Distributed amplifier signal shaping strategy for multigigabit digital optical transmission

A novel technique is presented for using the distributed amplifier (DA) as an active pulse shaping/filtering network by effectively constructing a transversal filter. This technique is versatile, and judicious selection of the effective stage delays and gains allows a variety of filtering functions to be implemented. The capability of the technique is illustrated with reference to a GaAs MMIC design for 10 Gbit/s.