In this paper, a fully-integrated transimpedance amplifier with ultra-large dynamic range and automatic gain control function is presented. By first deploying three AGC-controlled current paths in the low noise pre-amplifier, the transimpedance amplifier (TIA) can accommodate a significantly enlarged input current. Meanwhile, the range of automatic transimpedance adjustment is enhanced utilizing the automatic gain control (AGC) circuit, tunable pre-amplifier (PrA), and variable gain amplifier (VGA). Besides the above blocks, the TIA with a size of 1.26 × 1.33 mm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> also integrates level shifter, post-amplifier, buffer, DC offset cancellation (DCOC), bandgap reference (BGR), and low-dropout regulator (LDO). With a single 3.3-V external supply voltage, the fully integrated TIA in 0.11 μm CMOS achieves a measured input dynamic range up to 7.4 mA@2.5 Gb/s, an input referred noise as low as 137.3 nA and a differential trans-impedance gain of 10 kQ. Taking the bandwidth, dynamic range, and trans-impedance gain into account, the fabricated CMOS TIA demonstrates the largest input dynamic range with maintaining competitive comprehensive performance.
Read full abstract