Optical receiver suitable for optical interconnects
First Claim
1. An optical receiver comprising a photodetector unit for converting an optical signal incident thereupon into a corresponding electrical photodetector current and a current-mode circuit having a very low impedance, low capacitance input coupled to the photodetector unit for receiving the electrical photodetector current and an output for outputting an electrical output signal corresponding to said electrical photodetector current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical receiver comprises a photodetector for converting an optical signal incident thereupon into a corresponding electrical photodetector current and a current-mode circuit coupled to the photodetector for receiving the electrical current. The current-mode circuit is characterized by a very low impedance, low capacitance input. It provides an electrical output current corresponding to the photodetector current. This electrical output current is substantially independent of the input capacitance, in view of the very low input impedance and small voltage swings of the current-mode circuit. Consequently, the photodetector may have a relatively large area, which facilitates optical alignment of transmitters and receivers when the optical receiver is used in optical interconnects. The current-mode circuit may comprise a current conveyor, conveniently followed by a current-to-voltage converter and a thresholder for providing a digital output signal in dependence upon the photodetector current. Alternatively, the current mode circuit may comprise a sense amplifier providing directly a digital output signal varying in dependence upon the photodetector current.
14 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An optical receiver comprising a photodetector unit for converting an optical signal incident thereupon into a corresponding electrical photodetector current and a current-mode circuit having a very low impedance, low capacitance input coupled to the photodetector unit for receiving the electrical photodetector current and an output for outputting an electrical output signal corresponding to said electrical photodetector current.
Specification