Distributed Photodiode with Built-in Equalization Capability

Optical interconnects are progressively penetrating into short reach data communications due to their high bandwidth, low crosstalk, and negligible channel loss characteristics. The speed of the photodiode is crucial in achieving high data rate optical receivers. For photodiodes used in optical communication links, its operation speed must be high to support high data rate.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a distributed photodiode with finite impulse response (FIR) filtering enabled by a lumped transmission line. The electrical bandwidth due to the junction parasitic capacitance of the photodiode is increased as the parasitic capacitance is absorbed into the transmission line structure. This technology integrates segmented photodiodes into transmission lines that absorb the intrinsic capacitance, significantly improving the bandwidth of the photodiode and hence, the data rate. This technology can be applied to silicon photodiodes to enhance their bandwidth close to that of non-silicon photodiodes, allowing the use of low-cost, easy-to-integrate silicon photodiodes for high speed applications.

Advantages:

-Enhanced data rate

-Enhanced bandwidth

-Built-in equalization support

Potential Applications:

-Silicon photodiodes

TRL: 3

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Optical interconnects, distributed photodiode, high bandwidth, silicon photodiodes, data rate enhancement, FIR filtering, lumped transmission line, parasitic capacitance absorption, optical receivers, high-speed applications, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Optical Communication, Photodiodes