Optical receiver circuit and method

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal compises a photodiode (1) for receiving the optical signal and for generating a first modulated electrical signal. An amplification circuit (3) receives the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto via an n stage (where n is an odd-integer) filter network (2) connected between the photodiode (1) and the amplification circuit (3). The output from the amplification circuit is fed to a first equalisation and noise filter (5). The characteristics of the filter network are such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised.