MaxLinear has made its Washington transimpedance amplifier (TIA) available for sampling, targeting 1.6T optical transceiver modules used in AI data center networks. The chip is a four-lane design rated at 200G per lane, aimed at receive-chain designs where power, noise, and linearity directly affect link budgets and module thermals.
Washington is specified at ~750 mW typical power for four channels and uses 750 µm lane spacing. Features include programmable automatic gain control (AGC), integrated photodiode bias, per-channel received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and I2C control and monitoring. MaxLinear says the device is built on a SiGe process and is designed for low noise, low group delay, and “excellent linearity.”
On interoperability, MaxLinear states Washington works with PAM4 DSPs from “all major” PAM4 DSP vendors. The company also calls out pairing Washington with its Rushmore PAM4 DSP for “close analog-digital co-optimization across the receive signal chain,” and says Washington’s flat frequency response is intended to reduce sensitivity to high-frequency parasitics.
Integration details matter in 1.6T modules, and MaxLinear is leaning into packaging compatibility here: Washington is described as pad-compatible with other leading TIAs and most flip-chip high-speed photodetectors, which can reduce re-spin risk for module vendors trying to keep a proven optical assembly while swapping the analog front end.
Washington is the first device in what MaxLinear describes as a planned family of low-noise TIAs aimed at multiple interface types, including LRO/LPO, NPO, XPO, and CPO applications. In practice, a single TIA family that can span different module architectures can simplify qualification work, but only if noise, linearity, and power stay predictable across those very different system partitions.
Rajneesh Gaur, SVP & GM, Data Center Connectivity Business Unit at MaxLinear, said, “Industry analysts project the fully retimed pluggable optics market with TIAs to exceed 150 million units by 2030, with the LPO and LRO segments surpassing 20 million units.”
MaxLinear said Washington samples are available now, with mass production scheduled for the second half of 2026.
Source: MaxLinear
