Multigigabit CMOS limiting amplifier and VCSEL driver arrays for parallel optical interconnects

Abstract

Limiting amplifier and VCSEL driver arrays for parallel optical interconnects operating at 8 Gb/s are presented, which are designed and fabricated in a Si-based 0.18-mu m CMOS technology for the single chip integration with low-power consumption. The limiting amplifier array showed a differential gain of 26 dB, a -3-dB bandwidth of 68 GHz, and a crosstalk of -32 dB between channels. For the VCSEL driver array, it showed a differential gain of 2-5 dB, a -3-dB bandwidth of 6.3 GHz, and crosstalk of -26 dB between channels. The power dissipation per channel of the limiting amplifier and the VCSEL driver are 45 and 120 mW, respectively. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals. Inc.