MaxLinear Launches MxL9203 Ultra-Low-Power 32Gbaud Linear Driver for 100Gbps / 200Gbps Coherent Long-Haul and Metro Applications

MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the connected home and wired and wireless infrastructure markets, today announced the MxL9203, a quad-channel linear Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator driver for next-generation 200Gbps dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) coherent systems.

With an attractive combination of ultra-low-power dissipation and best-in-class total harmonic distortion (THD) performance, the feature-rich MxL9203 supports next-generation linear DP-QPSK / DP-16QAM designs for telecom long-haul and metro networks where better linear driver performance is demanded.

The MxL9203 has a per-channel data rate of 32Gbaud with differential input and single-ended output. The MxL9203 features a serial peripheral interface (SPI) to perform all control and monitoring functions, which greatly simplifies module peripheral circuitry design and eliminates the need for external analog / digital conversion (DAC/ADC) and op-amp components that are required by conventional driver devices.

A programmable input gain equalizer compensates for high frequency loss from the printed circuit board (PCB) and the package, and provides bandwidth optimization capability to support up to 260Gbps data rate. The MxL9203 supports both legacy manual gain control mode and automatic gain control mode.

The device also integrates broadband bias tee to maintain optimal power dissipation. The MxL9203 is available in a small 14mm x 9mm SMT package that makes it ideal for the next-generation CFP-DCO or smaller form-factor module design for telecom applications where maximizing face-plate density and minimizing power dissipation are critical.

“Coherent technology, like the MxL9203, is helping carriers to build cost-effective long haul and metro networks that can meet the extreme growth in data consumption. The MxL9203 comes into this market with leading performance as well as the power dissipation and small size that can make next-generation coherent systems possible,” said Bird Yuan, MaxLinear’s Director of Marketing for High Speed Interconnect Products. “Leading telecom customers’ interest in this part shows that the MxL9203’s best-in-class performance and reliability are critically important.”

Source: MaxLinear media announcement