laser beam is privacy. Because a laser beam is 
intentionally narrow, it's virtually impossible for someone to tap into the link without 
us  knowing.  If  someone  intercepts  the  beam,  the  link  is  broken,  signaling  the 
interception. Fibre-optic cables also have high security, as it's very difficult to splice 
into the cable without breaking the link. However it's theoretically possible; so for 
the  highest  security,  we  probably  cannot  beat  a  line-of-sight  laser  beam.  Also  it 
cannot be detected with use of spectrum analyzers and RF meters and hence can be 
used for diverse applications including financial, medical and military. Laser
 
Surface 
Texturing (LST) is probably the most advanced so far.
 
LST produces a very large 
number of micro-dimples on thesurface and each of these micro-dimples can serve 
either asa micro-hydrodynamic bearing in cases of full or mixed lubrication,
 
a micro-
reservoir for lubricant in cases of starved lubrication conditions,
 
or a micro-trap for 
wear debris in either lubricated or
 
dry sliding [3]. Lasers can also transmit through 
glass; however the physical properties of the glass have to be considered. By rotating 
the media under the focused pulsed-laser beam, a row of crater shaped dimples are 
created in the landing zone only [4]. Laser transmitter and receiver units ensure easy, 
straightforward  systems  alignment  and  long-term  stable,  service  free  operation, 
especially  in  inaccessible  environments,  optical  wireless  systems  offer  ideal, 
economical alternative to expensive leased lines for buildings [5, 7]. Over the past 10 
Years,  laser  intensities  have  increased  by  more  than  four  orders  of  magnitude  to 
reach enormous intensities of 1020 W /cm2 [6].The laser can also be commissioned 
in satellites for communication, as laser radar requires small aperture as compared to 
microwave  radar.  As  we  cannot  see  the  laser  beam  without  special  IR  sensitive 
equipment, it also makes alignment more difficult. Further, potential bandwidth of 
radar  using  lasers  can  translate  to  very  precision  range  measurement.  For  these 
reasons, they can be used as an alternative to present modes of communication. Laser 
communication is both wide-band and high-speed.   
2  Design Of Working Principle 
The block diagram of working principle of the system is shown in Figure 1.
 
Fig.1. Block Diagramof Working Principle of System. 
Advanced Science and Technology Letters 
Vol.30 (ICCA 2013)
204 Copyright  2013 SERSC
 
 
A)  Condenser Microphone 
Condenser microphones require power from a battery or external source. Condenser 
also tends to be more sensitive and responsive than dynamic, making them well suited 
to capturing subtle nuances in a sound. The diaphragm vibrates when struck by sound 
waves,  changing  the  distance  between  the  two  plates  and  therefore  changing  the 
capacitance. Specifically when the plates are closer together capacitance increases and 
a charge current occurs and this current will be used to trigger the transmitting section.  
B) Transmitting Section 
The transmitter section comprises condenser microphone, transistor amplifier BC548 
followed  by  an  op-amp  stage  built  around  IC1.  The  gain  of  the  op-amp  can  be 
controlled with the help of 1-mega ohm pot meter VR1. The AF output from IC1 is 
coupled to the base of transistor Bd139, which in turn, modulates the laser beam. The 
transmitter uses 9V power supply. However, the 3-volt laser torch (after the removal 
of  its  battery)  can  be  directly  connected  to  the  circuit  with  the  body  of  the  torch 
connected to the emitter of BD139 and the spring loaded lead protruding from inside 
the  torch  to  circuit  ground.  The  block  diagram  of  transmitting  section  is  given  in 
Figure 2. 
 
 
Fig. 2. Block Diagramof Transmitting Section. 
C)  Laser Torch 
Here we use the light rays coming from laser torch as the medium for transmission. 
Laser  had  potential  for  the  transfer  of  data  at  extremely  high  rates,  specific 
advancements  were  needed  in  component  performance  and  systems  engineering, 
Advanced Science and Technology Letters 
Vol.30 (ICCA 2013)
Copyright  2013 SERSC 205
particularly for space-qualified hardware. Free space laser communications systems 
are wireless connections through the atmosphere. They have worked similar to fibre 
optic cable systems except the beam is transmitted through open  space. The laser 
systems operate in the near infrared region of the spectrum. The laser light across the 
link is at a wavelength of between 780 - 920 nm. Two parallel beams are used, one 
for transmission and one for reception. 
D)  Receiving Section 
The receiver circuit uses an NPN phototransistor as the light sensor that is followed 
by a two stage transistor preamplifier and LM386-based audio power amplifier. The 
receiver  doesn't  need  any  complicated  alignment.  J ust  keep  the  phototransistor 
oriented towards the remote transmitter's laser point and adjust the volume control 
for a clear sound. The block diagram of receiving section is shown in Figure in 3.
 
 
 
Fig. 3. Block Diagramof Receiving Section 
 
 
E) Loud Speaker 
A  loudspeaker  (or  "speaker")  is  an  electro  acoustic  transducer  that  converts  an 
electrical signal into sound. The speaker moves in accordance with the variations of 
an electrical signal and causes sound waves to propagate through a medium such as 
air or water. 
3  Circuit Design Of  System 
There the transmission distance is no  more than  meters of so, a LED (or two  for 
increased power) can be substituted for the laser diode. For instance, there the link is 
being used for educational purposes, such as demonstrating fibre-optic coupling, or 
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206 Copyright  2013 SERSC
the  concept  of  communication  over  a  light  beam.  Obviously  the  security  of  the 
transmission is much lower as LEDs transmit light in all directions. While, that laser 
link can be adapted for use as a perimeter protector. Now to a description of how it 
all works. As we shall see, it's really very simple. We shall start with the transmitter. 
 
