Comprehensive Design and Prototype of VLC Receivers with Large Detection Areas

Abstract

Stable and practical reception of visible light communication (VLC) signals at mobile devices necessitates optoelectronic receivers with large detection areas to attain wide field-of-view (FOV) as well as robustness against blockage. However, large detection (or aperture) area reduces the effective bandwidth of VLC receivers. We design and prototype a VLC receiver with multi-photodetector array followed by a multi-stage amplifier, capable of attaining high-speed data rates for white phosphorous LED light. The receiver array can be arranged conformal to the surface shape of mobile devices. We test the VLC system's performance under vibrations, characterize delay spread arising from movements and wide FOV of the receiver, design multi-symbol detection techniques based on time and spatial reception diversity, and evaluate the performance with real data transmissions.