Theoretical Study on Dual-Function Optical Phased Array of LiDAR and Optical Wireless Communication Based on Optically Injection-Locked Semiconductor Lasers

Abstract

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and optical wireless communication (OWC) are in high demand and rapidly developing owing to the explosive growth of smart systems that require automotive and mobile devices. Optical phased arrays (OPA) have become a key technology in LiDAR and OWC owing to their nonmechanical beam steering capabilities. However, using separate LiDAR and OWC platforms in one system creates problems, such as spectrum congestion, resource consumption, and high complexity. We propose a dual-function OPA that enables LiDAR and OWC to function on a single platform based on the simultaneous amplitude and phase modulation of optically injection-locked semiconductor lasers. We numerically demonstrated that the primary LiDAR and secondary OWC function simultaneously by independent control of the main and side lobes in the OPA signal. The variation in side lobe levels is controlled at 20 or 25 dB to realize low- and high-level data for OWC function as well as maintaining the main beam LiDAR function. We successfully achieved wide-opening eye patterns of 10 Gbps data transmission of the OWC operation.