Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter is implemented with differential isolation circuits to isolate parasitic capacitance from attenuating an output signal at both first and second differential output terminals of the FIR filter. The FIR includes a track and hold circuit and a summing circuit that provides operational advantages to the FIR filter.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique for timing recovery. A frequency acquisition loop locks a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) clock of a multi-band VCO to a reference clock. The frequency acquisition loop generates first and second feedback clocks from the VCO clock. A data lock phase loop generates a driving signal corresponding to a phase error signal from interleaved partial response signal (PRS) samples based on the second feedback clock. The driving signal controls the multi-band VCO in a data phase lock mode. A lock detect controller detects a frequency lock condition in a frequency lock mode and a data lock condition in the data phase lock mode based on the first feedback clock and the reference clock.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a circuit comprising a plurality of operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAS) is described. The first OTA has differential input and differential output. The second OTA also has differential input, where a first output of the first OTA is coupled to the first differential input of the second OTA, which is an inverting input. A second output of the first OTA is coupled to the second input of the second OTA, which is a non-inverting input. The first differential output being coupled to a first input of the first OTA and the second differential output being coupled to a second input of the first OTA for negative feedback and current biasing.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention features a programmable gain stage in analog update circuitry to overcome the accuracy limitation of the circuit gain and the maintenance of small finite number of possible sequence estimates.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter is implemented with differential isolation circuits to isolate parasitic capacitance from attenuating an output signal at both a first and second differential output terminals of the FIR filter. The FIR includes a summing circuit that provides operational advantages to the FIR filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency-domain compensation in optical communication systems. In pre-equalization embodiments, the transmitter transforms the data stream into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into a pre-distorted time domain signal. As the pre-distorted time domain signal propagates through the optical channel, optical dispersion effects counter the pre-distortion, producing an equalized signal at the channel output. In post-equalization embodiments, the receiver transforms the received signal into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into an equalized time domain signal. Pre-equalization may prove less expensive due to the square-law characteristic of photodetectors employed by most receivers.

Abstract: Embodiments of fiber optic communication systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an optical channel having a channel response, a pulse-shaping transmitter coupled to a first end of the optical channel, and a receiver coupled to a second end of the optical channel. The transmitter includes a spread pulse modulator to shape pulses of data prior to transmission and an electrical to optical converter to transmit electrical data signals as the light signals over the optical channel. The receiver includes an optical to electrical converter to receive light signals from the optical channel and generate electrical data signals and a matched filter to receive and filter the electrical data signals with a response substantially matching a combined response of the transmitter and the channel response to increase a signal to noise ratio thereof.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique for timing recovery. A frequency acquisition loop locks a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) clock of a multi-band VCO to a reference clock. The frequency acquisition loop generates first and second feedback clocks from the VCO clock. A data lock phase loop generates a driving signal corresponding to a phase error signal from interleaved partial response signal (PRS) samples based on the second feedback clock. The driving signal controls the multi-band VCO in a data phase lock mode. A lock detect controller detects a frequency lock condition in a frequency lock mode and a data lock condition in the data phase lock mode based on the first feedback clock and the reference clock.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a circuit comprising a plurality of operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAS) is described. The first OTA has differential input and differential output. The second OTA also has differential input, where a first output of the first OTA is coupled to the first differential input of the second OTA, which is an inverting input. A second output of the first OTA is coupled to the second input of the second OTA, which is a non-inverting input. The first differential output being coupled to a first input of the first OTA and the second differential output being coupled to a second input of the first OTA for negative feedback and current biasing.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter is implemented with differential isolation circuits to isolate parasitic capacitance from attenuating an output signal at both a first and second differential output terminals of the FIR filter. The FIR includes a track and hold circuit and a summing circuit that provides operational advantages to the FIR filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency-domain compensation in optical communication systems. In pre-equalization embodiments, the transmitter transforms the data stream into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into a pre-distorted time domain signal. As the pre-distorted time domain signal propagates through the optical channel, optical dispersion effects counter the pre-distortion, producing an equalized signal at the channel output. In post-equalization embodiments, the receiver transforms the received signal into a frequency domain signal and applies a compensation filter before transforming it back into an equalized time domain signal. Pre-equalization may prove less expensive due to the square-law characteristic of photodetectors employed by most receivers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for an optical communication channel. A data signal is preconditioned prior to transmission over a fiber optic cable to minimize signal distortion and transmitted over a fiber optic cable. Preconditioning may include none, one or more, or all of the following: encoding the data signal using a run length limited code, correlating bits of the data signal, and spreading out the pulses in the time-domain in the data signal. The pulse spreading function can be implemented either in the electrical domain prior to the electrical-to-optical conversion; in the optical domain during and/or after the electrical-to-optical conversion; or a combination of both. During reception, the data signal and clock are recovered. Recovery may include maintaining an amplitude in an electrical signal, filtering the electrical signal, shaping the electrical signal, and removing distortions and intersymbol interference (ISI) from the received electrical signal.

