THE FIBER FORUM

Fiber Optic Communications

PRESENTED BY

Dr. JOSEPH C. PALAIS

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 1

 Section 10.2

Laser Diode Modulation

and Circuits

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 2

LD P-i Characteristics

300C 700C
P

i
ITH (30 0C) ITH (70 0C)

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 3

LD modulators need temperature compensation.
These include :
1. Thermoelectric coolers to maintain fixed
temperatures.
2. Monitoring the output power and varying the
current to maintain the desired operating point.
10.2.1 Analog Modulation
The same analog circuit as used for the LED works.
The characteristic is illustrated on the next slide.

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 4

 Saturation Output
Signal
P
t

ITH Idc i

iS

t Input Signal
Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 5
Typically
5 < ITH < 100 mA
Idc = 1.5 ITH

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 6

10.2.2 Digital Modulation

1 0 1
ON
P

OFF
i
ITH

0 Signal
iS
1

t
Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 7
The LD is set at threshold to decrease the turn-on
time.
Note that the ON-OFF ratio is not infinite. This may
lead to detection errors.
A circuit example is illustrated on the next slide.

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 8

 Vdc
High Speed Digital Modulator
I1
R1
ID

GaAs
MESFET C
G D+ R
vDS
S-
vGS
I +
vd
-
LD

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 9

GaAs MESFETs are faster than Si FETs.
ID = drain current
I = LD current
Operation
If vGS = 0
the drain source channel has low resistance. Drain
current ID is high. The diode current is
I = I1 - ID = ITH
This is the OFF state.

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 10

If vGS << 0 (a few volts negative)
the drain-source channel resistance is high. More
of the supply current will now flow through the LD.
This is the ON state. Typically
I > 1.5 ITH
Now the MESFET drain-source voltage is :
vDS = IR + vd
vd ~ 2 volts (diode ON voltage drop)
The resistor R assures vDS is large enough to
operate the MESFET

Dr. Joseph C. Palais 10.2 11