Optical receiver circuit, method, and system

An integrated circuit comprising:

• first and second photodiodes configured to receive an optical signal;
• a first current mode comparator responsive to the first photodiode;
• a second current mode comparator responsive to the second photodiode;
• a controller to separately control reference currents provided to the first and second current mode comparators;
• and
• a digital comparator responsive to data output nodes from the first and second current mode comparators.

A system comprising:

• a photodiode to provide a first current on a first node;
• a variable current source to provide a second current a second node;
• an evaluation stage to detect a difference between the first current and the second current to provide an output signal;
• and
• a microprocessor responsive to the output signal.

A method comprising:

• receiving a signal at an input node of an optical receiver;
• increasing a reference current to a first threshold current level in the optical receiver until an output voltage is at a first static level;
• decreasing the reference current to a second threshold current level in the optical receiver until the output voltage is at a second static level;
• and
• setting the reference current to a value between the first threshold current level and the second threshold current level.

An article comprising a machine-accessible media having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

• increasing a reference current to a first threshold current level in an optical receiver until an output voltage is at a first static level;
• decreasing the reference current to a second threshold current level in the optical receiver until the output voltage is at a second static level;
• and
• setting the reference current to a value between the first threshold current level and the second threshold current level.