9 GHz limiting amplifier for 10G/14G optical links
The ONET8501PBRGTR is a single-channel limiting amplifier from Texas Instruments, designed to sit between a photodiode transimpedance amplifier and a clock-data recovery (CDR) or SerDes in 10 Gb/s and 14 Gb/s optical receivers. Its 9 GHz -3dB bandwidth supports data rates up to 14 Gb/s with margin for the fundamental frequency component. A limiting amplifier architecture means the output swing stays constant across a wide input dynamic range — the downstream CDR sees a fixed signal amplitude regardless of whether the fiber loss is 2 dB or 20 dB. This eliminates the need for an automatic gain control loop in the receiver chain.
Housed in a 16-VFQFN with exposed pad, 3x3 mm body (supplier device package 16-VQFN). The 0.50 mm pitch QFN demands a solder-paste stencil aperture that covers at least 50% of the exposed pad area for reliable solder joint formation under the die attach pad.