Low-power optoelectronic IC

Abstract

A very low-power optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) for highly parallel optical receivers is introduced. It is necessary to minimize the power consumption of each optical receiver to enable an array of receivers. An integrated photodiode with low input capacitance takes care of the detection of visible and near infrared light. Rise-and fall times of tr=470ps and t i 4 2 1 p~, with an overall (optical and electrical) power consumption of 1.77mW at a data rate of 500Mbls down to a power consumption of 0.66mW at 40Mhls, were achieved. Because of the pin photodiode, a standard 0.6pm BiCMOS process is used, which needs only one minor process modification for the integration of the pin photodiode.