Optoelectronic transceiver having an adaptable logic level signal detect output

[0002] The present invention provides an improved optoelectronic transceiver having a signal detect output which can be adapted to any particular logic level required by a host device.

[0003] Optoelectronic transceivers are well known in the art. In general, such transceivers are employed to optically transmit and receive data between two or more electronic host devices. To transmit data, the optoelectronic transceiver receives an electrical data signal from its host device, converts the electrical data signal to an optical signal, and transmits the optical signal over a transfer medium such as an optical fiber. On the receive side of the optoelectronic transceiver, optical signals are received over the optical transfer medium and converted into electrical data signals which are communicated to the host device.

[0004] The transceiver is usually mounted on or adjacent to the motherboard of the host device. Data communication between the host device and the transceiver is managed by a controller chip such as a Media Access Controller, or MAC, chip. The MAC chip resides on the mother board, and controls the flow of data between the host's processing unit and the transceiver module. Thus all data signals, as well as diagnostic and control signals generated by either the host device or the transceiver module, and relating to the communication of data over the optical data link must be input to the MAC chip so that the controller can act on them accordingly.

[0005] One such signal which is commonly generated by optoelectronic transceivers, particularly in 1×9 transceiver packages, is an optical signal detected signal or SD. The SD signal is input to the media controller from the transceiver in order to alert the host device that an optical signal is being received. In present generation transceiver modules such as the 1×9, the SD signal supplied to the host device is an emitter coupled logic (ECL) or positive emitter coupled logic (PECL) signal. Due to the relatively small voltage difference between logic levels, ECL or PECL are the preferred logic for high speed data communications modules. However, most host devices and media controllers operate using other logic levels such as CMOS or TTL. Thus, there is an interface problem between the ECL or PECL SD signal and the TTL or CMOS level circuitry of the host device.

[0006] To date, the interface problem has been resolved by adding an ECL/TTL converter chip (or some other converter chip depending on the particular logic levels being converted) directly to the motherboard of the host device. A converter chip accepts the ECL level SD signal and converts it to a TTL level signal which is then input to the media controller chip. A drawback to this solution, however, is that it adds cost to the production of the motherboard. Another drawback is that the extra semiconductor chip required to convert the ECL level signal to TTL consumes space on the mother board. In most electronic equipment miniaturization is of extreme importance, and real estate on the motherboard comes at a premium. The added converter chip required to adapt the SD signal occupies valuable space which could otherwise be used for additional circuit features to enhance the functionality of the host device.

[0007] To avoid this interface problem in a cost effective manner, and to save space on the host device motherboard, an optoelectronic transceiver is needed having an optical signal detected output which has a logic level specifically adapted to the logic level of the media controller with which it will interface. In an improved transceiver module the SD signal should be generated directly at the logic level required, without the need for a converter chip. It is also desirable that the SD output be configurable such that selective placement of external resistors will adapt the SD to a particular logic level. It is even more desirable that such an optoelectronic transceiver module having an adaptable SD output be provided in an 1×9 transceiver package wherein the adaptable logic levels include TTL, CMOS, or a high voltage output.

[0008] In light of the background given above, one of the main objectives of the present invention is to provide an optoelectronic transceiver having an optical signal detected, or SD, output to provide indication to a host device that an optical signal is being received, the logic level of the output being compatible with the logic level of the media controller of the host device.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide an optoelectronic transceiver module having a TTL level SD output.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an optoelectronic transceiver module having a CMOS level SD output.

[0011] Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an optoelectronic transceiver module having a high voltage or high current SD output.

[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a 1×9 transceiver package with an SD output matched to the host device's media controller.

[0013] An additional objective of the present invention is to provide a transceiver package having an adaptable logic level SD output wherein the logic level of the SD output signal is configurable through the addition of external biasing components.

[0014] All of these objectives, as well as others that will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, are met by the optoelectronic transceiver having an adaptable logic level signal detect signal disclosed herein. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a small footprint transceiver such as a 1×9 package, however, the invention may be practiced on any optoelectronic transceiver of any form factor.

[0015] A first embodiment generates the SD output based on the actual optical power received over the optical transfer medium. The received power is converted to a monitor voltage which is compared to a reference voltage. When the received optical power exceeds a predetermined threshold, the monitor voltage exceeds the reference voltage, and the signal detected output is set. The output stage of the circuit can be configured such that in the true state, meaning a signal has been detected, a TTL level signal, a CMOS signal, or a high voltage or high current signal is set to true. The high voltage and high current configurations may be set to any value required under the specific requirements of the application.

