Power-efficiency estimation of exponential horn driver circuit for low-power optical link

An accurate evaluation of power efficiency is necessary for designing transmitters and their networks for short-reach optical links, which consume a relatively large amount of power within transmitting circuits. We propose a power efficiency estimation model of an exponential horn multi-stage inverter circuit based on large-signal analysis. Transient response formulas are derived from the static characteristics of transistors, and a formula relating the eye-opening rate, power consumption, and the transistor’s growth coefficient is also derived. The obtained formulas match well with the simulation results using a device model.