40 Gbps 180 nm CMOS Modulator Driver Using Loss Compensation Gain Cells

Abstract

Loss compensation gain cells using series-shunt peaking technique and stacked-FETs were incorporated into a modulator driver based on distributed topology to improve the bandwidth. The driver was developed in 180 nm CMOS technology. It can integrate with digital circuits on a chip. Hence the cost of optical transmitters will be considerably reduced. The driver was evaluated with electromagnetic analysis and circuit simulation, which reached an operating data rate of 40 Gbps and a peak to peak output swing of 1.8 V. It is the highest data rate compared with other works in similar CMOS technology.