Power-efficient high-speed driver for a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

摘要

An optical transmitter is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an optical transmitter may comprise a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a VCSEL driver. The VCSEL driver may comprise an input stage configured to receive a voltage signal and a low-impedance output stage comprising an input coupled to the input stage and a low-impedance output coupled to the VCSEL and configured to provide a modulated output current to the VCSEL.

主权项

1. An optical transmitter, comprising:
a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL); and a VCSEL driver comprising:
an input stage configured to receive a voltage signal; anda low-impedance output stage configured to drive the VCSEL with wiring capacitance coupled thereto, the low-impedance output stage comprising:
an input coupled to the input stage;a transistor in a follower configuration having a follower node coupled to the VCSEL and configured to provide a modulated output current to the VCSEL; anda current source coupled between a power supply and the follower node of the transistor and configured to provide a current above a threshold current of the VCSEL.