VCSEL modulation at 20 Gb/s over 200 m of multimode fiber using a 3.3 V SiGe laser driver IC

The data communications industry has developed optical link standards options for 10 Gb/s using VCSEL based transmitters, and the next step is cost effective 40 Gb/s links. Parallel link options have been proposed, but the 10 Gb/s link experience has taught that if serial links can be made they will be most cost effective, and being closer to serial is better than being slower and wider. This raises the question of achieving 40 Gb/s using two VCSELs at 20 Gb/s each as a possible cost effective solution. This paper reports on experiments driving VCSEL based optical links to 20 Gb/s which is the fastest known VCSEL link driven by 3 volt ICs and operating over premises length multimode fiber.