Optimised microstrip post-detection filters for optical communications: the upper frequency limit

A design technique, based on the modified Chernoff bound, that allows the identification of an optimum distributed filter is reviewed together with the use of a simulated annealing algorithm that finds the globally optimum solution. Microstrip realisations, for systems operating at up to 20 Gbit/s, of these optimum filters are described, and results show that microstrip is appropriate for use at these elevated bitrates