In this letter, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an optical wireless communication (OWC) system with embedded localization functionalities based on reflectometry, that share both the OWC hardware platform and the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication waveform. Using a low-cost off-the-shelf laser diode we experimentally demonstrate a joint OWC and sensing system, with data rates of approximately 3.6 Gbit/s with EVM around 8% and simultaneously able to localize targets with non-ideal reflectance surfaces, with 15 cm resolution. Our approach reduces installation and operational costs, alleviates the calibration process, as well as allows for cooperation between communication and localization functionalities at the physical layer.

In this paper, we present recent advancements in transmitter and receiver technologies for Optical Wireless Communication (OWC). OWC offers very wide license-free optical spectrum which enables very high capacity transmission. Additionally, beam-steered OWC is more power-efficient and more secure due to low divergence of light. One of the main challenges of OWC is wide angle transmission and reception because law of conservation of etendue restricts maximization of both aperture and field of view (FoV). On the transmitter side, we use Micro Electro-Mechanical System cantilevers activated by piezoelectric actuators together with silicon micro-lenses for narrow laser beam steering. Such design allowed us to experimentally demonstrate at least 10 Gbps transmission over 100° full angle FoV. On the receiver side, we show the use of photodiode array, and Indium-Phosphide Membrane on Silicon (IMOS) Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) with surface grating coupler (SGC) and array of SGC. We demonstrate FoV greater than 32° and 16 Gbps reception with photodiode array. PIC receiver allowed to receive 100 Gbps WDM with single SGC, and 10 Gbps with an array of SGC which had 8° FoV in the vertical angle and full FoV in the horizontal angle. Our results suggest that solutions presented here are scalable in throughputs and can be adopted for future indoor high-capacity OWC systems.

This paper presents an optical wireless communication (OWC) transmitter featuring a dual-beam steering system that integrates silicon micro-lenses with piezoelectric actuators. Advancing beyond component-level demonstrations, we achieve full system integration with coordinated dual-beam control and extensive performance evaluation in a realistic deployment scenarios. The system supports wide-angle steering of ±30° in both horizontal and vertical directions, maintaining error-free 10 Gbps data transmission over distances exceeding 3 m. Each beam operates at 9 dBm, below the eye safety threshold. Silicon micro-lenses with a 102.6 μm radius of curvature and a refractive index of 3.48 yields an effective focal length of 41.4 μm and a beam divergence of 4.6°, enabling precise steering. We demonstrate independent parallel operation of two beam steering units, marking an important step toward scalable multi-beam OWC systems for high-density indoor environments. The approach offers key advantages including low interference, enhanced privacy, and compatibility with C-band fiber infrastructure. While beam deformation at large angles and minor actuator hysteresis remain as limitations, the overall performance underscores the system's promise for next-generation indoor wireless communications. ©2026 The Author(s)