Fully Integrated Fiber-Optic Receiver Delivers High Sensitivity

An indium-gallium-arsenide PIN photodiode, a silicon-germanium transimpedance amplifier (TIA), a limiting amplifier, and a photo current monitor circuit are all packed into the ZL60011 fiber-optical transceiver. The single-chip transceiver targets systems with speeds reaching 3.125 Gbits/s. It particularly suits OC-48 and STM-16 systems operating at 2.488 Gbits/s. High sensitivity is its hallmark, as it can detect 1310-nm signals down −23 dBm below nominal signal intensity. The output is differential. The device supports multiple fiber cable types, including single-mode and multimode fibers with diameters up to 62.5 mm. The ZL60011, housed in a five-pin TO-46 package, costs $30 in 1000-unit quantities.