[0016] In a second embodiment an AC signal detecting circuit generates the SD output. The signal received over the optical transfer medium is converted to an electrical signal and input to both a peak detecting circuit and an average voltage detecting circuit. The peak signal is compared against the average voltage signal, and when the peak signal exceeds the average signal by a predetermined amount, the SD output is set true. As with the first embodiment, the output stage of the circuit can be configured such that in the true state, meaning a signal has been detected, a TTL level signal, a CMOS signal, or a high voltage or high current signal is set to true. The high voltage and high current configurations may be set to any value required under the specific requirements of the application.

[0017] In both embodiments, by generating the output signal at the proper logic level directly, the necessity of including a logic signal converter is avoided. This saves cost in the production of both the transceiver module and the host device. It also conserves board space on both the transceiver and host device mother board so that additional circuit features may be provided. Additionally, the transceiver module's printed circuit board can be layed out such that any logic level may be selected for the SD output by selectively biasing the output stage of the SD circuitry. Multiple solder pads may be provided such that additional biasing components can be added to the output circuitry. These additional components may range from pullup resistors, or voltage divider resistors to the addition of a high voltage output transistor. The prearranged solder pads allow the SD output to be adaptable to any logic level that a specific application requires.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical power detecting circuit;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an AC signal detect circuit;

[0020] FIG. 3ais a schematic diagram of the output stage of a SD output circuit according to the present invention configured to provide a TTL signal;

[0021] FIG. 3bis a schematic diagram of the output stage of a SD output circuit according to the present invention showing an alternate configuration for supplying a TTL signal;

[0022] FIG. 3cis a perspective view of the outer housing of a prior art 1×9 optoelectronic transceiver having an SC-duplex receptacle for connecting to an SC-duplex fiber optic connector;

[0023] FIG. 3dis a perspective view showing the1×9 pins on the bottom of the optoelectronic transceiver shown in FIG. 3c;

[0024] FIG. 3eis an enlarged cut-away view of the optoelectronic transceiver shown in and taken along line 3e—3eof FIG. 3c,which shows the transmit and receive optical subassemblies;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the output stage of a SD output circuit according to the present invention configured to provide a CMOS signal;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the output stage of a SD output circuit according to the present invention configured to provide either a high voltage or a high current output signal; and

[0027] FIG. 6 show the physical layout of a printed circuit board which allows selective configurability of the SD output logic level.

[0028] The present invention provides an improved optoelectronic transceiver having a signal detect output which can be adapted to any particular logic level required by a host device. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an optical signal detect circuit 100. The optical signal detect circuitry senses the presence of optical power received directly from the optical transfer medium. Signal detection circuitry 100 includes a photodiode 102, a voltage comparator 104, and resistors R₁-R₆.

[0029] Resistors R₃and R₄are connected in series between a +5V voltage source and ground, creating a voltage divider between R₃and R₄. The junction between R₃and R₄is connected to the non-inverting input of comparator 104. Thus, a reference voltage V_REFis established based on the resistive ratio between R₃and R₄. V_REFis input to the non-inverting input of comparator 104. V_REFequals the 5V supply voltage minus the voltage drop across R₃. It is preferred that, R₃=274Ω, and R₄=220 KΩ, establishing a voltage drop of 6.22 mV across R₃. As will be shown below, The 6.22 mV voltage drop across R₃establishes the power threshold of a received optical signal above which the received power detection circuitry 100 will indicate that a signal is present. This power threshold may be altered as desired by altering the resistance ratio between R₃and R₄, thereby establishing an alternate V_REF.

