US 12,395,130 B2
Variable gain optical modulator with open collector driver amplifier and method of operation
Nguyen Nguyen, Lowell, MA (US); Duy Nguyen, Lowell, MA (US); Trong Phan, Lowell, MA (US); Thanh Pham, Lowell, MA (US); Wayne Kennan, Lowell, MA (US); and Stefano D'Agostino, Los Altos, CA (US)
Assigned to MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc., Lowell, MA (US)
Filed by MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc., Lowell, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/089,484.
Prior Publication US 2024/0213929 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. H03F 3/60 (2006.01); H03F 1/42 (2006.01); H03G 3/30 (2006.01)
CPC H03F 1/42 (2013.01) [H03F 3/605 (2013.01); H03G 3/30 (2013.01); H03F 2200/36 (2013.01); H03G 2201/103 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A distributed amplifier with variable gain control stage comprising:
a variable gain amplifier comprising:
a signal input configured to receive a data signal;
a gain control input configured to receive a gain control signal;
a gain controlled amplifier configured to receive the data signal and the gain control signal to create a gain adjusted signal, such that an amount gain adjustment is determined by the gain control signal;
one or more gain peaking control elements, connected to the gain controlled amplifier, configured to establish gain peaking in the gain adjusted signal; and
an output configured to provide the gain adjusted signal from the one or more gain peaking control elements to the distributed amplifier;
two or more amplifier cells, each amplifier cell comprising:
an amplifier cell input configured to receive the gain adjusted signal;
two or more amplifiers, connected in a cascode configuration, to amplify the gain adjusted signal to create an amplified signal; and
an amplifier cell output configured to carry the amplified signal;
an input path configured to receive an input signal and distribute the input signal to the two or more amplifier cells, the input path including one or more inductors that cancel input parasitic capacitance from the two or more amplifier cells; and
an output path connected to the amplifier cell output of the two or more amplifier cells to receive the amplified signal, the output path including one or more inductors that cancel output parasitic capacitance from the two or more amplifier cells.