A new CMOS class-AB transmitter for 10 Gbps serial links

This paper presents a new fully differential CMOS class-AB multiplexing transmitter for 10 Gbps serial links. A large peak-to-peak output current swing is obtained by making use of the rail-to-rail class-AB configuration. A high multiplexing speed is achieved by performing multiplex at a low-impedance node and inductive shunt peaking with active inductors. The differential configuration of the transmitter suppresses common-mode disturbances and electromagnetic interference from channels. Switching noise and substrate noise injection are minimized by drawing a constant current from the supply voltage. The transmitter has been implemented in TSMC´s 1.8 V 0.18 μm CMOS technology and analyzed using Spectre from Cadence design systems with BSIM3.3v device models. Simulation results are presented.