Variable gain optical modulator with open collector driver amplifier and method of operation

A method for processing and amplifying an input signal prior to transmission comprising:

• impedance matching the input signal with an impedance matching network to reduce signal return loss;
• reducing or eliminating DC signal components in the input signal with a DC block circuit;
• adjusting the gain applied to the input signal with a variable gain amplifier to create a modified input signal;
• processing the modified input signal with an emitter follower circuit, wherein the processing by the emitter follower circuit establishes gain peaking into the modified input signal, wherein the gain peaking performs a frequency specific gain adjustment, and the emitter follower circuit comprises a variable current source to control the frequency specific gain adjustment;
• and
• receiving and amplifying the modified input signal with gain peaking with a distributed amplifier to create an amplified signal.

An optic signal transmitter with distributed amplifier comprising:

• an input configured to receive an input signal from a data source;
• a driver and biasing module comprising:
• one or more biasing circuits configured to generate one or more bias signals for the transmitter;
• an impedance matching network configured to match an input impedance of the transmitter to an output impedance of the data source;
• a variable gain amplifier configured to adjust a magnitude of the input signal based on a gain control signal to generate a gain adjusted signal;
• an emitter follower circuit configured to receive and process the gain adjusted signal to introduce gain peaking, wherein the gain peaking is configured to perform a frequency specific gain adjustment, and the emitter follower circuit comprises a variable current source configured to control the frequency specific gain adjustment;
• and
• a distributed amplifier configured to receive and amplify the gain adjusted signal with gain peaking, from the emitter follower circuit, to create an amplified signal;
• and
• a modulator and optic signal generator configured to receive the amplified signal and convert the amplified signal to a modulated optic signal for transmission over an optic channel.