A 50 dB Dynamic Range, 11.3 GSPS, programmable Finite Impulse Response (FIR) equalizer in 0.18µm SiGe BiCMOS technology for high speed Electronic Dispersion Compensation (EDC) applications

A Finite Impulse Response (FIR) equalizer utilizing 0.18−m SiGe BiCMOS provides unparalleled performance as a building block for analog Electronic Dispersion Compensation (EDC) applications. A new track-and-hold (T/H) topology improves on the existing performance limitations of the Switched Emitter Follower (SEF) architecture. The new T/H achieves extended dynamic range, for higher input bandwidths, at lower power consumption. The FIR circuit has been included as a building block in the implementation of an analog EDC IC that is the world's first demonstration of 10.7 Gbit / s error free operation over 400 km of uncompensated SMF fiber.