Abstract: Modulator driver for driving an electro-optical modulator in a high-speed optical communications system. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a modulator driver is presented comprising an input differential limiting amplifier which is coupled to a distributed differential current-switch configuration, where one set of outputs of the distributed differential current-switch configuration are grounded and the other set of outputs are connected to an artificial transmission line structure generating forward traveling and reverse traveling signals, with the reverse traveling signal termination bias inductively coupled to a separately adjustable positive bias voltage, whereby the circuit architecture reduces the number of components and transitions in the high-speed signal path and is compatible with compact, monolithic fabrication requiring a minimal amount of external components for operation. Other methods and apparatus are presented.

Abstract: Modulator driver for driving an electro-optical modulator in a high-speed optical communications system. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a modulator driver is presented comprising an input differential limiting amplifier providing differential outputs coupled to a distributed enhanced drive output stage configuration, wherein said distributed enhanced drive output stage configuration comprises a plurality of inductively coupled enhanced drive differential amplifiers, each of said enhanced drive differential amplifiers comprising a plurality of transistors in a cascode configuration whereby the control electrode of the upper transistor in said cascode configuration is biased by a voltage having a modulation component derived from either an input signal to or output signal from said enhanced drive differential amplifier, for the purpose of providing an enhanced output voltage swing capability that exceeds the breakdown voltage of a single transistor.

Abstract: Modulator driver for driving an electro-optical modulator in a high-speed optical communications system. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a modulator driver is presented comprising an active signal splitter providing a first pair and a second pair of differential output signals, each pair of differential output signals input to a separate variable delay circuit, each variable delay circuit in turn feeding an output buffer, whereby one signal from each output buffer is used as an output drive signal, and the other signal from each output buffer is input to a phase processor which is used to actively control said variable delay circuits, whereby the circuit architecture is compatible with compact, monolithic fabrication requiring a minimal amount of external components for operation. Other methods and apparatus are presented.

Abstract: Modulator driver for driving an electro-optical modulator in a high-speed optical communications system. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a modulator driver is presented comprising an input differential limiting amplifier which is coupled to a distributed differential current-switch configuration, where one set of outputs of the distributed differential current-switch configuration are grounded and the other set of outputs are connected to an artificial transmission line structure generating forward traveling and reverse traveling signals, with the reverse traveling signal termination bias inductively coupled to a separately adjustable positive bias voltage, whereby the circuit architecture reduces the number of components and transitions in the high-speed signal path and is compatible with compact, monolithic fabrication requiring a minimal amount of external components for operation. Other methods and apparatus are presented.