Polychromic microLED emitters for data communications
A microlight emitting diode (LED) system and method of transmitting data are disclosed. The system includes either a first array that contains multiple subarrays or a second array. Each subarray includes multiple independently-addressable single color microLEDs that emit light of different colors and are independently modulated for data communication to another microLED array. The second array contains at least one independently-addressable polychromic microLED. Each polychromic microLED has multiple independently-addressable active regions that emit different colors and that are independently modulated for data transmission to the other microLED array. A photodetector array receives data as multi-color light from the other microLED array and has multiple photodetectors each tuned for a specific color.
1 . A micro light-emitting diode (LED) system comprising:
a microLED array configured to emit light of different colors, the microLED array selected from a group of microLED arrays that include:
a first microLED array that contains multiple subarrays, each subarray including multiple independently-addressable single color microLEDs configured to emit light of different colors and being independently modulated for data communication to an other microLED array, and
a second microLED array that contains at least one independently-addressable polychromic microLED, each polychromic microLED having multiple active regions, each polychromic microLED configured to emit light selected from among multiple colors provided by the active regions and being independently modulated for data transmission to the other microLED array, which contains at least one of the first microLED array or the second microLED array; and
a photodetector array configured to receive multi-color light from the other microLED array, the photodetector array having multiple photodetectors configured to generate current based on data received from the other microLED array, each photodetector in the photodetector array including a filter configured to filter light from the other microLED array such that the photodetector responds to only one color of the multi-color light emitted by the other microLED array.
2 . The microLED system of claim 1 , further comprising an optical fiber configured to couple data transmission between the microLED array and the other microLED array.
3 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microLED array includes the first microLED array, and
each subarray of the first microLED array is configured to emit at least one color that is substantially identical to at least one color emitted by at least one other subarray.
4 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microLED array includes the first microLED array, and
the subarrays of the first microLED array are configured to emit substantially identical colors.
5 . The microLED system of claim 4 , wherein microLEDs configured to emit substantially identical colors across the subarrays are disposed in substantially identical positions in each subarray.
6 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microLED array includes the first microLED array having m subarrays that provide m spatially-separated channels for data communication, and
each subarray contains n microLEDs that provide n subchannels for data communication.
7 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microLED array includes the second microLED array, and
each active region of a particular polychromic microLED is configured to emit a different color.
8 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein:
the microLED array includes the second microLED array, and
at least one active region of a particular polychromic microLED is configured to emit a substantially identical color as another active region of the particular polychromic microLED.
9 . The microLED system of claim 1 , wherein the microLED array includes the second microLED array, each active region of each polychromic microLED is independently-addressable.
10 . A micro light-emitting diode (LED) system comprising:
a backplane;
a processor disposed on the backplane;
at least one driver controlled by the processor;
a microLED array disposed on the backplane, the microLED array having microLEDs selected from a set of microLEDs that include single-color microLEDs in multiple subarrays and polychromic microLEDs, the set of microLEDs configured to be independently driven by the at least one driver to produce optical data on independent subchannels using different colors;
a photodetector array disposed on the backplane, the photodetector array configured to receive multi-color light from an other microLED array having microLEDs selected from the set of microLEDs, the photodetector array containing photodetectors configured to generate current based on data received from the other microLED array; and
an optical fiber configured to couple data transmission between the microLED array and the other microLED array, the optical fiber including an imaging fiber having sufficient spatial resolution to collect light emitted from multiple channels of the microLED array without crosstalk between channels.
11 . The microLED system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
separate an x/y chromatography curve into a plurality of coordinates,
map each coordinate to data and driving information, and
control the at least one driver to drive the microLED array to generate the optical data based on a selected coordinate.
12 . The microLED system of claim 10 , wherein:
the microLED array includes multiple subarrays,
each subarray includes multiple independently-addressable single color microLEDs, and
each subarray is configured to emit substantially identical colors emitted by at least one other subarray.
13 . The microLED system of claim 12 , wherein microLEDs configured to emit substantially identical colors across the subarrays are disposed in substantially identical positions in each subarray.
14 . The microLED system of claim 10 , wherein:
the microLED array includes polychromic microLEDs,
each polychromic microLED has multiple active regions,
each active region of a particular polychromic microLED is configured to emit a different color, and
each active region is configured to be independently modulated.
15 . The microLED system of claim 10 , wherein:
the microLED array includes polychromic microLEDs,
each polychromic microLED has multiple active regions,
at least one active region of a particular polychromic microLED is configured to emit a substantially identical color as another active region of the particular polychromic microLED, and
each active region is configured to be independently modulated.
16 . The microLED system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:
separate an x/y chromatography curve into a plurality of coordinates,
map each coordinate to particular data, and
determine, based on a particular coordinate determined from colors detected by the photodetectors, the data from the other microLED array.
17 . A method of transmitting optical data, the method comprising:
determining optical data to transmit;
mapping the optical data to a plurality of colors and driving information to drive microlight-emitting diode (microLEDs) to generate the plurality of colors, the microLEDs disposed in a microLED array and selected from a set of microLEDs that include single-color microLEDs in multiple subarrays and polychromic microLEDs;
independently driving the microLEDs to produce the optical data on independent subchannels using the plurality of colors; and
transmitting the optical data to a photodetector array through an optical fiber coupled with the microLED array,
the microLED array being selected from a group of microLED arrays that include:
a first microLED array that contains multiple subarrays, each subarray including multiple independently-addressable single color microLEDs configured to emit light of different colors and being independently modulated for data communication to an other microLED array, and
a second microLED array that contains at least one independently-addressable polychromic microLED, each polychromic microLED having independently-addressable multiple active regions, each polychromic microLED configured to emit light selected from among multiple colors provided by the active regions.
18 . The microLED system of claim 1 , further comprising an imaging optical fiber configured to:
collect light emitted from the microLED array with sufficient spatial resolution to prevent crosstalk between channels at a transmitter end; and
split at a receiver end such that light from each subarray or polychromic microLED is directed to a separate photodetector array.
19 . The microLED system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to encode data for transmission by independently controlling:
a correlated color temperature (CCT) of light emitted by the microLED array,
a Duv value of light emitted by the microLED array representing a distance above or below a black body locus, and
a luminous flux of light emitted by the microLED array,
wherein each unique combination of CCT, Duv value, and luminous flux corresponds to a distinct data value.
20 . The microLED system of claim 10 , further comprising a processor configured to encode data for transmission by independently controlling:
a correlated color temperature (CCT) of light emitted by the microLED array,
a Duv value of light emitted by the microLED array representing a distance above or below a black body locus, and
a luminous flux of light emitted by the microLED array,
wherein each unique combination of CCT, Duv value, and luminous flux corresponds to a distinct data value.