Abstract: A transmitter and transceiver for an optical communication channel may include a data encoder, a partial response (PR) precoder, a pulse filter, and an electrical-to-optical converter to transmit a spread pulse signal over an optical communication channel. The data encoder to encode the transmit data into coded data. The precoder to correlate bits of the coded data together into a precoded signal at the output of the precoder. The pulse filter to spread out the pulses in the precoded signal into a spread-pulse signal at the output of the pulse-shaping filter. The electrical-to-optical converter to convert an electrical spread-pulse signal into light pulses at its optical output. A transceiver may further include an optical-to-electrical converter, an automatic gain controller, a matched filter, a PR finite impulse response equalizing filter, a maximum likelihood sequence estimation detector, and a data decoder in order to decode and recover the data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for an optical communication channel. A data signal is preconditioned prior to transmission over a fiber optic cable to minimize signal distortion and transmitted over a fiber optic cable. Preconditioning may include none, one or more, or all of the following: encoding the data signal using a run length limited code, correlating bits of the data signal, and spreading out the pulses in the time-domain in the data signal. The pulse spreading function can be implemented either in the electrical domain prior to the electrical-to-optical conversion; in the optical domain during and/or after the electrical-to-optical conversion; or a combination of both. During reception, the data signal and clock are recovered. Recovery may include maintaining an amplitude in an electrical signal, filtering the electrical signal, shaping the electrical signal, and removing distortions and intersymbol interference (ISI) from the received electrical signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of fiber optic communication systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an optical channel having a channel response, a pulse-shaping transmitter coupled to a first end of the optical channel, and a receiver coupled to a second end of the optical channel. The transmitter includes a spread pulse modulator to shape pulses of data prior to transmission and an electrical to optical converter to transmit electrical data signals as the light signals over the optical channel. The receiver includes an optical to electrical converter to receive light signals from the optical channel and generate electrical data signals and a matched filter to receive and filter the electrical data signals with a response substantially matching a combined response of the transmitter and the channel response to increase a signal to noise ratio thereof.

Abstract: A transmitter and transceiver for an optical communication channel may include a data encoder, a partial response (PR) precoder, a pulse filter, and an electrical-to-optical converter to transmit a spread pulse signal over an optical communication channel. The data encoder to encode the transmit data into coded data. The precoder to correlate bits of the coded data together into a precoded signal at the output of the precoder. The pulse filter to spread out the pulses in the precoded signal into a spread-pulse signal at the output of the pulse-shaping filter. The electrical-to-optical converter to convert an electrical spread-pulse signal into light pulses at its optical output. A transceiver may further include an optical-to-electrical converter, an automatic gain controller, a matched filter, a PR finite impulse response equalizing filter, a maximum likelihood sequence estimation detector, and a data decoder in order to decode and recover the data.