Qorvo has introduced five new low-power four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) integrated circuits (ICs) aimed at delivering higher performance in data centre and client-side applications. The family of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) and drivers gives customers the broadest range of PAM4 options as their migrate their optical networks to 100G to 400G data rates.
“While the current ramp of 100G Ethernet in large data centres is dramatic, there is considerable interest in implementing the new Ethernet speeds, especially with PAM4 modulation,” said Vladimir Kozlov, founder and CEO of LightCounting. “Qorvo’s new linear drivers and TIAs will support all the new speeds from 25G, 50G, 200G and even 400G.”
Gorden Cook, general manager of the Qorvo transport business unit said: “We are excited to launch the industry’s broadest PAM4 product line, including both drivers and TIAs. These products are designed to more efficiently connect equipment in data centres and client-side telecom applications. Our complete range of solutions will enable our optical customers to improve performance, reduce total cost and accelerate the implementation of 100G to 400G systems.”
Built on high-performance gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and silicon germanium (SiGe) technologies, the Qorvo PAM4 family includes three 28Gbaud linear drivers and two linear TIAs. The units feature what Qorvo claims is the industry’s leading power efficiency within the range of 200mW per channel, high gain and high linearity, in a small footprint.
The range of 28GBaud drivers include the QPA4854, a quad-channel linear driver for 100G NRZ and 200G/400G CFP8 PAM4 applications; the QPA4993, a 28GBaud single-channel linear driver for 100G SFP28 applications; and the QPA4994, a quad-channel linear driver for 100G NRZ and 200G/400G CFP8 PAM4 applications.
Also available are the TGA4875 single-channel TIA for 100G PAM4 and DMT applications; and the QPA4876D single-channel TIA for 200G/400G PAM4 and DMT applications.
Qorvo’s new linear drivers are now being built into optical network systems. The single-channel TIAs will be available for sampling in April. Additional quad-channel drivers and new TIAs will be available in late 2017.