Synergistic Driver-Laser/Modulator Co-Design with Versatile Output Stage: A Unified Optical Transmitter EIC Design Approach

With the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, demand for optical modules surges-alongside faster upgrades and stricter low-power requirements. However, traditional optical driver integrated circuits (ICs) rely on device-specific customization, which lengthens driver design cycles, delays module deployment, and raises costs, becoming a bottleneck for optical module evolution. To address these issues, this work proposes a unified optical transmitter electronic integrated circuit (EIC) design approach featuring synergistic driver-laser/modulator co-design and a versatile output driver (VOD). The VOD can be configured into three output impedance states (open-drain, differential 50-Ω, or differential 100-Ω), enabling it to drive various optical devices like distributed feedback lasers (DFBs), vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), electro-absorption modulated lasers (EMLs), and Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) with a single design, minimizing device-specific customization. Meanwhile, its power consumption is also adjustable to maximize the power efficiency. The proposed design approach demonstrates the potential to address the critical interoperability, cost, and power challenges faced by AI data centers, providing a scalable template for next-generation coherent and 4-level pulse amplitude modulation systems and facilitating rapid deployment.