US6965722B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High efficiency active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit operable with low supply voltages
Assignee: Ii Vi Optical Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2005-03-08
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Granted: 2005-11-15
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Expires: 2025-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An optical transmitter and/or a constituent electro-optic transducer driver that performs active matching. The transducer driver performs active matching using a voltage step down through one base-emitter bipolar transistor, followed by a step up approach through the base-emitter of another bipolar transistor, thereby allowing for lower supply voltages. Furthermore, the voltage drop across the source resistor is minimal by using an operation amplifier in a feedback configuration, thereby further encouraging operability with low supply voltages. The electro-optic transducer driver is also beneficial in that it has high AC-coupling efficiency of the modulation current to the electro-optic transducer, may operate at high speeds with reduced jitter.
Inventors
- 👤 The′ Linh Nguyen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
315 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit comprising the following: a data input terminal configured to carry data to be asserted on an electro-optic transducer coupled to the electro-optic transducer driver; a first bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a high voltage rail configured to carry a supply voltage during operation; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; a third bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the third bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the third bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second resistor; a field effect transistor having a source terminal at least indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail, and a drain terminal at least indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor; a fourth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor; and an operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor, having a second input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second resistor, and having an output terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
315 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit comprising the following: a data input terminal configured to carry data to be asserted on an electro-optic transducer coupled to the electro-optic transducer driver; a first bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a high voltage rail configured to carry a supply voltage during operation; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; a third bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the third bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the third bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second resistor; a field effect transistor having a source terminal at least indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail, and a drain terminal at least indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor; a fourth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor; and an operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor, having a second input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second resistor, and having an output terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: an inductor, wherein the drain terminal of the field effect transistor is indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor through the inductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: an inductor, wherein the drain terminal of the field effect transistor is indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail through the inductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising: a second current source configured to draw a current from an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; and a third current source configured to draw a current from an emitter terminal of the third bipolar transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic transducer driver is a laser driver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic transducer is part of a transmit path of an optical transmitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 1G laser transmitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 2G laser transmitter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 4G laser transmitter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 10G laser transmitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 40G laser transmitter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
260 words
An active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver is a differential driver, the data input terminal being a first data input terminal, the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit further comprising: a second data input terminal configured to carry data that is complementary to the data asserted on the first data input terminal; a fifth bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second data input terminal; a third resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the fifth bipolar transistor; a sixth bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the third resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a fourth resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the sixth bipolar transistor; a seventh bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the seventh bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the seventh bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the fourth resistor; an eighth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the seventh bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the second data input terminal; and a second modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the eighth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the eighth bipolar transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
333 words
An optical transmitter comprising the following: an active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit; and an electro-optic transducer, wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit comprising the following: a data input terminal configured to carry data to be asserted on an electro-optic transducer coupled to the electro-optic transducer driver; a first bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a high voltage rail configured to carry a supply voltage during operation; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; a third bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the third bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the third bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second resistor; a field effect transistor having a source terminal at least indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail, and a drain terminal at least indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor; a fourth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor; and an operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor, having a second input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second resistor, and having an output terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
333 words
An optical transmitter comprising the following: an active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit; and an electro-optic transducer, wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit comprising the following: a data input terminal configured to carry data to be asserted on an electro-optic transducer coupled to the electro-optic transducer driver; a first bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a high voltage rail configured to carry a supply voltage during operation; a first resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the first bipolar transistor; a second bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a second resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; a third bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the third bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the third bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second resistor; a field effect transistor having a source terminal at least indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail, and a drain terminal at least indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor; a fourth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the third bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the data input terminal; a modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor; and an operational amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second resistor, having a second input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second resistor, and having an output terminal coupled to a gate terminal of the field effect transistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit further comprises: an inductor, wherein the drain terminal of the field effect transistor is indirectly coupled to the collector terminal of the fourth bipolar transistor through the inductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit further comprises: an inductor, wherein the drain terminal of the field effect transistor is indirectly coupled to the high voltage rail through the inductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit further comprises: a second current source configured to draw a current from an emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; and a third current source configured to draw a current from an emitter terminal of the third bipolar transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic transducer driver is a laser driver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic transducer is part of a transmit path of an optical transmitter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 1G laser transmitter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 2G laser transmitter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 4G laser transmitter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 10G laser transmitter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the optical transmitter is a 40G laser transmitter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
256 words
An optical transmitter in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the active matching electro-optic transducer driver is a differential driver, the data input terminal being a first data input terminal, the active matching electro-optic transducer driver circuit further comprising: a second data input terminal configured to carry data that is complementary to the data asserted on the first data input terminal; a fifth bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second data input terminal; a third resistor having a first terminal coupled to the high voltage rail, and a second terminal coupled to a collector terminal of the fifth bipolar transistor; a sixth bipolar transistor having a base terminal coupled to the second terminal of the third resistor, and a collector terminal coupled to the high voltage rail; a fourth resistor having a first terminal coupled to an emitter terminal of the sixth bipolar transistor; a seventh bipolar transistor having a collector terminal that is coupled to a base terminal of the seventh bipolar transistor and being configured to be AC coupled to the electro-optic transducer, the seventh bipolar transistor further having an emitter terminal coupled to a second terminal of the fourth resistor; an eighth bipolar transistor having a collector terminal coupled to the collector terminal of the seventh bipolar transistor, and having a base terminal coupled to the second data input terminal; and a second modulation current source coupled to an emitter terminal of the eighth bipolar transistor so as to draw current from the emitter terminal of the eighth bipolar transistor.
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