A)  Transmitter 
A laser diode needs a certain value of current, called the threshold current, before 
it emits laser light. A further increase in this current produces a greater light output. 
The relationship between output power and current in a laser diode is very linear, 
once the current is above the threshold, giving a low distortion when the beam is 
amplitude modulated. For example, the 65Onm 5mW laser diode used in this project 
has a typical threshold current of 3OmA and produces its full output when the current 
is raised by approximately 1OmA above the threshold to 4OmA. Further increasing 
the current will greatly reduce the life of the laser diode, and exceeding the absolute 
maximum of 8OmA will destroy it instantly. Laser diodes are very fragile and will 
not survive electrostatic discharges and momentary surges! However, if used within 
specifications, the typical life of one of these lasers is around 20,000 hours. In the 
transmitter circuit as shown in Figure 4, the laser diode is supplied via an adjustable 
constant-current  source.  Since  the  lasing  threshold  also  varies  with  temperature,  a 
68ohm  NTC  thermistor  is  included  to  compensate  for  changes  in  ambient 
temperature. Note that the metal housing for the laser diode and the lens also acts as a 
heatsink. The laser diode should not be powered without the metal housing in place. 
The quiescent laser diode current is controlled by Q2, in turn driven by the buffer 
stage  of  1C2b.  The  DC  voltage  as  set  by  VR2  appears  at  the  base  of  Q2,  which 
determines the current through the transistor and therefore the laser diode. Increasing 
the  voltage  at  VR1  reduces  the  laser  current.  The  setting  of  VR1  determines  the 
quiescent brightness of the laser beam, and therefore the overall sensitivity of the 
system. 
The audio modulation voltage is applied to the cathode of the laser diode, which 
varies  the  laser  current  around  its  set  point  by  around  +/-3mA.  The  modu-  lation 
voltage is from the emitter of Q 1, which is an emitter follower stage driven by the 
audio amplifier stage of 1C2a. Diodes D4 to D7 limit the modulating voltage to +/-
2V, while C4 and C5 block the DC voltages at the emitter of Q 1 and the cathode of 
the laser diode. The audio signal is coupled to the laser diode via R10, which limits 
the maximum possible variation in the laser diode current to a few milliamps. LED1 
gives an indication of the modulating voltage. Diodes D2, D3 and resistor R8 limit 
the current through the LED and enhance the brightness changes so the modulation is 
obvious. The LED flickers in sympathy with the sound received by the microphone, 
giving an indication that a modulating volt- age is present. The inverting amplifier of 
1C2a includes a form of compression, in which the output level is relatively constant 
and independent of how soft or loud the audio level is at the microphone. This is 
achieved by FET Q3 and its associated circuitry.  
The cascaded voltage doubler of C9, D8, D9 and C8 rectifies the audio signal at 
the emitter of Ql, and the resulting negative DC voltage is fed to the gate of Q3. An 
increase in the audio signal will increase the negative bias to Q3, increasing its drain-
source  resistance.  Because  the  gain  of  1C2a  is  determined  by  R7  and  the  series 
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resistance of R5 and Q3, increasing the effective resistance of Q3 will lower the gain. 
Since the compression circuit takes time to respond, the clamping network of D4-D7 
is  still  needed  to  protect  against  sudden  voltage  increases.  This  system  is  rather 
similar to the compression used in portable tape recorders. The electrets microphone 
is powered through R1 and is coupled to the non inverting input of 1C2a via C6. This 
input is held at a fixed DC voltage to give a DC output to bias Ql. The supply voltage 
to the transmitter circuit is regulated by ICI, a 5V three terminal regulator.  
 
Fig. 4. The Circuit Diagramof Transmitter.
 
B)  Receiver 
The transmitted signal is picked up by the photo detector diode in the receiver as 
shown  in  Figure  5. The  output  voltage  of  this  diode  is  amplified  by  the  common 
emitter amplifier around Ql. This amplifier has a gain of 20 or so, and connects via 
VRI to ICI, an LM386 basic power amplifier IC with a gain internally set to 20. This 
IC can drive a speaker with a resistance as low as four ohms, and 35OmW when the 
circuit is powered from a 9V supply. Increasing the sup- ply voltage will increase the 
output power marginally. The voltage to the transistor amplifier stage is regulated by 
ZD  I  to  5.6V,  and  decoupled  from  the  main  supply  by  R2  and  C2.  Resistor  R3 
supplies forward current for the photodiode. (Incidentally, the photodiode used for 
this experiment has a special clear package, so it responds to visible light, and not 
just infrared.) 
 
Advanced Science and Technology Letters 
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Fig. 5. The Circuit Diagramof Receiver
4  Conclusion 
Using this circuit we can communicate with our neighbors wirelessly. It can be also 
used in inaccessible areas and conference halls. In future, it can be commissioned in 
satellite for communication and instead of the short range laser, high range lasers can 
be used  which range a  few  hundred  meters Provisions  have to be  made for cases 
when there is no heavy traffic  
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