A novel optimal design approach for a microwave active laser driver

A novel approach for designing actively matched laser drivers on MMICs is presented here. The key elements of this approach are to optimize the active matching network of the driver in order to provide good input matching, to maximize the electrical-to-optical transfer function, and also to compensate the frequency response of the laser diode junction current. This provides a flat frequency response in the bandwidth of interest. This approach is demonstrated by design of a 1-4 GHz laser driver.