IP Library Granted Patent US 10,914,627
Granted Patent B2
US 10,914,627 · App. 16/274,261 · Granted Feb 9, 2021

Configurable laser monitor photodiode in optical modulation amplitude controller

Inventors: Jonah Edward Nuttgens (Southampton, GB); James Stephen Mason (Hampshire, GB)
Assignee: Semtech Corporation
G01J1/4257G01J1/44H01L31/02019H01L31/147H01S5/06812H01S5/0427
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,914,627
App. No.
16/274,261
Granted
Feb 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A photodiode current comparison circuit has a first current source coupled to a circuit node configurable to operate in a first mode, a second current source coupled to the circuit node configurable to operate in a second mode opposite the first mode, and a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal using a transistor coupled between the circuit node and the third current source. A photodiode is coupled to the circuit node. In a first configuration, an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal. In a second configuration, a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal. An amplifier provides an error signal of the photodiode.

Claims (55)

1. A photodiode current comparison circuit, comprising:

a first current source coupled to a circuit node and configurable to operate in a first mode;

a second current source coupled to the circuit node and configurable to operate in a second mode opposite the first mode;

a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal;

a cross-over circuit comprising inputs coupled for receiving the data signal and outputs for switching polarity of the data signal; and

a photodiode coupled to the circuit node.

2. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 1 , wherein an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal.

3. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 1 , wherein a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal.

4. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 1 , further including an amplifier including a first input coupled to the circuit node, a second input coupled for receiving a reference signal, and an output providing an error signal of the photodiode.

5. A photodiode current comparison circuit, comprising:

a first current source coupled to a circuit node and configurable to operate in a first mode;

a second current source coupled to the circuit node and configurable to operate in a second mode opposite the first mode;

a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal and a complementary data signal;

a first transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to the circuit node, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the data signal;

a second transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to a first power supply terminal, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the complementary data signal; and

a photodiode coupled to the circuit node.

6. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 5 , wherein an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the first power supply terminal.

7. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 5 , wherein a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a second power supply terminal.

8. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 5 , further including an amplifier including a first input coupled to the circuit node, a second input coupled for receiving a reference signal, and an output providing an error signal of the photodiode.

9. A photodiode current comparison circuit in a semiconductor package, comprising:

a first current source coupled to a circuit node;

a second current source coupled to the circuit node;

a control circuit for enabling the first current source or second current source;

a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal;

a cross-over circuit comprising inputs coupled for receiving the data signal and outputs for switching polarity of the data signal; and

a photodiode coupled to the circuit node.

10. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 9 , wherein an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal.

11. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 9 , wherein a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a power supply terminal.

12. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 9 , further including an amplifier including a first input coupled to the circuit node, a second input coupled for receiving a reference signal, and an output providing an error signal of the photodiode.

13. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 9 , wherein the first current source is referenced to a first power supply potential and the second current source is referenced to a second power supply potential.

14. A photodiode current comparison circuit in a semiconductor package, comprising:

a first current source coupled to a circuit node;

a second current source coupled to the circuit node;

a control circuit for enabling the first current source or second current source;

a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal;

a first transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to the circuit node, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the data signal;

a second transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to a first power supply terminal, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the data signal; and

a photodiode coupled to the circuit node.

15. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 14 , wherein an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the first power supply terminal.

16. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 14 , wherein a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a second power supply terminal.

17. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 14 , further including an amplifier including a first input coupled to the circuit node, a second input coupled for receiving a reference signal, and an output providing an error signal of the photodiode.

18. The photodiode current comparison circuit of claim 14 , wherein the first current source is referenced to a first power supply potential and the second current source is referenced to a second power supply potential.

19. A method of making a photodiode current comparison circuit, comprising:

providing a first current source coupled to a circuit node;

providing a second current source coupled to the circuit node;

providing a control circuit for enabling the first current source or second current source;

providing a third current source switchable to route a current to the circuit node in response to a data signal;

providing a first transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to the circuit node, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the data signal;

providing a second transistor including a first conduction terminal coupled to a first power supply terminal, a second conduction terminal coupled to the third current source, and a control terminal coupled for receiving the data signal; and

providing a photodiode coupled to the circuit node.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein an anode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the first power supply terminal.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein a cathode of the photodiode is coupled to the circuit node and an anode of the photodiode is coupled to a second power supply terminal.

22. The method of claim 19 , further including providing an amplifier including a first input coupled to the circuit node, a second input coupled for receiving a reference signal, and an output providing an error signal of the photodiode.

23. The method of claim 19 , further including providing a cross-over circuit comprising inputs coupled for receiving the data signal and outputs for switching polarity of the data signal.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first current source is referenced to a first power supply potential and the second current source is referenced to a second power supply potential.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (049894/0523) Recorded Feb 17, 2023
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 062784/0040 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2019
From: SEMTECH CORPORATION; SEMTECH NEW YORK CORPORATION; SIERRA MONOLITHICS, INC.; SEMTECH EV, INC.; TRIUNE SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; TRIUNE IP, LLC
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 049894/0523 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2019
From: NUTTGENS, JONAH EDWARD; MASON, JAMES STEPHEN
To: SEMTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048322/0135 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200259311A1 · Aug 13, 2020