[0030] R₁, photodiode 102, and R₂are also connected in series between the +5V voltage source and ground. Photodiode 102 is connected between R₁and R₂with the cathode connected to R₁and the anode connected to R₂. The +5V source reverse biases photodiode 102, and the optical radiation received over the optical transfer medium modulates the reverse current allowed to pass through photodiode 102. Thus, the amount of current flowing through R₁and R₂is regulated by photodiode 102. Photodiode 102 is sized such that the reverse current through photodiode 102 varies on the order of 0.5A per watt of received optical energy. Since the reverse current is dependent on the amount of optical power detected, the reverse current can be considered the signal detect current, or I_D. Since inverting input of comparator 104 typically draws only 0.04 pico amperes of current, for all practical purposes, photodiode 102 is the only current sinking device connected to R₁, and the reverse current I_Dis the only current flowing through R₁. Therefore, the current I_Dcreates a signal detect voltage drop V_Dacross R₁, and since I_Dvaries according to the amount of optical power received by photodiode 102, V_Dlikewise varies according to the amount of optical power received. The junction between R₁and the cathode of photodiode 102 is connected to the inverting terminal of comparator 104 through resistor R₅. Since the input resistance to comparator 104 is theoretically infinite, the current flowing through R₅is negligible, and consequently there is little or no voltage drop across R₅. Thus, the voltage present at the inverting terminal of comparator 104 is approximately equal to the 5V supply voltage minus the voltage drop V_Dacross R₁. R₅is merely added to reduce the amount of high frequency noise being coupled to photodiode 102. Since the voltage present at the inverting terminal of comparator 104 is determined by the voltage drop V_Dacross R₁, and the voltage present at the non-inverting terminal of comparator 104 is determined by the voltage drop across R₃, comparator 104 effectively compares the two voltage drops.

[0031] The output of comparator 104 will be set to a true logic state when the voltage present on the non-inverting terminal is greater than the voltage present on the inverting terminal. Stated conversely, the output of comparator 104 will be set true whenever the voltage drop across R₁is greater than the voltage drop across R₃. The voltage drop across R₃is fixed by the resistive ratio between R₃and R₄. The voltage drop across R₁, however, varies with the intensity of the received optical signal, the voltage drop increasing with the intensity of the optical signal. Thus, when the received optical signal exceeds the level necessary to create a voltage drop across R₁greater than the 6.22 mV drop across R₃, the output of comparator 104 is set to true, indicating that a signal has been detected. R6 provides hysteresis so that the SD asserted level is higher than the deasserted level by approximately 1.5 db.

[0032] Power detection circuitry 100 further includes an output stage for driving the logic output signal, SD. Several different output configurations are contemplated. FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, for example, disclose output stages for SD output signals having TTL, CMOS, and high voltage or high current outputs respectively. In the TTL output stage of FIG. 3a, the output of comparator 104 is pulled up through a passive biasing network comprised of resistors R₇and R₈. Resistors R₇and R₈are connected in series between the +5V supply voltage and ground. Resistors R₇and R₈create a voltage divider wherein a reference voltage is established at node A created by the junction of the two resistors R₇and R₈. Node A is connected to the output of comparator 104. Comparator 104 is an open drain device such as, for example, an LMC 7221 produced by National Semiconductor. When the output of comparator 104 is set to a logic true, the output of comparator 104 is pulled up to the reference voltage established at node A. When comparator 104 is set to a false logic state, the output is pulled to ground. Therefore, by properly selecting resistors R₇and R₈, the voltage difference between a false logic state and a true logic state can be established at any level between 0 and 5 volts. However, in order to be compatible with TTL standards, in the true state, the output must supply a minimum of 0.4 mA at 2.4 V. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, resistors R₇and R₈are sized at 1 KΩ and 2 KΩ respectively, to establish a true logic voltage of 3.33V.

[0033] As an alternative to the biasing network shown in FIG. 3a, the open drain output of comparator 104 can be replaced with a true TTL device such as an LMC7211. In this configuration, a pair of complimentary MOSFET transistors are arranged in a push-pull configuration to supply a TTL output directly, as shown in FIG. 3b. However, this configuration loses some of the design flexibility inherent in the configuration of FIG. 3a. In FIG. 3b, the voltage level and output current of the SD output signal are determined by the LMC7211 comparator chip, and cannot be as readily manipulated as in the circuit shown in FIG. 3a.

