A 9.5 Gb/s Si bipolar ECL array

The authors describe a 9.5-Gb/s Si bipolar ECL (emitter coupled logic) gate which has performance approximately equal to that of custom ICs because of optimized ECL circuit design, 0.3- mu m Si bipolar process, and 10-GHz package technology. 9.5-GHz operation is obtained with 1-mA switching current and 0.3*5.5 mu m/sup 2/ emitter area because emitter current density (J/sub e/) for shortest propagation time is 1.5 to 2.0 times as large as J/sub e/ for maximum f/sub T/. This ECL array was designed for multi-gigabit system operation and, in addition to digital, logic, and analog functions, it is easily configurable to provide high-speed functions such as clock distributors, shift registers, and ripple counters.<
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