Hittite releases compact optical modulator driver for 40G/100G

MMIC-based components supplier Hittite Microwave Corp. has released what it claims is the industry’s lowest power and smallest form factor SMT-packaged optical modulator driver. The device has a size of 59-mm² and consumes 1 W of power for 8-Vpp output.

Designed for 40- and 100-Gbps Mach-Zehnder modulator applications, the HMC5850BG is ideal for 40- and 100-Gbps metro and long-haul optical transmission, the company adds.

With a power supply operating range from +5V to +7V, the HMC5850BG provides long-haul system designers with scalable power dissipation for varying output drive requirements. The integrated peak detector function enables monitoring and maintains a constant output swing from the modulator driver. The output swing is adjustable from 5 Vp-p to 8 Vp-p.

The integrated high-speed bias-tee eliminates the requirement for external components. The HMC5850BG can also interface with Hittite’s HMC981LP3E active bias controller, enabling stable performance over variable operating conditions.

The HMC5850BG operates between -40 °C and +85 °C, provides up to 32 dB of gain, exhibits additive RMS jitter of 230 fs, and supports up to 32-Gbps operation.

The HMC5850BG features RF I/Os that are internally matched to 50 Ohms, and are housed in 9.75mm x 6mm x 3.29 mm laminate substrate-based BGA surface-mount package. The package comes with an ESD protection feature.

Samples and evaluation PC boards for all SMT packaged products are available from stock.

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