CHEN Lian Kuan

*SHB = Ho Sin Hang Engineering Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research Interest
  • Optical Wireless Communications (OWC)
  • Underwater & Water-air OWC
  • Advanced Modulation Formats and Signal Processing
  • Next-Generation Access Networks
  • Optical Performance Monitoring and Management
  • Network Optimization, and
  • Biophotonics
Courses Taught

  • Engineering Design
  • Signals and Systems
  • Principles of Communication Systems
  • Microcontroller and Embedded Systems
  • Optical Communications
  • Lightwave Networks
  • Advanced Topics in Optical Communications

CHEN Lian Kuan 陳亮光教授

Professor
SMIEEE, MOSA
BSc (Nat. Taiwan Univ), MS, MPhil, PhD (Columbia)
(852) 3943-8389
Room 816, SHB*
lkchen [at] ie.cuhk.edu.hk

Lian-Kuan Chen received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University in 1983 and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Columbia University, New York, in 1992. He joined the faculty of the Department of Information Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and established the Lightwave Communications Laboratory in 1992. He was the Department Chairman from 2004 to 2006. From 2007 to 2013, he served on the engineering panel of the Hong Kong Government Research Grant Council. He served as the director of the Centre for Advanced Research in Photonics in 2010-2015. His research includes visible light communication, optical wireless communication, next-generation local access networks, transmission systems, optical/electronic signal processing, performance monitoring, and bio-photonics. Professor Chen has published more than 300 papers in refereed international conferences and journals. He is a senior member of the IEEE Photonics Society and the IEEE Communications Society, and a member of Optica (OSA).  He has served as an associate editor of IEEE Photonics Technology Letters (2005-2011) and OSA/IEEE Journal of Optical Communications and Networking (2012-2015).  For his name’s sake (in Chinese), he believes he will continue to engage in research related to Light in the foreseeable future.

Recent / Selected Publications

(Full publication list:
by year / by topic / The CUHK Research Portal )

2025

  1. S. Chen, H. Yu, N. Zhao, and L. K. Chen, “Joint optimization of photovoltaic-based optical wireless communications for emergency internet recovery in disaster areas” in 2025 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), 2025.
  2. G. Wang, X. Jiang, Z. Wang, H. Tsang, and L. Chen, “LLM-Assisted Concurrent Physical-Layer Key Generation/Distribution and Encrypted Data Transmission on Single-Wavelength” in IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), Singapore. 2025.
  3. G. Wang, Y. Chao, J. Shi, Z. Wang, H. Tsang, L. Chen, R. Proietti, S. J. Ben Yoo, “Multi-layer Semantic-aware Loading for Short-reach Goal-oriented Optical Communication Systems” in 2025 European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC), pp. 1-3.
  4. G. Wang, G. Wang, K. Lu, X. Zhou, Y. Tong, L. Chen, H. Tsang, “High-Capacity Discrete Multi-Tone Transmission at 300 Gb/s Using a Silicon Microring Modulator” in 2025 European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC), pp. 1-3.
  5. A. Xu, Y. Di and L. -K. Chen, “Wave-Distorted Signal Correction Using a Convolutional Neural Network in a Water-Air OWC System,” in 2025 30th OptoElectronics and Communications Conference (OECC) and 2025 International Conference on Photonics in Switching and Computing (PSC), Sapporo, Japan, 2025, pp. 1-4.
  6. G. Wang, Y. Hong, Y. Dai, L. K Chen, “A Novel Time-Domain Blind Equalization for Water-Air OWC in Environments with Volatile Waves and Bubbles” in 2025 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), pp. 1-3.
  7. Z Li, G Wang, C Ding, Q Xiao, Q Xie, C Huang, LK Chen, C Shu, “Nonlinearity-Mediated Spectral Control of Light Using Pulsed Pumps Processed by Tunable Talbot Effect” in 2025 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC), pp. 1-3.

