An Inductor-Less 28-Gb/s NRZ Optical Receiver Analog Front-End Optimization Using BAG in 28-nm CMOS

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23075/jicas.2025.11.1.006
Keywords: Optical Receiver, Transimpedance Amplifier, inductor-less, Berkeley Analog Generator

Abstract

This paper presents an optimized design methodology for an inductor-less 28-Gb/s NRZ optical receiver (ORx) analog front-end (AFE) using the Berkeley Analog Generator (BAG) in 28-nm CMOS technology.

With the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission in optical interconnects, achieving an optimal balance between gain, bandwidth, and noise in transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) remains challenging.

To address this challenge, optimization to maximize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is performed using BAG.

Measured results of the ORx AFE demonstrate an input sensitivity of 8.5-dBm average optical power at 28-Gb/s, PRBS-7.

This work highlights the potential of the BAG-based design framework for integration into advanced optical communication systems, facilitating future developments in high-speed optical inter-connects.

Author Biographies

Tae-Young Choi, Yonsei University

Tae-Young Choi received the B.S. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea, in 2023. He is currently pursuing the M.S. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.

His research interests include high-speed optical receiver and design and layout automation of analog circuits.

Jae-Ho Lee, Yonsei University

Jae-Ho Lee received the B.S. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, in 2021, where he is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree.

His research interests include high-speed optical receiver IC design for WDM systems.

Dong-Hyeon Kim, Yonsei University

Dong-Hyeon Kim received the B.S. degree in information and communication engineering from Inha University, Incheon, Korea, in 2023. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.

His research interests include high-speed optical transceiver and design and layout automation of analog circuits.

Min-Hyeok Seong, Yonsei University

Min-Hyeok Seong (Graduate Student Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical and electronic engineering, in 2019 from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, where he is currently pursuing the combined Ph.D. degree.

His research interests include optical modulators based on Si photonics for digital and analog applications.

Woo-Young Choi, Yonsei University

Woo-Young Choi (Member, IEEE) received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA, in 1986, 1988, and 1994, respectively.

After working with NTT Opto-Electronics Laboratories, Kanagawa, Japan, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, he joined the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, where he is currently a Professor. At Yonsei University, he directs High-Speed Circuits and Systems Laboratory, where he and his research assistants pursue next-generation interconnect solutions based on high-speed CMOS integrated circuits and Si photonics.

Homepage : http://tera.yonsei.ac.kr/

Published
2025-01-01
How to Cite
Choi, T.-Y., Lee, J.-H., Kim, D.-H., Seong, M.-H., & Choi, W.-Y. (2025). An Inductor-Less 28-Gb/s NRZ Optical Receiver Analog Front-End Optimization Using BAG in 28-nm CMOS. Journal of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.23075/jicas.2025.11.1.006
Issue
Vol 11 No 1 (2025)
Section
Articles