[0034] Turning to FIG. 4, a CMOS output stage is disclosed. Here again, comparator 104 has an open drain output as embodied in the LMC7221 comparator chip. A single pull up resistor R₉is connected between the +5V supply and the output of comparator 104. Since a CMOS input draws very little current, R₉can be very much larger than resistors R₇and R₈of the previous embodiment, such as the 10 KΩ resistor employed in FIG. 4. When the output of comparator 104 is set to a true logic state, the SD output is pulled up directly to the +5V supply through resistor R₉. As with the previous embodiment, in a false logic state, the SD output is pulled down to ground.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows yet another configuration for the output stage of the SD signal. Comparator 104 comprises the same open drain LMC7221 comparator as the previous embodiments, however, resistors R₁₀, R₁₁, and transistor Q₁are added to the output as well. The output of comparator 104 is connected to the base of transistor Q₁through resistor R₁₁, and pulled up to +5V through resistor R₁₀. With comparator 104 set to a true logic state, comparator 104 is nonconductive and the output is pulled up to +5V. The +5V on the comparator 104 output forward biases the base emitter junction of transistor Q1, allowing a large current to flow into the collector. Conversely, with the output of comparator 104 set to a false logic state, the output of comparator 104 is pulled to ground and the base-emitter voltage applied to Q1 is essentially brought to 0V, so that virtually no current flows into the collector. In other words, Q1 acts as a switch which is controlled by the output of comparator 104. Q1 may be selected to accommodate either high voltage or high current loads, as represented by coil L1. Thus, the signal detect output can be employed to drive a light or a motor, or some other device which requires greater current or voltage levels than those provided by traditional logic signals such as ECL, PECL, TTL, or CMOS.

[0036] Finally, FIG. 6 shows an adaptable configuration where the logic level of the SD output may be selected as required by a particular application. In this configuration, a series of solder pads 300, 302, 304, 306 and 308 are formed on the optoelectronic transceiver's printed circuit board. The solder pads need not be located precisely as shown, however for practical assembly reasons as well as for conserving real estate on the printed circuit board, it is preferred that all five solder pads are located in near proximity to one another, and that they are in turn located near the output of comparator 104. As shown, a first solder 300 pad is connected to the +5V power source Vcc, and another solder pad 306 is connected to ground. Another solder pad 304 is connected directly to the output of comparator 104, and the final solder pad 308 is connected to the SD output supplied to the host device mother board. This arrangement allows any of the previously described output configurations of FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4 and 5 to be implemented on the transceiver printed circuit board. The output configuration of FIG. 3 is implemented by connecting R₇between solder pads 300 and 302, and connecting R₈between solder pads 302 and 306. The output stage is completed by placing short circuit jumpers between solder pads 302-304, and between solder pads 304-308. Output configuration 3bis implemented by merely short circuiting solder pads 304-308. The output stage of FIG. 4 is achieved by placing R₉between solder pads 300-302, and short circuiting solder pads 302-304 and 304-308. Finally, the high voltage/high current output stage of FIG. 5 can be implemented by soldering R₁₀between solder pads 300-304 and R₁₁between solder pads 302-304. The output circuit is completed by soldering the base of transistor Q₁to solder pad 302, the collector to solder pad 308 and the emitter to solder pad 306. Thus, by providing this small number of nondedicated solder pads, the logic level of the SD output may be configured as needed on an application specific basis.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of alternate signal detect circuitry is shown 200. Signal detect circuitry 200 does not monitor the received optical power directly. Instead, signal detect circuitry 200 receives an electrical AC data signal which has already been converted from the optical signal received over the optical transfer medium. Signal detect circuitry 200 divides the signal into an average component and a peak component. When the peak component exceeds the average component by a predetermined amount, the output is set to a true logic state indicating that a data signal has been detected.

[0038] The received data signal is input to signal line 202 from an amplifier or line driver output (not shown). The AC data signal is immediately split between two circuit paths, both which lead to comparator 208. The first circuit path, connected to the non-inverting terminal of comparator 208 includes resistor R₂₀, diode D₁, capacitor C₂, and resistor R₂₄. The second circuit path, connected to the inverting terminal of comparator 208 includes resistors R₂₁, R₂₃, and R₂₅, capacitor C₁, and diode D₂. The first circuit path acts as a peak detector. Resistor R₂₀serves to isolate the AC signal from its source, and diode D₁, capacitor C₂, and Resistor R₂₄form the peak detection circuitry. As the voltage of the AC data signal increases, D₁is forward biased and C₂rapidly charges to the voltage level of the incoming signal minus the forward voltage drop across D₁(in the preferred embodiment, D₁is selected to have a forward voltage drop of approximately 0.41V). Once the incoming signal reaches its peak voltage and starts to decline, the voltage stored in capacitor C₂becomes greater than the voltage of the incoming signal, reverse biasing D₁. With D₁reverse biased, C₂discharges through R₂₄.

