Wide dynamic range optical receivers

Claim 2

An optical receiver amplifier consisting essentially of: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); and a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input connected to the signal input line, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal.

Claim 3

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is greater than the impedance value (R1) of the first amplifier input.

Claim 4

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is substantially equal to zero.

Claim 5

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to the signal input line.

Claim 6

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, further comprising; a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 7

An optical receiver amplifier comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; means for providing a selection signal; and signal selection means, connected to the first amplifier output and to the second amplifier output and responsive to the selection signal, for selecting either the first output signal or the second output signal as a selected signal, and providing the selected signal at an output thereof.

Claim 8

An optical receiver amplifier comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; means for providing a selection signal; and signal selection means, connected to the first amplifier output and to the second amplifier output and responsive to the selection signal, for selecting either the first output signal or the second output signal as a selected signal, and providing the selected signal at an output thereof.

Claim 9

An optical receiver amplifier comprising; means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a fist amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; and summing means for summing the first output signal and the second output signal, said summing means providing a sum output signal corresponding to the sum of the first output signal and the second output signal.

Claim 10

An optical receiver amplifier comprising; means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a fist amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; and summing means for summing the first output signal and the second output signal, said summing means providing a sum output signal corresponding to the sum of the first output signal and the second output signal.

Claim 11

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the first amplifier is a transresistance amplifier, the first amplifier input is a low-impedance current-mode input, and the first amplifier output is a low-impedance voltage-mode output.

Claim 12

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the first amplifier is a current amplifier, the first amplifier input is a low-impedance current-mode input, and the first amplifier output is a high-impedance current-mode output.

Claim 13

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the second amplifier is a voltage amplifier, the second amplifier input is a high-impedance voltage-mode input, and the second amplifier output is a low-impedance voltage-mode output.

Claim 14

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 6, wherein: the second amplifier is a transadmittance amplifier, the second amplifier input is a high-impedance voltage-mode input, and the second amplifier output is a high-impedance current-mode output.

Claim 15

An optical receiver amplifier, comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; a ground reference point; and a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a signal voltage applied across the first and second terminals; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; and the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the ground reference point.

Claim 16

An optical receiver amplifier, comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; a ground reference point; and a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a signal voltage applied across the first and second terminals; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; and the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the ground reference point.

Claim 17

An optical receiver amplifier, comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; a ground reference point; a resistive voltage divider having a fist terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a signal voltage applied across the first and second terminals; a first diode and a second diode, each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, the first and second diodes connected in series with one another such that the anode terminal of one of the first and second diodes is connected to the cathode terminal of the other of the first and second diodes at an anode-to-cathode connection point; and a biasing resistor connected between a voltage source providing a biasing voltage and the anode-to-cathode connection point of the first and second diodes wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the terminal of the first diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; the ground reference point is connected to the terminal of the second diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; and the biasing voltage is of sufficient magnitude to maintain the second diode in forward bias.

Claim 18

An optical receiver amplifier, comprising: means for providing a light-induced signal on a signal input line; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing a first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing a second output signal; a ground reference point; a resistive voltage divider having a fist terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a signal voltage applied across the first and second terminals; a first diode and a second diode, each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, the first and second diodes connected in series with one another such that the anode terminal of one of the first and second diodes is connected to the cathode terminal of the other of the first and second diodes at an anode-to-cathode connection point; and a biasing resistor connected between a voltage source providing a biasing voltage and the anode-to-cathode connection point of the first and second diodes wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the terminal of the first diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; the ground reference point is connected to the terminal of the second diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; and the biasing voltage is of sufficient magnitude to maintain the second diode in forward bias.

Claim 19

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 13, further comprising: a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 20

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 12, further comprising: a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 21

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier consisting essentially of: a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); and a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input connected to the signal input line, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal.

Claim 22

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier consisting essentially of: a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); and a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input connected to the signal input line, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal.

Claim 23

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 20, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is greater than the impedance value (R1) of the first amplifier input.

Claim 24

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 20, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is substantially equal to zero.

Claim 25

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 20, wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to the signal input line.

Claim 26

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; and summing means for summing the first output signal and the second output signal, said summing means providing a sum output signal corresponding to the sum of the first output signal and the second output signal.

Claim 27

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising; a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; and summing means for summing the first output signal and the second output signal, said summing means providing a sum output signal corresponding to the sum of the first output signal and the second output signal.

