A Passive Broadband Impedance Equalizer for Improving the Input Return Loss of Electro-Absorption Modulators

Based on the context of an electro-absorption modulator integrated laser and the industry's standard 7-pin package having a RF connector, a complete module design that incorporates a simple yet effective broadband impedance equalizer to improve the input return loss of electro-absorption modulators (EAM) is proposed. The passive broadband impedance equalizer effectively reduces the input return loss of the EAM from between -9.84 and -5.26 dB to between -11.5 and -9.35 dB over a frequency range from 4.4 to 12.2 GHz without having to add a resistor in series with the EAM or reducing the EAM absorption-layer capacitance from the value that was optimized for optimal optical performance.