A tutorial on laser-based lighting and visible light communications: device and technology [Invited]

This tutorial focuses on devices and technologies that are part of laser-based visible light communication (VLC) systems. Laser-based VLC systems have advantages over their light-emitting-diode-based counterparts, including having high transmission speed and long transmission distance. We summarize terminologies related to laser-based solid-state lighting and VLC, and further review the advances in device design and performance. The high-speed modulation characteristics of laser diodes and superluminescent diodes and the on-chip integration of optoelectronic components in the visible color regime, such as the high-speed integrated photodetector, are introduced. The modulation technology for laser-based white light communication systems and the challenges for future development are then discussed.