[0039] It is contemplated that the transceiver of the present invention will be operating at very high data rates such as 1.063 GHz. At such frequencies, the time period for each bit is extremely small. Often the communication protocol for the data signal will require the periodic transmission of a binary 1 so that the receiving device can sense the presence of a signal even if a long series of binary zeroes is being transmitted. R₂₄and C₂are sized to create a large RC time constant so that the time required to discharge C₂across R₂₄will be much greater than the maximum interval between received binary ones. Thus, capacitor C₂will only discharge a negligible amount during the interval between a first received binary one and a second received binary one, even when the interval between the two received binary ones is the maximum allowed by the communication protocol. As soon as the next binary one is received, C2 will be recharged to the input signal's peak voltage. Thus, when a data signal is present, the voltage signal present at the non-inverting terminal of comparator 208 will equal the peak voltage of the incoming data signal minus the 0.41V forward voltage drop across D₁. When no data signal is present, capacitor C₂will eventually discharge through R₂₄, and the voltage at the non-inverting terminal of comparator 208 will equal the quiescent output of the amplifier or line driver which is supplying the AC signal minus the 0.41V forward voltage drop across D₁.

[0040] The second circuit path, connecting the AC data signal to the inverting terminal of comparator 208, provides a voltage reference against which the peak signal voltage detected in the first circuit path is compared. Within the second circuit path, resistor R₂₁serves a number of important functions. First, as with R₂₀, R₂, acts to isolate the output signal of the amplifier or line driver generating the AC signal. Second, in combination with capacitor C₁, R₂₁forms a low pass filter. R₂₁and C₁effectively block the high frequency data signal and allow only the average voltage component of the AC signal to pass. Finally, R₂₁forms a voltage divider with R₂₃between a +5V dc supply voltage and the amplifier/line driver output. The effect of the voltage divider between R₂₁and R₂₃is to provide an offset voltage to the DC voltage signal output from the amplifier/line driver, increasing the voltage of the signal above the average voltage of the AC signals. The junction of R₂₁and R₂₃acts at the input to the remainder of the circuit.

[0041] Diode D₂is included to provide an identical forward voltage drop in the average value signal as that caused by diode D₁in the peak detection circuit. By providing an identical voltage drop, comparator 208 can make a true comparison between the relative values of the peak detect signal and the offset voltage of the average value signal, since they both will have been reduced by the identical 0.41V forward voltage drop across diodes D₁and D₂. The diodes D₁and D₂are an unconnected pair of identical diodes contained in a single package. The two diodes have the same electrical characteristics, and since they are packaged together as a unit, they will react in the same way to thermal changes in their surroundings, creating an equal voltage drop in each of the signals passing therethrough. Identical 475 KΩ resistors are provided in R₂₄and R₂₅so that both diodes are forward biased in the same manner.

[0042] As noted, the first circuit path supplies a voltage signal to the non-inverting terminal of comparator 208 equal to the peak voltage of the input data signal minus the forward voltage drop across D₁. The second circuit path supplies a voltage signal to the inverting terminal of comparator 208 equal to the average voltage of the input data signal plus the offset voltage supplied by the voltage divider between R₂, and R₂₃, and minus the forward voltage drop across D₂. The offset voltage supplied by the voltage divider between R₂₁and R₂₃provides a threshold voltage for determining whether a data signal is being received by the transceiver. Comparator 208 compares the peak voltage signal present on the non-inverting terminal against the offset average voltage signal present at the inverting terminal. A voltage signal present at the non-inverting terminal greater than the voltage signal present at the inverting terminal corresponds to a “true” logic state indicating that a data signal is being received. Conversely, a voltage signal present at the non-inverting terminal below the voltage signal present at the inverting terminal, corresponds to a false logic state, indicating that a data signal is not being received. Thus, a data signal is detected when the peak voltage detected is greater than the average value of the data signal plus the voltage offset supplied by the voltage divider between R₂₁, and R₂₃.

[0043] The output stage of signal detect circuitry 200 may comprise any of the output configurations disclosed in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, and described with regard to the optical signal detect circuitry 100 of FIG. 1. Comparator 208 is the same as, or equivalent to the comparator 104 of the first embodiment, and therefore functions in the same manner. The operation of the various output stages is identical whether applied to the optical signal detect circuitry 100 of FIG. 1 or the AC signal detect circuitry 200 of FIG. 2, and therefore need not be discussed further here.

[0044] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.