| Samenvatting: | In this paper we demonstrate a novel optical receiver
for visible light communications that combines a fluorescent
antenna and a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The fluorescent
antenna is configured in a slab geometry to collect and absorb an
incoming optical data signal, and to waveguide the resulting
fluorescence to an edge where it is detected by the SiPM. The
antenna incorporates the fluorophore, pentafluorene, selected for
its very high bandwidth of 245 MHz, high photoluminescence
quantum yield of 90%, and emission spectrum that matches the
wavelengths most efficiently detected by the SiPM. The
performance of a receiver, comprising the fluorescent antenna and
a J-series 30020 SiPM manufactured by ON Semiconductor, was
assessed in a 30 cm data link with a 405 nm GaN laser diode
transmitter, both in the dark and under 500 lux of ambient white
light. The fluorescent antenna successfully rejects ambient light by
a factor of 20, limited by extrinsic scattering in the thin film. Using
on-off-keying with decision feedback equalization, a maximum
data rate of 1.4 Gbps was demonstrated in 500 lux of ambient light.
Using the pentafluorene antenna plus a BG3 filter, provides a 200
fold suppression of ambient light, and can increase the data rate
of the receiver at low signal powers by up to a factor of 2. When
operating in ambient light the composite receiver requires only 2.5
times more signal power than when it operates in the dark, with
this power penalty reducing to a factor of 1.2 at 1 Gbps.
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