A LOW-POWER 1-GB S CMOS LASER DRIVER FOR A ZERO-BIAS MODULATED OPTICAL TRANSMITTER/

We demonstrate the feasibility of using a CMOS laser driver for a low- power digital optical transmitter that is capable of at least 1-Gb/s o peration. The transmitter employs low threshold lasers and zero-bias m odulation. The circuit driver uses a strategy for low power consumptio n such that a majority of the total transmitter power is consumed by t he laser instead of the electronics. The driver can function over a wi de temperature range (77 K-300 K) for a variety of laser diodes.