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US4959535A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical receiver circuit including a filter network to minimize noise

Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
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Filing: 1989-10-10
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Granted: 1990-09-25
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Expires: 2009-10-10
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Abstract

Abstract A receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal comprises 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 equalization amd 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 minimized.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ian Garrett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 17:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/60; H03; H03H; H03H7/00; H03H7/01; H03H7/075; H03H7/17; H03H7/1741; H03H7/175; H03H7/1775; H04B10/61; H04B10/63; H04B10/64

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
A receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal, the circuit comprising a photodetector acting as a current source for generating a first modulated electrical signal; an amplification circuit to which the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto is fed; a first noise filter; and an n stage (where n is an odd integer 3) filter network connected between the detector and the amplification circuit, the characteristics of the filter network being such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
A receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal, the circuit comprising a photodetector acting as a current source for generating a first modulated electrical signal; an amplification circuit to which the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto is fed; a first noise filter; and an n stage (where n is an odd integer 3) filter network connected between the detector and the amplification circuit, the characteristics of the filter network being such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A circuit according to claim 1 for direct detection of optical signals, wherein the first noise filter is a low-pass filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A circuit according to claim 1 for coherent homodyne detection of optical signals, wherein the first noise filter is a low-pass filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A circuit according to claim 1 for coherent heterodyne detection of optical signals, wherein the first noise filter is an IF bandpass filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A circuit according to claim 4, wherein the filter network comprises a third-order bandpass ladder filter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
A circuit according to claim 4, wherein the filter network includes a transformer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A circuit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the photodetector comprises a photodiode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
A circuit according to any one of the preceding claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 wherein the amplification circuit comprises an FET or bipolar transistor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of constructing a receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal in which the circuit comprises a photodetector acting as a current source for generating a first modulated electrical signal; an amplification circuit to which the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto is fed; a first noise filter; and an n stage (where n is an odd integer ≧3) filter network connected between the detector and the amplification circuit, the method comprising selecting the components of the filter network such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of constructing a receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal in which the circuit comprises a photodetector acting as a current source for generating a first modulated electrical signal; an amplification circuit to which the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto is fed; a first noise filter; and an n stage (where n is an odd integer ≧3) filter network connected between the detector and the amplification circuit, the method comprising selecting the components of the filter network such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 122 words
A method of constructing a receiver circuit for receiving a modulated optical signal and for generating a corresponding electrical signal in which the circuit comprises a photodetector acting as a current source for generating a first modulated electrical signal; an amplification circuit to which the first electrical signal or a signal related thereto is fed; a first noise filter; and an n stage (where n is an odd integer) filter network connected between the detector and the amplification circuit, the method comprising selecting the components of the filter network such that the total thermal noise power output of the first noise filter is substantially minimised wherein the receiver control circuit is constructed in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 6.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 104 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the total thermal noise power (P n2 +P n3 ) is a function of the thermal noise power spectral densities (n 2 and n 3 ) which are defined as: ##EQU9## where k' is Boltzmann's constant, θ is the absolute temperature, R 0 is the load resistance, S I and S E are the spectral densities of the parallel current noise source and the serial voltage noise source originating from the amplification circuit, Im and Re denote imaginary and real parts, and H fe (ω) is the transfer function of the detector, filter network, and amplification network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 113 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the receiver circuit is defined by five composite impedances Z 1 -Z 5 where Z 1 , Z 3 , and Z 5 are positioned in parallel between the detector and the amplification circuit and Z 2 and Z 4 are positioned in series between Z 1 , Z 3 and Z 3 , Z 5 respectively, the transfer function H fe (ω) being defined by the formula: ##EQU10## where Z' 5 represents the parallel combination of Z 5 and R 0 , the load resistance of the amplification circuit, and Z' 3 represents the parallel combination of Z 3 and (Z 4 +Z' 5 ).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the filter network comprises n stages, with transfer function: ##EQU11##
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the component values for minimised thermal noise are determined using a computer search routine.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3755762A Cited
US3999061A Cited
US4628197A Cited
EP0215373A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-09-24 1994-03-26 1994-09-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-09-24 1998-03-26 1998-09-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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