Full duplex communication using visible light

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a full duplex visible light communication system on a single chip using integrated light-emitting and detecting quantum well devices connected by suspended waveguides, enabling simultaneous bidirectional data transfer.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integrated in-plane VLC system with on-chip full duplex capability using suspended quantum well devices and waveguides on a GaN-on-silicon platform.

Findings

Successful fabrication of on-chip full duplex VLC system

Demonstration of simultaneous emission and detection in quantum well devices

Proof-of-concept for integrated visible light communication systems

Abstract

In this work, we propose, fabricate and characterize a full duplex communication system using visible light on a single chip. Both the suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) devices and the suspended waveguides are obtained on a GaN-on-silicon platform by wafer-level processing. Two suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN MQW devices that can both emit and detect light simultaneously are connected using suspended waveguides to form an in-plane visible light communication (VLC) system. The light that is emitted from one suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN MQW device can induce a current in the device located at the other end of the waveguide via in-plane light coupling, thus leading to full duplex communication using visible light. This proof-of-concept in-plane VLC system paves the way towards the implementation of a full duplex communications system operating at the same frequency using visible light on a single chip.