Abstract: For broadband data communication, a data signal voltage at a signal input node can be converted to an output signal current at a signal output node. A first transistor device can contribute to the output signal current, with its transconductance or other gain reduced to accommodate larger signal swings, at which a second transistor can turn on and increase an effective resistance value of at least a portion of a gain degeneration resistor associated with the first transistor device. The second transistor can also contribute to the output signal current to help maintain or enhance an overall gain between the signal input node and the signal output node. Multiple secondary stages, push-pull arrangements, buffer amplifier configurations (which may or may not contribute to current in the gain degeneration resistor), input and output transformers, negative feedback to help reduce component variability, and frequency modification circuits or components are also described.

Abstract: For broadband data communication, a data signal voltage at a signal input node can be converted to an output signal current at a signal output node. A first transistor device can contribute to the output signal current, with its transconductance or other gain reduced to accommodate larger signal swings, at which a second transistor can turn on and increase an effective resistance value of at least a portion of a gain degeneration resistor associated with the first transistor device. The second transistor can also contribute to the output signal current to help maintain or enhance an overall gain between the signal input node and the signal output node. Multiple secondary stages, push-pull arrangements, buffer amplifier configurations (which may or may not contribute to current in the gain degeneration resistor), input and output transformers, negative feedback to help reduce component variability, and frequency modification circuits or components are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve broadband amplifier linearization. The present circuits make use of pre-distortion techniques to improve the 3rd order distortion of an amplifier to reduce the amount of DC power required to achieve a given system requirement. In addition, the amplifiers have broadband characteristics which lend themselves to simplified pre-distortion. A pre-distortion linearizer circuit is connected across the input terminals of an amplifier. The linearizer circuit includes multiple diodes to improve the clipping performance of the linearizer. In addition, RC circuits align the phase of the linearizer distortion to be opposite that of the amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to improve broadband amplifier linearization. The present circuits make use of pre-distortion techniques to improve the 3rd order distortion of an amplifier to reduce the amount of DC power required to achieve a given system requirement. In addition, the amplifiers have broadband characteristics which lend themselves to simplified pre-distortion. A pre-distortion linearizer circuit is connected across the input terminals of an amplifier. The linearizer circuit includes multiple diodes to improve the clipping performance of the linearizer. In addition, RC circuits align the phase of the linearizer distortion to be opposite that of the amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting an output power level of an optical receiver, in order to hold output signal levels constant over changing input optical levels. A photodetector detects an optical signal, and a current from the photodetector is applied an amplifier. The amplifier may be either a differential trans-impedance amplifier, or a dual trans-impedance amplifier coupled to a differential output amplifier. An output of the amplifier is applied o a signal detector, wherein an output signal of the signal detector is an indication of an output power level of the optical receiver.

Abstract: An optical receiver with increased dynamic range includes a photodetector, a photodetector biasing network, an amplifier and a post-distortion network. The post-distortion network compensates for gain error in the amplifier, such that a composite output voltage is relatively linear with respect to input current. The dynamic gain responses of the amplifier and the post-distortion network are equal in magnitude and opposite in phase. Additionally, a signal from at least one internal node of the amplifier may be connected to the post-distortion network, in order to further improve performance.