Claim 28

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; a ground reference point; and a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a voltage applied across the first and second terminals; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; and the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the ground reference point.

Claim 29

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input line being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; a ground reference point; and a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a voltage applied across the first and second terminals; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; and the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the ground reference point.

Claim 30

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input lie being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; a ground reference point; a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a voltage applied across the first and second terminals; a first diode and a second diode, each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, the first and second diodes connected in series with one another such that the anode terminal of one of the first and second diodes is connected to the cathode terminal of the other of the first and second diodes at an anode-to-cathode connection point; and a biasing resistor connected between a voltage source providing a biasing voltage and the anode-to-cathode connection point of the first and second diodes; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the terminal of the first diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; the ground reference point is connected to the terminal of the second diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; and the biasing voltage is of sufficient magnitude to maintain the second diode in forward bias.

Claim 31

A front-end for a spot-tracking system, comprising: a multi-sector photodetector providing a plurality "n" of light-induced signals on a like plurality "n" of light-induced signal lines; a like plurality "n" of optical receiver amplifiers, each optical receiver amplifier having a signal input line, a first output signal and a second output signal, each signal input lie being connected to a corresponding one of the light-induced signal lines, and each optical receiver amplifier comprising a first amplifier including a first amplifier input having a low impedance value (R1), and including a first amplifier output providing the first output signal; an input resistor connected between the signal input line and the first amplifier input and providing the light-induced signal to the first amplifier input, said input resistor having a resistance value (R2); a second amplifier including a second amplifier input having a high impedance value (R3) greater than the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor, the second amplifier input receiving the light-induced signal, and including a second amplifier output providing the second output signal; a ground reference point; a resistive voltage divider having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the third terminal dividing a voltage applied across the first and second terminals; a first diode and a second diode, each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, the first and second diodes connected in series with one another such that the anode terminal of one of the first and second diodes is connected to the cathode terminal of the other of the first and second diodes at an anode-to-cathode connection point; and a biasing resistor connected between a voltage source providing a biasing voltage and the anode-to-cathode connection point of the first and second diodes; wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to third terminal of the resistive voltage divider; the first terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the signal input line; the third terminal of the resistive voltage divider is connected to the terminal of the first diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; the ground reference point is connected to the terminal of the second diode which is opposite the anode-to-cathode connection point; and the biasing voltage is of sufficient magnitude to maintain the second diode in forward bias.

Claim 32

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 20, each optical receiver amplifier further comprising: a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 33

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 20, wherein: the plurality "n" is four.

Claim 34

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 21, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is greater than the impedance value (R1) of the first amplifier input.

Claim 35

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 21, wherein the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is substantially equal to zero.

Claim 36

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 21, wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to the signal input line.

Claim 37

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 21, each optical receiver amplifier further comprising; a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 38

A front-end for a spot-tracing system according to claim 21, wherein: the plurality "n" is four.

Claim 39

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 22, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is greater than the impedance value (R1) of the first amplifier input.

Claim 40

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 22, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is substantially equal to zero.

Claim 41

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 22, wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to the signal input line.

Claim 42

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 22, each optical receiver amplifier further comprising: a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 43

A front-end for a spot-tracking system according to claim 22, wherein: the plurality of "n" is four.

Claim 44

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is greater than the impedance value (R1) of the first amplifier input.

Claim 45

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the resistance value (R2) of the input resistor is substantially equal to zero.

Claim 46

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the second amplifier input is connected to the signal input line.

Claim 47

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, further comprising: a feedback resistor connected between the first amplifier output and the first amplifier input such that a summing junction is formed at the first amplifier input.

Claim 48

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the first amplifier is a transresistance amplifier, the first amplifier input is a low-impedance current-mode input, and the first amplifier output is a low-impedance voltage-mode output.

Claim 49

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the first amplifier is a current amplifier, the first amplifier input is a low-impedance current-mode input, and the first amplifier output is a high-impedance current-mode output.

Claim 50

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein; the second amplifier is a voltage amplifier, the second amplifier input is a high-impedance voltage-mode output.

Claim 51

An optical receiver amplifier according to claim 7, wherein: the second amplifier is a transadmittance amplifier, the second amplifier input is a high-impedance voltage-mode input, and the second amplifier output is a high-impedance current-mode output.