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Reflection based coupling efficiency enhancement in a fluorescent planar concentrator for an optical wireless
Optics Express
|October 7, 2021
Summary
Researchers improved fluorescent planar concentrators for optical wireless communications. Adding reflectors significantly boosted signal strength and achieved over 1.12 Gbps, a first for commercial devices.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Optical Wireless Communications
Background:
- Fluorescent planar concentrators (FPCs) offer wide field of view and high optical gain for optical wireless communications.
- Large collection areas in FPCs often result in low light coupling efficiency and significant optical power loss due to edge coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze light coupling efficiency enhancement in electrical power gain for FPCs.
- To present a practical method for improving coupling efficiency using reflectors.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of edge and back reflectors (Lambertian, specular, retro-reflectors) to enhance light coupling.
- Analysis of the impact of optimal reflector selection on signal strength and data rate.
- Demonstration using DC-biased optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (O-OFDM).
Main Results:
- Received signal strength improved by more than a factor of two with optimal reflector selection.
- Achieved a data rate exceeding 1.12 Gbps with a bit error rate below 3.8 × 10⁻³.
- This represents the first Gbps-class demonstration using a commercial FPC.
Conclusions:
- Reflector integration is an effective strategy to overcome low light coupling efficiency in FPCs.
- The proposed method significantly enhances performance for optical wireless communication systems.
- Demonstrated Gbps-class data rates pave the way for practical FPC applications.
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