Wireless optical communication using Silicon-on-Insulator technology

Main Researcher: Karel Van Acoleyen

As data streams are ever increasing, the need for high-speed, high-bandwidth components is becoming more and more important. At RF side, an evolution is seen to high speed wireless communication at 60GHz for indoor communication, which are being researched at the moment. An unlicensed bandwidth of 5 up to 7 GHz is available allowing gigabit per second wireless communication using directive links.

In this research topic, wireless optical communication is researched using the Silicon-on-Insulator platform. This allows low-cost, mass-producible and light-weight components. Very directive links with huge bandwidths are possible in this way. An example of such a beam steering component can be found below. The component consists out of an 1D array of grating couplers with phase modulators. By applying the right phase at each grating coupler, the optical beam can be steered. This could be useful in optical sensor networks.

An 1D optical array for optical beam steering

Other people involved:

• Hamdam Nikkhah
• Karel Van Acoleyen

Publications

International Journals


1. H. Nikkhah, K. Van Acoleyen, R. Baets, Beam steering for wireless optical links based on an optical phased array in silicon, Annals of Telecommunications, 68(1-2), p.57-62 doi:10.1007/s12243-012-0313-z (2013)  .
2. K. Van Acoleyen, E.M.P. Ryckeboer, W. Bogaerts, R. Baets, Efficient Light Collection and Direction-Of-Arrival Estimation using a Photonic Integrated Circuit, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 24(11), p.933-935 doi:10.1109/lpt.2012.2191148 (2012)  .
3. K. Van Acoleyen, K. Komorowska, W. Bogaerts, R. Baets, One-dimensional off-chip beam steering and shaping using optical phased arrays on silicon-on-insulator, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, 29(23), p.3500-3505 doi:10.1109/jlt.2011.2171477 (2011)  .
4. K. Van Acoleyen, D. C. O'Brien, F. Payne, W. Bogaerts, R. Baets, Optical Retroreflective Marker Fabricated on Silicon-On-Insulator, IEEE Photonics Journal, 3(5), p.789-798 doi:10.1109/jphot.2011.2164783 (2011)  .
5. K. Van Acoleyen, W. Bogaerts, R. Baets, Two-dimensional Dispersive Off-chip Beam Scanner Fabricated on Silicon-On-Insulator, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 23(17), p.1270-1272 doi:10.1109/LPT.2011.2159785 (2011)  .
6. K. Van Acoleyen, H. Rogier, R. Baets, Two-dimensional Optical Phased Array Antenna on Silicon-On-Insulator, Optics Express, 18(13), p.13655-13660 doi:10.1364/oe.18.013655 (2010)  .