Monolithic retimed receiver array with dynamic reference level comparator for 4/spl times/2 Gb/s synchronous optical data link

A DC-coupled 4-channel synchronous optical receiver with 8-Gb/s aggregate throughput has been designed using a monolithic silicon bipolar IC and an InGaAs p-i-n photodiode array. Each channel employs a positive feedback structure to dynamically generate threshold voltage in the decision which enables single-ended-to-differential signal conversion without coupling capacitors or reference voltage subcircuits. Power dissipation is 865 mW at -5.5 V supply voltage.