50 Gbit/s NRZ modulator driver for Silicon Photonics

Created August 9, 2016
Technologies and Products

VI Systems offers a driver IC for optical modulators which are designed for data rates of up to 56 Gbit/s non-return-to zero (NRZ) at 3 V modulation voltage. The IC is the first generation of ultrahigh-speed driver IC in SiGe BiCMOS technology.

The target applications are in silicon photonic and integrated optoelectronic solutions for short and medium reach optical data transmission in datacentres and high performance computers. The driver IC is designed for the use in high speed optical transmitters with serial data rates of up to 56 Gbit/s. The device is capable to modulate at very high frequencies with single ended input voltage swing of 259 mVpp.

The A50-300C90 driver IC is designed for voltage modulation of 3V. The supply voltage is specified with 3.3 V. The dimensions are 1000 µm x 700 µm. The power consumption is specified with up to 300mW.

Future serial NRZ standards are currently developed within Common Electrical Standard (CEI-56G) and Fibre Channel (64GFC) as well as in a number of customer specific applications.

The A50-300C90 chip is available as engineering sample in die form.

VI Systems GmbH, based in Berlin, Germany, is a fabless developer and manufacturer of components for optical communications.

By Per Danielsen

Link: http://v-i-systems.com/2016/07/14/vi-systems-offers-50-gbits-nrz-modulator-driver-silicon-photonics/

50-gbits-nrz-modulator-driver-for-silicon-photonics

This article was written
by Per Danielsen

Per has 35 years of experience in optical communications and is now working freelance writing about optical communications and other telecom related topics. He also serves as chairman of the ECOC Market Focus program committee.

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