Laser Control Integrated Circuit

Introduction

This project consisted of the architecture design for an IC containing analog and digital circuits used as part of an integrated controller for a 1 Gb/sec Optical Transceiver.

Customer Objectives

  • Determine internal block diagrams of a custom system IC.
  • Derive and document detailed analog specifications for each IC functional block
  • Address all product functional specifications
  • Conduct detailed models for each analog component including laser and photodiode
  • Conduct computer simulations for overall analog and digital performance
  • Make timing calculations and accuracy calculations to comply with product specifications

Results

mixed_signal_laser_control_IC_architecture

The architecture was delivered to the customer. Worst case calculations for all of the analog blocks determined the design path for a 90 nm integrated circuit. Calculations of performance for each block of the integrated circuit were simulated and an error budget was established. A special test tone signal was incorporated in the design in order to maintain laser stability over temperature and aging without disruption of data transmission.