An optical receiver is used in fiber optic networks to detect optical signals and convert them into electrical signals for processing. As the data rates of the optical networks increase, the optical receiver must also operate at faster speeds. Generally, at the higher data rates, the power consumption and the jitter (time-based signal variations) in the optical receiver increase as well. Therefore, it is desirable to decrease the power consumed by the optical receiver, as well as the jitter associated with the optical receiver.
A typical prior art optical receiver 11, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an optical receiver uses a clock data recovery block (“CDR”) instead of a post-amplifier. The CDR can tolerate more incoming jitter than a post-amplifier due to its regenerative capabilities. The CDR can also be operated at lower power supplies than a post-amplifier because it can use processes with smaller geometries. Consequently, the CDR improves the jitter and the power consumption of the optical receiver. The CDR also reduces the jitter requirement for the TIA, so the TIA can have a narrower bandwidth and a higher gain than in the prior art, which significantly reduces the power consumption of the TIA.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an optical receiver uses a compensation circuit to compensate the frequency response of the TIA. Consequently, the required bandwidth for the TIA can be reduced because the compensation circuit can fill in at the higher frequencies for a narrower TIA bandwidth.
Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings.
Due to its regenerative capabilities, the CDR 27 can tolerate more incoming jitter at its input than a post-amplifier 17. Consequently, the bandwidth of the TIA 25 can be reduced in the present invention. Since the TIA 25 has a reduced bandwidth, it can also have a higher gain and therefore a post-amplifier is no longer needed. Removing the post-amplifier reduces the overall power consumption of the optical receiver 21. The CDR 27 can also be operated at a lower power supply than a post-amplifier because it can use processes with smaller geometries and therefore provides additional power savings. The CDR 27 can be implemented on the same chip as the TIA 25.
The CDR 27 is a common functional block well known to those who are skilled in the art.
The PLL 29 includes a phase detector 33, a low-pass filter 35, and a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) 37. The phase detector 33 detects the difference in phase between the input signal and the output of the VCO 37. The output of the phase detector 33 is a signal that indicates the difference in phase. The low-pass filter 35 filters the high frequency components from the output of the phase detector 33. The filtered signal controls the VCO 37. The output of the VCO 37 is the recovered clock, which is used to clock the D flip-flop 31 for retiming the input signal.
In one embodiment, the compensation circuit 41 has a frequency response that is approximately the inverse of the frequency response of the TIA 25 within the frequency range of interest. For example, if the TIA 25 behaves like a high gain, low pass filter, the compensation circuit 41 should have a frequency response that is the inverse of a high gain, low-pass filter. The compensation circuit 41 can be implemented as a digital or analog circuit. Using a compensation circuit 41 allows one to make a less expensive and less complex TIA 25 since the bandwidth of the TIA 25 can be reduced. The TIA 25 & the compensation circuit 41 can both be formed on a single chip.
In one embodiment, the compensation circuit 41 is an equalizer. Equalizers are well known in the art and are widely used.
Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to particular preferred embodiments, persons possessing ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow. For example, the present invention is applicable to both single and multi-channel optical receivers.