Title :
Clocked-sense-amplifier-based smart-pixel optical receivers
Author :
Woodward, T.K. ; Krishnamoorthy, A.V. ; Goossen, K.W. ; Walker, J.A. ; Cunningham, J.E. ; Jan, W.Y. ; Chirovsky, L.M.F. ; Hui, S.P. ; Tseng, B. ; Kossives, D. ; Dahringer, D. ; Bacon, D. ; Leibenguth, R.E.
Author_Institution :
Bell Labs. Innovations, Lucent Technol., Holmdel, NJ, USA
Abstract :
We introduce the concept of synchronous smart-pixel optical receivers, and present the first use of a clocked-sense amplifier as a smart-pixel optical receiver. Such a receiver uses the controlled application of positive feedback to obtain low-power compact digital amplification. We describe the design and simulation of two types of optical receivers based on a clamped bit-line sense amplifier (CBLSA), and a conventional sense amplifier (CSA). Both of these circuits have been realized in 0.8 micron-linewidth foundry CMOS with hybrid-bonded GaAs-AlGaAs MQW detectors and modulators attached to the circuit. Operation in excess of 750 Mb/s is demonstrated, within a layout area of 44 μm×22 μm, with a bias-dependent estimated power dissipation of 1 to 2 mW. Operation with one or two input beams is possible, with approximate minimum detected photocurrent levels at 320 Mb/s of 8 μA (/spl sim/100 fJ) for single-beam operation and 2.5 μA/beam (/spl sim/30 fJ/beam) for two-beam operation, all in the CBLSA-based circuit.
Keywords :
CMOS integrated circuits; clocks; electro-optical modulation; integrated optoelectronics; optical feedback; optical receivers; photoconductivity; photodetectors; semiconductor quantum wells; smart pixels; 1 to 2 mW; 100 fJ; 2.5 muA; 22 mum; 30 fJ; 44 mum; 750 Mbit/s; 8 muA; GaAs-AlGaAs; GaAs-AlGaAs MQW detectors; approximate minimum detected photocurrent levels; bias-dependent estimated power dissipation; clamped bit-line sense amplifier; clocked-sense-amplifier-based smart-pixel optical receivers; conventional sense amplifier; input beams; layout area; low-power compact digital amplification; optical receivers; positive feedback; simulation; single-beam operation; smart-pixel optical receiver; synchronous smart-pixel optical receivers; two-beam operation; Circuit simulation; Clocks; Detectors; Foundries; Optical amplifiers; Optical design; Optical feedback; Optical receivers; Quantum well devices; Semiconductor optical amplifiers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE