High-sensitivity free space optical communications using low size, weight and power hardware

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a high-sensitivity free space optical communication link using integrated CMOS micro-LEDs and single-photon detectors, achieving high data rates with minimal hardware size, weight, and power.

Contribution

It introduces a novel integrated hardware system combining micro-LEDs and single-photon avalanche diodes for efficient free space optical communication.

Findings

Data rate of 100 Mb/s achieved

Sensitivity of -55.2 dBm demonstrated

System uses minimal size, weight, and power hardware

Abstract

Free space optical communication systems with extremely high detector sensitivities are attractive for various applications with low size, weight and power requirements. For these practical systems, integrated hardware elements with small form factor are needed. Here, we demonstrate a communication link using a CMOS integrated micro-LED and array of single-photon avalanche diodes. These integrated systems provide a data rate of 100 Mb/s at a sensitivity of -55.2 dBm, corresponding to 7.5 detected photons per bit.