First Mile Access Networks and Enabling Technologies

Receivers: Photodetectors

The function of an optical receiver is to decode and interpret the optical signals. The main component of an optical receiver is a photodetector, which converts the optical power into an electrical current. Photodetectors need to meet very stringent requirements to achieve desirable performance. Requirements include good responsivity (sensitivity) to a wide range of wavelengths used for transmission (usually in the 850-nm, 1300-nm, and 1500-nm region), low noise characteristics, low or no sensitivity to temperature variation, low cost, and extended operating life. Even though several types of photodetectors are available, semiconductor-based photodetectors (also known as photodiodes) are used exclusively for optical ...