2024

  1. A. Xu, Y. Di, X. Yue and L. -K. Chen, “Beam Tracking Aided by Complexity-Reduced MobileNetV2 for Water-Air OWC With Waves,” in IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 36, no. 24, pp. 1469-1472, 15 Dec.15, 2024.
  2. G. Wang, Z. Li, C. Ding, Q. Xiao, C. Huang, C. Shu, and L. K. Chen, “96% Complexity-Reduced Nonlinear Equalizer for a C+ L-band 1.13 Tb/s/pol Coexistent IM/DD-and Comb-based Coherent-PON System,” in 2024 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), Feb. 2024.
  3. Di, A. Xu, and L. K. Chen, “Performance Enhancement via Real-time Image-based Beam Tracking for WA-OWC with Dynamic Waves and Mobile Receivers, ” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 42, no. 19, pp. 6671-6678, 2024.
  4. G. Wang, X. Chen, and L. K. Chen, “Precoding-Assisted Inter-ONU Interference Alleviation in OFDM-NOMA-PON System,” in 2024 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR), Feb. 2024.
  5. A. Xu, Y. Di, X. Yue, and L. K. Chen, “Seeing through Wave—Real-time Beam Tracking via a ResNet-based Model in Water-air OWC Systems,” in 2024 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC), Mar. 2024.
  6. G. Wang, D. W. U. Chan, H. K. Tsang, W. H. Mow, and L. K. Chen, “A 92% Complexity Reduction of Low-Latency Multi-Group Precoding Scheme based on Björck Sequences,” in 2024 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC), Mar. 2024.

2023

  1. Y. Di, C. Sun, S. Chen, W. Liu, Y. Dai, B. Li, W. Shi, J. Lin, Y. Shao, J. Xu, and L.K. Chen, “Capacity Enhancement of VLC by Blue-green Wavelength Division Multiplexing Using Optical Phased Array,” OFC, paper M4F.2, San Diego, CA, USA, 2023.
  2. S. Chen, H. Yu, N. Zhao and L. -K. Chen, “A Dynamic Model for Frequency Response Optimization in Photovoltaic Visible Light Communication,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 41, no. 22, pp. 6923-6929, 2023.
  3. G. Wang, P. Song, Y. Pan, C. Chan, and L.K. Chen, “Secure OFDM-PON Bandwidth-limited System Precoded by Chaotic Frank Sequence-Based Circulant Matrix,” CLEO, paper SF2M.5, 2023.
  4. Y. Di, A. Xu and L. -K. Chen, “Real-time image-based beam tracking for water-air OWC system with mobile receiver through wavy water surface,” ECOC, pp. 936-939, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 2023.
  5. G. Wang, D. Zhang, J. Zhao and L. -K. Chen, “A unified precoding-based FTN scheme for communication channels with limited bandwidth,” ECOC, pp. 1095-1098, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 2023.

2022

  1. Y. Di, Y. Shao and L.-K. Chen, “Real-Time Wave Mitigation for Water-Air OWC Systems via Beam Tracking,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 47-50, 1 Jan.1, 2022.
  2. S Chen, L Liu, LK Chen, “Passive Nonlinear Compensation Circuits for Photovoltaic Visible Light Communications under Low Illuminance,” OFC, 2022.
  3. L.-K. Chen, Y. Shao and Y. Di, “Underwater and Water-Air Optical Wireless Communication,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 1440-1452, 2022.
  4. L Liu, S Chen, LK Chen, “Optical camera communication using plastic fiber array for spatial multiplexing,” 2022 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), 2022.
  5. S. Chen, L. Liu, and L.K. Chen, “Programmable Anti-Logarithm Linearization Circuits (PALC) for Self-Adaptive Signal-to-Noise Ratio Optimization in Photovoltaic Visible Light Communications,” ECOC, 2022.

