Image-Sensor-Based Photoreceiver for Free-Space Optical Communications

An image-sensor-based photo receiver for free-space optical communications, especially, ones employing indoor optical wireless LANs, has been developed. The receiver enables a compact and intelligent optical communication system through its two functional modes : image-sensing and communication. We clarified that the diffusion of photo-generated electrons determines the minimum total transimpedance gain of the amplifier and the maximum intensity of optical communication signals. A 50x50-pixel photo receiver with four independent communication-output channels was designed and fabricated with standard 0. 35 μm CMOS technology. To amplify optical data in the communication mode, it has in-pixel trans-impedance amplifiers and column-parallel main amplifiers. Experiments conducted with it showed that data rates of 50Mbps and 30Mbps were possible for wavelengths of 650nm and 830nm, respectively. Transimpedance gain varied from 660kΩ to 4.9MΩ for the data rate of 10Mbps. We also successfully captured images at a frame rate of 50Hz.