A line-of-sight voice communication system with optoelectric fibers

Abstract

Recently developed multi-material optoelectric fibers have showed great potential for use as photodetectors [1]. Such light-sensitive fibers are flexible and can be weaved through clothing with a seamless interface. Our team aimed to develop the electronic hardware for a vest-mounted voice communication system that could incorporate such fibers. In this thesis, I explored initial designs for a receiver circuit and fully developed a head-mounted infrared transmitter module. As optoelectric fibers with sufficient sensitivity and bandwidth were still in development at the conclusion of our work, conventional photodetectors were substituted in the receiver circuits for the completed vest system. Nevertheless, the fiber -ready system demonstrated the potential of a wearable optical communication system and served as a successful proof-of-concept.