Digitizing front end for optical receiver
US7388535B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/1215
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A sampled-data-integrating front end is employed to convert an optical signal to a digital electrical signal. The front end includes a photodetector and an array of parallel conversion circuits, each including an activation switch, a charge amplifier and an Analog to Digital Converter (“ADC”). The charge amplifier includes a reset switch, a capacitor, and an amplifier. The resent switch is operable to discharge the capacitor. The capacitor is operable to charge to the voltage of a signal charge when the activation switch is closed, and to hold that voltage after the activation switch is opened. The amplifier is operable to provide current at the voltage across the capacitor for a period sufficient to enable the ADC to obtain an accurate sample. The parallel conversion circuits are time-interleaved to provide a selected resolution in the digital electrical representation of the optical signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.