Hittite expands optical modulator driver product line

Hittite Microwave Corp. has released a compact dual-channel 32 Gbps Mach-Zehnder optical modulator driver to support next-generation 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps metro and long-haul applications.

According to the company, the HMC6620BG is the first dual channel modulator driver in a compact BGA package with channel-to-channel isolation of > 30 dB up to 30 GHz and optional top or bottom cooling capability to ease space-constrained module designs. 

The driver provides 8 Vp-p saturated output swing up to 32 Gbps and features output swing cross point adjustment. With a wide supply operating range from +5V to +7V, the HMC6620BG is an environmentally friendly product consuming only 0.9 W of power with output swing of 6V and supply at +5V.

The HMC6620BG provides long haul system designers with scalable power dissipation for varying output drive requirements. The integrated peak detector function enables monitoring and maintains a constant output swing from the modulator driver to help designers improve system lifetime margin. Integrated high speed bias-tee eliminates the requirement for external components. The HMC6620BG can interface with the HMC981LP3E active bias controller, enabling stability of performance over all operating conditions. The HMC6620BG is rated for operations from -5 °C to +85 °C, provides up to 30 dB of gain, exhibits very low additive rms jitter of 300 fs and supports up to 32 Gbps operation. The output swing is adjustable from 5 Vp-p to 8.5 Vp-p.

Detailed package design reduces the channel-to-channel skew to only 1ps. The HMC6620BG is housed in 13.76 mm x 13 mm x 3.63 mm laminate substrate based BGA surface-mount package with integrated ESD protection. Samples and evaluation PC boards for all SMT packaged products are available from stock and can be ordered via the company's e-commerce site or via direct purchase order.