Demonstration of a 3-bit optical digital-to-analog converter based on silicon microring resonators

We propose an N-bit optical digital-to-analog converter based on silicon microring resonators (MRRs), which can transform an N-bit electrical digital signal to an optical analog signal. A 3-bit optical digital-to-analog convertor is fabricated as proof of concept through a CMOS-compatible process on a silicon-on-insulator platform. The silicon MRRs are modulated through the electric-field-induced carrier injection in forward biased PN junctions embedded in the ring waveguides. The electro-optical 3-dB bandwidths of the silicon MRRs are approximately 800 MHz. The device works well at a speed of 500 MSample/s under driving voltage swings of 0.75 V.