This thesis examines the challenges in creating a fully integrated optical receiver. Due to the nature of silicon, 850nm light exhibits a poor impulse response when directed at an on-die photodiode. Using a modified decision feedback equalizer with an infinite impulse response filter in the feedback path allows to eliminate the long tail of post-cursor ISI that is generated by the photodiode. Due to silicide depositions over the photodiodes, making them opaque, the receiver was tested using an electrical cable with similar frequency roll-off as that of a photodiode. A data rate of 3.7 Gbps was achieved and only limited by the amount of input reflections at the transimpedance amplifier. The receiver occupies an area of 0.23 mm^2 and consumes 51.3mW.

This thesis examines the challenges in creating a fully integrated optical receiver. Due to the nature of silicon, 850nm light exhibits a poor impulse response when directed at an on-die photodiode. Using a modified decision feedback equalizer with an infinite impulse response filter in the feedback path allows to eliminate the long tail of post-cursor ISI that is generated by the photodiode. Due to silicide depositions over the photodiodes, making them opaque, the receiver was tested using an electrical cable with similar frequency roll-off as that of a photodiode. A data rate of 3.7 Gbps was achieved and only limited by the amount of input reflections at the transimpedance amplifier. The receiver occupies an area of 0.23 mm^2 and consumes 51.3mW.