Para-phenylenevinylenes for High-Speed Optical Data Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical data communication systems face limitations due to the slow response of commercial white LEDs, which are unable to emit white light directly and have long photoluminescence lifetimes, hindering high-speed data transmission and poor color reproduction.

Innovation Solution

The use of para-phenylenevinylenes with specific chemical structures in optical data communication systems as luminescent compounds, offering short excited-state lifetimes, high stability, and efficient light emission for improved data transmission and color rendering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional phosphors are used as frequency converters in LED systems, then white light can be generated, but the photoluminescence lifetime is too long to support high-speed data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidphotoluminescence lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of luminescence lifetime by transitioning from inorganic phosphor materials to organic luminescent compounds. This material parameter change reduces the excited-state lifetime from microseconds to nanoseconds, enabling high-speed modulation for data transmission while maintaining efficient light emission through optimized molecular structures with specific HOMO-LUMO energy gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite material structures where organic luminescent compounds are integrated with LED chips or used in remote phosphor configurations. These composite systems combine the electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency of LEDs with the tailored photoluminescence properties of organic compounds, achieving both high-speed response and effective white light generation through multi-component material design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If inorganic phosphors are applied directly to LED chips, then frequency conversion is achieved, but the color rendering is poor and the correlated color temperature is too high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor rendering qualityVSAvoidcorrelated color temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different organic luminescent compounds with specific absorption and emission characteristics tailored for different wavelength regions. By selecting compounds with appropriate HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, the system achieves localized optimization of color rendering in various spectral regions, producing natural white light with correlated color temperatures below 6000K and high color rendering indices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Speed

If only blue LED emission is used without phosphor conversion, then fast response is achieved, but the transmission range is limited due to small energy in the blue spectrum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidspectral energy distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces organic luminescent compounds as intermediary materials that bridge the blue LED emission and the desired full-spectrum white light output. These compounds act as mediators by absorbing blue light photons and re-emitting across a broader spectrum including red and green regions, thereby extending the effective transmission range while maintaining the fast response characteristics of the blue LED pump source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The implementation of para-phenylenevinylenes in optical data communication systems enables faster data transmission and better color reproduction by providing compounds with short luminescence lifetimes and high stability, enhancing the performance of both transmitters and receivers.

Implementation Method 1

Organic compounds that can be used inter alia as frequency converters in remote phosphor LEDs offer many potential advantages for OWC, especially for VLC, respectively Li-Fi, due to their visible band gaps, short radiative lifetime, and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY).

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 2

In phosphor on a chip LEDs, the luminescent material used is generally an inorganic material that absorbs part of the LED emission and reemits a broad spectrum.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12122748B2Optical data communication system comprising para-phenylenevinylenes and specific para-phenylenevinylenes

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 BASF SE

AI summary

An optical data communication system may include one or more para-phenylenevinylenes, a receiver for an optical data communication system comprising para-phenylenevinylene(s), a transmitter for an optical data communication system comprising para-phenylenevinylene(s), the use of para-phenylenevinylene(s) in an optical data communication system, specific para-phenylenevinylene(s) and their preparation.