Anadigics, Inc., a leading manufacturer of transimpedance amplifiers for telecom fiber communications, has unveiled its first gallium arsenide (GaAs) opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) designed to meet the needs of the growing high speed data communications market. The AMT128501 integrates a photodetector and transimpedance amplifier offering a distinct advantage in cost and board space over traditional designs, which require separate components. In addition, the flat lens and large active area of the integrated photodiode, 100 ımı, further reduces cost and manufacturing time by facilitating optical alignment.

The high performance AMT128501 features a monolithically integrated metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector with a transimpedance amplifier, and meets or exceeds all Gigabit Ethernet and Fiber Channel requirements. The device, which operates from a +5 volt power supply, features an 850 nm photodetector, which converts data transmitted as light over a fiber optic network at 1.25 Gb/s into a differential voltage signal.

"We have built a product for the datacom market that utilizes the strengths of our 10 years of industry leading SONET TIA design and manufacturing" said Tim Laverick, Director, Fiber Optics Products.

"Having a photodetector integrated directly onto the IC ultimately provides a lower-cost approach than discrete PIN diodes and preamplifiers, " said Dan Trepanier, Sales Manager, Fiber Optics Products. "This integration results in a higher performance product due to its optimization of the match between the TIA and photodetector. "

"With the recent approval of the Gigabit Ethernet standard, we are well positioned to meet the demands of this growing marketplace with products for high-speed network technologies," Trepanier noted.

The low noise AMT128501 achieves -20 dBm or better optical sensitivity. Other features include 0 dBm overload, -3 dB bandwidth of >1000 MHz, and 260 ps rise and fall times.

This is a wonderful example of how to leverage your technology to your and your customers' advantage. The whole notion of integrating information collection and processing started with CCD optical collection and that market has developed and matured extremely successfully. This should also happen with light detection and signal processing from fiber, and the combination of the detector and transimpedance amplifier is entirely logical. The detector can no longer be a PIN diode but I don't think many designers or installation technicians will regret that loss too much. Anadigics has remained open to other process technologies than just GaAs over recent years and it is good to see them spreading their wings with this MSM photodetector technology.

This product will be a clear winner in the marketplace: One device, perfectly matched with no possibility of crosstalk and a good-sized target area on the device: Who could refuse? The AMT128501 is in a TO-46 flat window package, is in production and is priced at $11 in 10,000-piece lots.