1.5 Gbit/s Multi-Channel Visible Light Communications Using CMOS-Controlled GaN-Based LEDs

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 1211 - 1216
• Main Authors: Shuailong Zhang, Watson, S., McKendry, J. J. D., Massoubre, D., Cogman, A., Erdan Gu, Henderson, R. K., Kelly, A. E., Dawson, M. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 15.04.2013; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Arrays; CMOS integrated circuits; Coding, codes; Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS); Crosstalk; Data communication; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; High speed optical techniques; Information, signal and communications theory; Light emitting diodes; micro light-emitting diodes (\mu{\rm LEDs}); Modulation, demodulation; multi-channel; Optical crosstalk; Optoelectronic devices; parallel data transmission; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Signal and communications theory; spatial-multiplexing; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments); visible light communication (VLC); multi-channel; Free field; Wireless telecommunication; Information rate; Data transmission; Spatial multiplexing; Optimization; Complementary MOS technology; Modulation; NRZ code; Visible radiation; Optoelectronic device; Variable length code; High rate transmission; visible light communication (VLC); Information transmission; Light emitting diode; Free space propagation; Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS); parallel data transmission; micro light-emitting diodes (μLEDs); Telecommunication system; Optical crosstalk; Transmission rate; spatial-multiplexing; On off effect
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2013.2246138

An on-chip multi-channel visible light communication (VLC) system is realized through a blue (450 nm) GaN-based micron-size light-emitting diode (μLED) array integrated with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) electronics. When driven by a custom-made CMOS driving board with 16 independent parallel data input ports, this μLED array device is computer controllable via a standard USB interface and is capable of delivering high speed parallel data streams for VLC. A total maximum error-free data transmission rate of 1.5 Gbit/s is achieved over free space by modulating four μLED pixels simultaneously using an on-off key non-return to zero modulation scheme. Electrical and optical crosstalk of the system has also been investigated in detail and the further optimization of CMOS design to minimize the crosstalk is proposed.