Receiver and transmitter designs for optical interconnects

Abstract

Fundamental design issues are discussed relevant to the free-space optical interconnection of silicon-integrated circuits. Such systems require spatial light modulators integrated onto the surface of very large scale integrated devices, and detection circuits which allow recovery of the optically transmitted signal. Transmitter and receiver designs are discussed for free-space optical interconnects, and the design of a differential detection circuit is examined which allows recovery of binary data from a transmitter under condition of low modulation efficiency. Results from a custom fabricated CMOS differential receiving circuit are given which demonstrate the feasibility of low modulation differential detection.