Simulations
In Figure 3 a simulation of the application
diagram in Figure 1 is shown. The modu-
lation current is 180 mA. The simulation
shows the relative optical output power p
as defined above. As shown the optical
output has little ringing. Rise and fall
times are below 90 ps.
In conclusion the above simulations have
shown that GD16076A is capable of
driving a Mach Zender Interferometer
with a 180 mA drive current into 25
at
2.5 Gbit/s.
Thermal Considerations
As shown in Figure 1 both the modulator
and the unused NOUT outputs are termi-
nated to V
CC
. In order to reduce the chip
power consumption it is important that
V
CC
is kept as low as possible. If e.g. the
output current is 180 mA into 25
the
voltage swing will be 4.5 V.
If V
CC
= 4.5 V the power consumption P
OC
due to output current will be:
P
OC
=
(V
CC
-V
EEP
-180mA × 25
) × 180mA = 900mW
(3)
If instead V
CC
= 2.5 V is used the power
consumption will be only 540 mW.
Approximately 360 mW of P
OC
is con-
sumed by the current source and current
sense resistors, see Figure on page 1 re-
gardless of V
CC
. Therefore the power
consumption in the output FET’s are re-
duced from 540 mW (270 mW each out-
put FET) down to 180 mW (90 mW each
output FET).
Therefore it is recommended to use the
lowest possible value for V
CC
, which does
not sacrifice the performance of the mod-
ulator driver. The open drain outputs of
GD16076A works down to V
DD
- 2 V.
With 180 mA output current into 25 W
this means that V
CC
can be as low as
2.5 V.
Figure 3.
Simulation of the Optical Output of the Modulator
Data Sheet Rev. 07
GD16076A
Page 4
0s
0
0.5
1.0
180 mA Modulation Current into 25
Temperature 75.0 C
1.0ns
0.5ns
1.5ns
2.0ns
2.5ns
3.0ns
3.5ns