2021

  1. L. Liu and L.K. Chen, “Li-poster: Real-time Non-line-of-sight Optical Camera Communication for Hand-held Smartphone Application,” OFC, 2021.
  2. Y. Shao, Y. Di, and L.K. Chen, “Adaptive loading for water-air SIMO OWC system based on the temporal and spatial properties of waves,” OFC, 2021.
  3. Y. Di, Y. Shao, and L.K. Chen, “Mitigation of Wave-induced Packet Loss for Water-air Optical Wireless Communication by A Tracking System,” OFC, 2021.
  4. L.K. Chen, Y. Shao, and Y. Di, “Underwater and Water-air Optical Wireless Communication [Invited],” OFC 2021.
  5. G. Wang, Y. Shao, L.K. Chen and J. Zhao, “Subcarrier and Power Allocation in OFDM-NOMA VLC Systems,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 33, no. 4, 2021.
  6. J. Zhao and L.-K. Chen, “Carrier Phase Recovery Based on KL Divergence in Probabilistically Shaped Coherent Systems,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 39, no. 9, 2021.
  7. L. Liu and L. Chen, “Four-level Flicker-mitigation Coding Scheme in the Non-line-of-sight Optical Camera Communication System,” the 26th Optoelectronics and Communications Conference, paper M4B.5, 2021.
  8. G. Wang, Y. Shao, L. Chen, and J. Zhao, “Improved joint subcarrier and power allocation to enhance the throughputs and user fairness in indoor OFDM-NOMA VLC systems,” Opt. Express 29, 29242-29256 (2021).
  9. G. Wang, S. Song, L.-K. Chen and J. Zhao, “Experimental Demonstration of Cooperative NOMA in Visible Light Communications,” 2021 ECOC, Bordeaux, France, 2021.
  10. S. Chen, L. Liu and L.-K. Chen, “On the Nonlinear Distortion Characterization in Photovoltaic Modules for Visible Light Communication,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., vol. 33, no. 24, 2021.

2020

  1. Y. Shao, X. Tang, L. Zhang, R. Jiang, C. Sun, and L.K. Chen, “On the performance of DCrT-spread-OFDM via water-air OWC system through waves,” Proc. OECC, Taipei, 2020.
  2. L. Liu, R. Deng, J. Shi, J. He, and L.K. Chen, “Beyond 100-Kbit/s Transmission over Rolling Shutter Camera-Based VLC Enabled by Color and Spatial Multiplexing,” Proc. OFC, San Diego, CA, USA, 2020.
  3. G. Wang, Y. Shao, L.K. Chen, and J. Zhao, “Resource Allocation Algorithm for Multicarrier Non-orthogonal Multiple Access Visible Light Systems,” Proc. ACP/IPOC, Beijing, China, 2020, paper M4A.211
  4. Y. Shao, R. Deng, J. He, K. Wu, and L.K. Chen, “Real-time 2.2-Gb/s Water-air OFDM-OWC System with Low-complexity Transmitter-side DSP,” IEEE OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 38, no. 20, pp. 5668-5675
  5. Y. Hong, L.K. Chen, J. Zhao, “Channel-Aware Adaptive Physical-Layer Network Coding Over Relay-Assisted OFDM-VLC Networks,” IEEE OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 38, no. 6, pp. 1168 – 1177, Mar. 2020.
  6. J. Shi, Y. Hong, R. Deng, J. He, L.K. Chen, “Real-Time Software-Reconfigurable Hybrid In-House Access With OFDM-NOMA,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 379 – 382, Apr. 2020.

