Miniature power and data transceiver based on multimodal operation of a single photovoltaic device

Wireless bi-directional data telemetry and power delivery are demonstrated using a single photovoltaic (PV) cell. The same cell functions as a light-emitting diode (LED), a power transducer, and a reverse-biased photodiode. This is achieved through the use of a simple inductor-capacitor resonator, with the cell’s junction providing the circuit’s capacitive element. We show that pulsed illumination at the circuit’s resonance frequency results in active switching of the PV cell between the three operating modes. Using this approach we demonstrate backward data transmission in the form of optical pulses generated by the PV cell, as well as enhanced forward data transmission and power generation. This work demonstrates the principle of using a single PV cell as an optical data transceiver while simultaneously generating energy using only two circuit elements; an inductor and a PV cell. This approach benefits miniature wireless devices, such as medical implants, which operate within significant size, weight, and energy constraints.