A novel GaAs Multi-Chip MMIC Video Amplifier for optical receiver in cable communication systems

In this paper a novel GaAs Multi-Chip MMIC Video Amplifier is presented for gigabit passive optical network (GPON) fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-building (FTTx) downstream cable communication systems. The video amplifier is composed of three dice: the first one is an input transimpedance amplifier (TIA), the second is an analog variable voltage controlled attenuator (VVA), and the last is comprised of a first stage main amplifier, a non-reflective dual resonant tilting circuit and an output stage main amplifier. The three-die video amplifier is implemented in M/A-COM Technology Solutions's Fab1 processes: 0.5 μm low access resistance pHEMT process, and 1.0μm high linearity MESFET switch process. The video amplifier combines complex multifunction MMICs and exhibits unmatched performance: 42dB receiver gain, 34dB attenuation range, 3.5pA/rtHz input-referred noise current density (Ein), 18dB output return loss, 65dBc composite triple beat (CTB) and 70dBc composite second order (CSO) (CATV standard 79 analog channels over -8 to +2dBm optical input power), achieving 26dBmV/CH output power level with typical 335mA DC current consumption at +5V power supply. The amplifier is packaged in a 4×6mm 32-lead PQFN package.