10-Gb/s Linear Burst-Mode Receiver Reaches 85 dBΩ Gain

    June 25, 2013
    This linear burst mode receiver, which provides impressive linearity, sensitivity, dynamic range, and preamble length, was designed in 0.25 μm SiGe:C BiCMOS technology.

    In long-reach passive optical networks (PONs), dispersion compensation is required because of the long reach and high bit rates. To enable such compensation, a team of researchers from Ireland’s Tyndall National Institute and University College Cork has developed circuitry for fast gain adaptation in a linear burst-mode receiver (BMRx). Their 10-Gb/s BMRx boasts impressive linearity over a dynamic range beyond 20 dB. It therefore enables electronic dispersion compensation or multilevel modulation formats in bursty optical inks. This receiver is the work of Peter Ossieur, Nasir A. Quadir, Stefano Porto, Cleitus Antony, Wei Han, Marc Rensing, Peter O’Brien, and Paul D. Townsend.

    Their LBMRx, which comprises a variable-gain transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and variable-gain post amplifier, achieves gain of 47 to 85 dBΩ on a single die. At 84 dBΩ, such gain allows for the elimination of the post-amplifier chip. To perform gain adjustment in less than 50 ns, the LBMRx uses replica-based, feed-forward automatic gain control (AGC) and peak detectors. Those detectors are reset between bursts using an external reset signal. Using a PIN photodiode, sensitivity of -23.2 dBm was measured at a bit-error rate (BER) of 1.1 x 10-3. Because a 0.5-dB penalty is incurred if a 0-dBm burst precedes the burst under consideration, the LBMRx can support a dynamic range of 22.7 dB. See “A 10 Gb/s Linear Burst-Mode Receiver in 0.25 μm SiGe:C BiCMOS,” IEEE Journal Of Solid-State Circuits, Feb. 2013, p. 381.

    About the Author

    Nancy Friedrich | RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

    Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.

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