Mindspeed transimpedance amplifier targets FTTH applications
JANUARY 25, 2007 - Mindspeed Technologies Inc. (search for Mindspeed Technologies), supplier of semiconductor devices for network infrastructure applications, demonstrated a new 2.5-Gbit/sec transimpedance amplifier (TIA) offering sensitivity of -29 dBm at the Fiber Optics Expo this week in Tokyo.
Mindspeed says its M02024 TIA is designed to cut costs and extend the performance margin in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) optical network unit and terminal (ONU/ONT) receiver applications. The ITU-T G.984.2 Class B+ standard specifies a link budget of 28 dB. The M02024 can help optical module manufacturers to meet the standard with a lower-cost receiver, says the company.
"We're excited to demonstrate the benefits of our new M02024 TIA, which enables our GPON customers to use low-cost positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) photodiodes instead of traditional avalanche photodiodes (APDs)," explains Hasnain Bajwa, vice president of marketing at Mindspeed. "Typically APDs, along with all the custom circuitry they require, cost more than 10× PIN photodiodes. The extraordinary savings in ONU/ONT bill of material costs will help pave the way for GPON deployments worldwide," he adds.
The M02024's higher sensitivity provides additional production margin, enabling customers to increase yield by eliminating sensitivity testing in the manufacturing line, says the company. In addition, the device incorporates an on-chip filter that eliminates the need for an external capacitor on the photodiode cathode, further reducing the overall cost of ownership. According to Mindspeed, the device also includes automatic gain control (AGC), which provides dynamic range of more than 35 dB and is fabricated in submicron complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process for high performance. Other features include a typical bandwidth of 1.8 GHz, error-free operation with input signals of +6 dBm for loopback tests, and an input power monitor that provides improved accuracy across the full input power range.
Sampling now, the M02024 TIA is scheduled to enter volume production in the second calendar quarter of 2007.
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