Multi-Wavelength LED Transceivers for 20 Gbps Optical Wireless Links
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies, such as WLAN and radio transceivers, fail to meet the high data throughput demands for transferring uncompressed 4K and 8K UHD video content due to limitations in bandwidth and atmospheric absorption, particularly in the millimeter-wave and Terahertz frequency ranges, while optical wireless communication offers advantages with lower atmospheric absorption and higher modulation bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The development of ultra-high-speed LED transceivers using multi-wavelength LEDs with a quantum well structure, featuring a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds, and innovative high-frequency combining circuits to achieve full-duplex optical communication, enabling data transfer rates exceeding 20 Gbps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If radio technologies (WLAN, mm-wave, Terahertz) are used for wireless communication, then wireless connectivity is provided, but data throughput is limited by bandwidth availability and atmospheric absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes radio frequency electromagnetic waves with optical frequency electromagnetic waves (visible light) for wireless communication. This transition from radio to optical domain enables dramatically higher data throughput (20-100 Gbps vs. limited radio bandwidth) while avoiding atmospheric absorption issues that plague mm-wave and Terahertz frequencies, as optical wavelengths experience minimal atmospheric attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameter from radio frequency (MHz-GHz range) to optical frequency (THz range). By using visible light wavelengths (400-700 nm) instead of radio waves, the system achieves orders of magnitude higher modulation bandwidth and data throughput while bypassing the atmospheric absorption problems that limit higher radio frequencies.
2Measurement precision
If lasers are used as optical sources, then precise line-of-sight communication is achieved, but alignment complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, precision-aligned laser systems with inexpensive, commercially available LED components. LEDs naturally provide sufficient optical power without requiring complex alignment mechanisms, precision optics, or specialized packaging. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity and cost while maintaining adequate communication performance for typical consumer applications.
Solution Approach 2:
LEDs inherently provide omnidirectional light emission patterns that eliminate the need for precise alignment between transmitter and receiver. The broad emission angle of LEDs allows the system to self-adjust to various orientations and positions without requiring complex alignment mechanisms, making the system automatically adaptable to different usage scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If LEDs are used for optical communication, then wide projection angles and point-to-multipoint configuration are achieved, but data throughput must be increased to meet uncompressed video demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical communication system into multiple parallel channels using different wavelengths (colors) of light. By employing multi-color LEDs (red, green, blue) and corresponding wavelength-specific photodetectors, the system creates multiple independent data streams that can be transmitted simultaneously, thereby multiplying the total data throughput while maintaining the advantages of LED wide projection angles and point-to-multipoint capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the wavelength dimension to the traditional intensity-modulation optical communication approach. Instead of relying solely on varying light intensity, the system modulates multiple wavelengths independently, creating a spectral multiplexing dimension that dramatically increases data throughput while preserving LED advantages of wide beam spread and simple architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These LED transceivers provide robust, high-speed wireless communication capable of exceeding 20 Gbps, overcoming the limitations of radio technologies and achieving efficient data transfer for multimedia content, with potential applications in consumer electronics, communication infrastructure, and defense electronics.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier confinement (CC) region positioned over the substrate, and an active region position over the CC region. The CC region includes a first CC layer comprising indium gallium phosphide and a second CC layer position over the first CC layer.
Implementation Method 2
an active region is configured to have a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds (ps)
Implementation Method 3
The active region includes indium gallium arsenide and has an indium composition between 10% and 35%. The active region of the LED has a thickness between 50 and 150 angstroms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for providing wireless personal area networks (PANs) and local area networks (LANs) using visible and near-visible optical spectrum. Various constructions and material selections are provided herein. According to one embodiment, a light-emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a carrier confinement (CC) region positioned over the substrate, and an active region position over the CC region. The CC region includes a first CC layer comprising indium gallium phosphide and a second CC layer position over the first CC layer. The second CC layer includes gallium arsenide phosphide. The active region is configured to have a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds (ps).