The Future Prospects for SiPM-Based Receivers for Visible Light Communications

A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) could be used to create visible light communications receivers whose sensitivity is determined by shot-noise. However, its finite output pulse width will limit its bandwidth and its recovery time, and dark count rate could limit its sensitivity. In this paper, a method of accurately determining the signal levels needed to transmit data in a shot-noise limited system using pulse-amplitude modulation is described. In addition, a method of estimating the additional power needed to use equalisation to overcome inter-symbol interference caused by the finite output pulse width of SiPMs is described. The best way to achieve more than 1 Gb/s with this type of receiver and how to select the best available SiPM as a receiver are then discussed.