An optical Network Communication System performance using Silicon Photo Multipliers (SiPM)

Achieving high speed efficient information rate transfer is a mayor challenge for visible light communications in the presence of back light, due to the difficulty in isolating signal from noise. This paper presents experimental results for communication performance tests of a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system based in a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) receiver, in a relevant environment with the presence of back light and without the need of optical filters. The VLC system was tested for information transfer rate using a white led emitter to recreate environmental background lighting conditions, corresponding to standard office working conditions with lighting complying with international lighting standards for indoor working places. Results are oriented towards a VLC device design, giving useful information to determine adequate relations between emitter power, back light intensity, signal to noise ratio and transfer speed. Our findings show that the capabilities of the tested SiPM based system to operate under back light conditions overcomes the reported performance of former technologies.