Single-MMIC Four-Channel Transmitter Module for Multichannel RF/Optical Subcarrier Multiplexed Communications Applications

We present a compact single monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) transmitter module for four-channel RF/optical subcarrier multiplexed (OSCM) communication applications. The developed module consists of one fully monolithic four-channel OSCM transmitter integrated circuit (IC) and four coupled-line filters. The MMIC is designed and implemented in a commercial 0.6m GaAs MESFET process and five-stage coupled-line filters are fabricated for each of the four channels on the module board. We present the module design and bit-error-rate performance. This is the first fully monolithic IC transmitter module for OSCM communications applications.