Horst Zimmermann – författare

Many single photon detection systems are based on the technology of superconducting nanowires. But despite their high detection efficiency, the need of cooling them to cryogenic temperatures prohibits their widespread usage. This book shows the progress of integrated (thick) CMOS SPADs towards high photon detection probabilities and applications such as in low-cost consumer data communication and high-end single-photon counting for quantum applications. Newest research results are introduced and comprehensively detailed.

Key Features

1. The topic is covered from basics to applications.

2. The properties of discrete SPADs and of integrated SPADs are compared in compact form.

3. Dedicated circuits to exploit discrete and integrated SPADs are introduced and explained in detail.

4. Microelectronics and optoelectronics are combined in an easily understandable way.

5. Numerous elaborate illustrations and tables facilitate and enhance comprehension.

This book focuses on ultra-sensitive PIN and avalanche photodiode receiver (USPAR) ICs for data communication. After more than 20 years of exploitation of the pin-photodiode CMOS technology leading to efficient APD and SPAD receivers and sensors, this book describes how ultra-sensitive PIN photodiode receivers close the loop back to PIN photodiode ICs.

In contrast to conventional optical receivers, which are based on resistive-feedback transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), the book uses charge integration on small photodiodes with a low capacitance known from image sensors to reduce the noise considerably - even better sensitivity than with SPAD receivers is achieved. To obtain a much larger light sensitive area as in pixels of image sensors, innovative low-capacitance pin-finger and dot photodiodes are introduced.

Important advantages of USPAR ICs are much lower circuit complexity, much smaller chip area and much lower power consumption as of SPAD receivers. In addition, error correction can be avoided. Detailed investigations of photodetectors and integrating amplifiers with many surprises and astonishing results of newest research will be described.

Key Features:

Describes newest research results in the field

Covers basics to applications

Includes properties of USPAR receivers compared to that of SPAD receivers in compact form.

Explains dedicated ultra-low-noise circuits to exploit charge-integrating receivers in detail.

Presents microelectronics and optoelectronics combined in an easily understandable way.

Included numerous elaborate illustrations and tables facilitate and enhance comprehension.

This book reviews various topics in optoelectronics and the design of microelectronic circuits. It introduces readers to the essential features of optical absorption and device physics of photodetectors, as well as their integration in modern CMOS and BiCMOS technologies. This information provides the basis for understanding the underlying mechanisms of Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits (OEICs), which are described in the main part of the book.

This book describes the newest implementations ofintegrated photodiodes fabricated in nanometer standard CMOS technologies. Italso includes the required fundamentals, the state-of-the-art, and the designof high-performance laser drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, equalizers, andlimiting amplifiers fabricated in nanometer CMOS technologies. This book showsthe newest results for the performance of integrated optical receivers, laserdrivers, modulator drivers and optical sensors in nanometer standard CMOStechnologies. Nanometer CMOS technologies rapidly advanced, enablingthe implementation of integrated optical receivers for high data rates ofseveral Giga-bits per second and of high-pixel count optical imagers andsensors. In particular, low cost silicon CMOS optoelectronic integratedcircuits became very attractive because they can be extensively applied toshort-distance optical communications, such as local area network, chip-to-chipand board-to-board interconnects as well as to imaging and medical sensors.

Integrated Silicon Optoelectronics synthesizes topics from optoelectronics and microelectronics. The book concentrates on silicon as the major base of modern semiconductor devices and circuits. Starting from the basics of optical emission and absorption, as well as from the device physics of photodetectors, the aspects of the integration of photodetectors in modern bipolar, CMOS, and BiCMOS technologies are discussed. Detailed descriptions of fabrication technologies and applications of optoelectronic integrated circuits are included. The book, furthermore, contains a review of the newest state of research on eagerly anticipated silicon light emitters. In order to cover the topics comprehensively, also included are integrated waveguides, gratings, and optoelectronic power devices. Numerous elaborate illustrations facilitate and enhance comprehension. This extended edition will be of value to engineers, physicists, and scientists in industry and at universities. The book is also recommended to graduate students specializing on microelectronics or optoelectronics.