A 60 dB gain 55 dB dynamic range 10 Gb/s broadband SiGe HBT limiting amplifier

This limiting amplifier IC is implemented in a silicon-germanium (SiGe) HBT technology for low-cost 10 Gb/s fibre-optic applications. The IC employs 20 dB gain limiting cells, input overload protection, split analog/digital grounds and on-chip isolation interface with transmission lines. Sensitivity is 3.5 mV/sub pp/ at 10/sup -9/ BER with 2 V/sub pp/ maximum input and differential output. The gain is over 60 dB and S/sub 21/ bandwidth exceeds 15 GHz at 10 mVpp input. AM to PM conversion is less than 5 ps across a three-decade range of input amplitude.