MaxLinear, a provider of integrated radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband communications applications, announced a new family of 56Gbps transmission ICs that cut in half the number of optical channels needed in optical transmission modules, reducing power consumption, size and cost for 100Gbps and 400Gbps network operators.

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The company’s new ICs include the MxL9108, a 56Gbps limiting trans-impedance amplifier, and two new 56Gbps modulator drivers, the MxL9204 and MxL9205. The ultra-wide bandwidths of the TIA and drivers enable non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signaling at 56Gbps. NRZ modulation eliminates the need for DSP and linear components that are required for more complex modulation techniques, simplifying optical transceiver implementation and reducing cost.

These new devices halve the number of optical channels (from four to two) needed to support 100Gbps line rates, reducing size, cost and power draw of optical transmission modules as compared to 28Gbps alternatives.

In 400Gbps applications, the MxL9204 and MxL9205 drivers coupled with CWDM transmission optical subassemblies, and the MxL9108 coupled with high-performance photo diodes, combine to deliver low-power, cost-effective modules that support this performance requirement.

Will Torgerson, Global Sales Vice President for MaxLinear said that as 100Gbps networks move to wider market adoption, cost, board size and power consumption become critical design functions, and the new MxL9108 and MxL9204 and MxL9205 offer these advantages due to their performance and design. Their high-speed interconnect offering spans 10Gbps, 40Gbps, and 100Gbps solutions which represent the industry’s broadest optical interconnect portfolios. These devices include 400Gbps and demonstrate MaxLinear’s commitment to deliver best-in-class solutions to the market.

Technical Highlights

The MxL9108 features an internal feedback loop for single-ended to differential signal conversion and output decision threshold adjustment. The integrated differential linear amplifier has >37GHz bandwidth and supports NRZ data rates of up to 56Gbps.

The MxL9204 and MxL9205 are high-performance 56Gbps modulator driver ICs. The MxL9204 is designed to drive externally modulated lasers (EMLs) and MxL9205 is optimized for driving InP MZ modulators or Si-Photonic-based optical modulators.

Both these ICs have on-chip input terminations and can be driven single-ended or differentially. The modulator drivers have duty cycle control, output amplitude control and output DC level adjustment. The single-ended output amplitude of the MxL9204 can be adjusted up to a maximum of 2.5Vpp (into 50Ω load) and the MxL9205 can support differential output amplitudes of up to 5Vpp. No external bias-T is required at data outputs. The MxL9204/ MxL9205 are available in die form. These high-performance trans-impedance amplifiers and modulator drivers cut in half the number of lasers and photo detectors needed for 100Gbps / 400Gbps optical transmission modules.