2019

  1. R. Deng, L. Liu, Y. Shao, and L.K. Chen, “2D-Constellation-Assisted CSK Transmission over OCC System under Low-level Illuminance,” Proc. OECC/PSC, Fukuoka, Japan, 2019.
  2. L.K. Chen, Y. Shao, R. Deng, “Robust UOWC systems against bubble-induced impairments via transmit/receive diversities [Invited],” Chin. Opt. Lett., vol. 17, no. 10, pp. 100006
  3. J. Zhao, Y. Hong, L.K. Chen, “Discrete-Circulant-Transform Spread OFDM for Bandwidth-Limited VLC Systems,” IEEE OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 37, no. 20, pp. 5340 – 5353, Oct. 2019.
  4. L. Liu, R. Deng, L.K. Chen, “Spatial and Time Dispersions Compensation With Double-Equalization for Optical Camera Communications,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 31, no. 21, pp. 1753 – 1756, Nov. 2019.
  5. L. Liu, R. Deng, L.K. Chen, “47-kbit/s RGB-LED-based optical camera communication based on 2D-CNN and XOR-based data loss compensation,” Optics Express, vol. 27, no. 23, pp. 33840 – 33846, Nov. 2019.
  6. Y. Shao, R. Deng, J. He, K. Wu L.K. Chen, “Digital 4K video transmission over real-time water-air OWC-OFDM system with low-complexity transmitter-side DSP,” European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC), Paper Tu.3.C.1, Dublin, Ireland, Sep. 2019.
  7. J. Shi, Y. Hong, R. Deng, J. He, L.K. Chen, G.K. Chang, “Demonstration of Real-Time Software Reconfigurable Dynamic Power-and-subcarrier Allocation Scheme for OFDM-NOMA based Multi-User Visible Light Communications,” IEEE OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 37, no. 17, pp. 4401 – 4409, Sep. 2019.
  8. J. Shi, J. He, Y. Hong, J. He, L.K. Chen, “Performance-enhanced NOMA-VLC using subcarrier pairwise coding,” Optics Communications, vol. 450, no. 1, pp. 141 – 146, Nov. 2019.
  9. Y. Hong, L.K. Chen, J. Zhao, “Performance-enhanced gigabit/s MIMO-OFDM visible light communications using CSI-free/dependent precoding techniques,” Optics Express, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 12806 – 12816 , Apr. 2019.
  10. J. Shi, Y. Hong, R. Deng, J. He, L.K. Chen, G.K. Chang, “Real-time Demonstration of Software Reconfigurable Dynamic Power-and-subcarrier Allocation Scheme for OFDM-NOMA based Multi-user Visible Light Communications,” IEEE/OSA Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC), Paper Th3I.5, San Diego, USA, Mar. 2019.
  11. Y. Shao, Y. Hong, Z.Y. Hu, L.K. Chen, “Capacity Maximization of OWC Systems via Joint Precoding and Probabilistic Shaping,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 31, no. 13, pp. 1031 – 1016, Jul. 2019.
  12. L. Liu, R. Deng, L.K. Chen, “Spatial/Temporal Dispersion Compensation by Double Equalizations in Optical Camera Communications,” Opto-Electronics Communication Conference/International Conference on Photonics in Switching (OECC/PS), Paper ThE2-3, Fukuoka, Japan, Jul. 2019.
  13. Y. Shao, Y. Hong, R. Deng, L.K. Chen, “Performance Enhancement by Spatial Diversity for Robust VLC systems with Fast-moving Terminals,” Opto-Electronics Communication Conference/International Conference on Photonics in Switching (OECC/PS), Paper ThE2-1, Fukuoka, Japan, Jul. 2019.

Recent Research Grant

As principal investigator

  • Principal Investigator (PI), “A Generalized Precoding Structure of Multi-domain Blind Equalizer for High-speed and Robust Water-Air Optical Wireless Communication,” RGC GRF 14201324, HK$649,354, 2024.
  • Principal Investigator (PI), “On the Optimization of Simultaneous Energy Harvesting and Photovoltaic Visible Light Communication by Time- and Spatial-division Multiplexing to Assist Disaster Area Recovery,” RGC GRF 14206123, HK$1,023,850, 2023.
  • Co-Investigator (Co-I), “An Underwater Multi-sonar System for Pool Monitoring and Drowning Detection,” Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), ITS/231/22FP, HK$ 3,999,990, 2023.
  • Co-Investigator (Co-I), “An Underwater Multi-sonar System for Pool Monitoring and Drowning Detection,” Talent Hub (Research Talent ZHANG Chao), PiH/126/24, HK$ 558,000, 2023.
  • “Performance Maximization by Wave-aware Proactive Compensation for Water-air Optical Wireless Communication,” RGC GRF 14219322, HK$896,311. (2022)
  • “Ubiquitous High-Speed Optical Camera Communication and its Fundamental Data-rate Limit,” RGC GRF 14204921, HK$698,661. (2021)
  • “On the Investigation and Optimization of Underwater and Air-water Optical Wireless Communication to Combat Bubble and Wave Effects,” RGC GRF 14207220, HK$704,212. (2020)
  • “High-speed Solar-Panel/Image-Sensor based VLC for Smart Cities: Design Challenges and Advanced Signal Processing,” RGC GRF 14201818, HK$583,333. (2018)
  • “Spectrally-efficient Multiple Access for Multi-user Visible Light Communications,” RGC GRF 14201217, HK$583,333. (2017)
Research Interest

  • Optical Wireless Communications (OWC)
  • Underwater & Water-air OWC
  • Advanced Modulation Formats and Signal Processing
  • Next-Generation Access Networks
  • Optical Performance Monitoring and Management
  • Network Optimization, and
  • Biophotonics
Courses Taught

  • Engineering Design
  • Signals and Systems
  • Principles of Communication Systems
  • Microcontroller and Embedded Systems
  • Optical Communications
  • Lightwave Networks
  • Advanced Topics in Optical Communications