Electro-optical modulator interface

摘要

A relatively high-speed, high-efficiency CMOS two branch driver core that may operate under relatively low supply voltage may include thin oxide CMOS transistors configured to generate rail-to-rail output swings larger than twice a supply voltage and without exceeding safe operating area limits. Each of the two branches may include two stacked CMOS inverter pairs configured to drive a respective load capacitance coupled between respective CMOS inverter outputs, in phase opposition to the other branch. A pre-driver circuit input with a differential modulating signal may output two synchronous differential voltage drive signals of a swing of half of the supply voltage and DC-shifted by half of the supply voltage with respect to each other and that may be applied to the respective CMOS inverter inputs of the two branches.

主权项

1. An integrated electro-optical modulator interface comprising:
a two-branch output stage comprising a plurality of thin oxide CMOS transistors configured to generate rail-to-rail output swings larger than twice a nominal limit of a supply voltage of said plurality of thin oxide CMOS transistors, each branch of said two-branch output stage comprising two stacked CMOS inverter pairs from among said plurality of thin oxide CMOS transistors; said two stacked CMOS inverter pairs of a given branch being configured to drive a respective load capacitance, in phase opposition to the other branch; and a pre-driver circuit configured to receive a differential modulating signal and output, to respective inputs of said two stacked CMOS inverters, two synchronous differential voltage drive signals having a swing of half the supply voltage and being DC-shifted by half of the supply voltage with respect to each other.