What this 11.3 Gbps laser driver does in a fiber-optic link
The ONET8501VRGPT is a single-channel laser diode driver from Texas Instruments, designed for fiber-optic transceiver modules operating at data rates up to 11.3 Gbps. It provides a bias current of 20 mA and a modulation current of 24 mA, which together bias the laser above threshold and modulate it with the data signal. The 90 mA supply current at 2.95 V to 3.6 V means the driver's own power dissipation is under 330 mW — relevant for thermal management in a compact SFP+ or XFP module where every milliwatt counts.
Temperature grade and operating environment
The 11.3 Gbps data rate is specified across this full temperature range, so the eye diagram margin at 85°C is the limiting case for the link budget.
Lifecycle and compliance
It is ROHS3 Compliant, meaning the homogeneous materials contain no more than the allowed concentration limits for the six original RoHS substances plus four phthalates.
