Dynamic impedance photodetector receiver circuit

A photodetector receiver circuit for an optical communication system, the receiver circuit comprising:

• an optical photodetector, said photodetector being configured to receive optical signals and convert said optical signals into an electrical current;
• a dynamic impedance module, said dynamic impedance module being further configured to switch said receiver circuit between a high impedance state and a low impedance state in response to a control signal;
• and
• a buffer stage configured to receive said electrical current and convert said electrical current into a voltage signal compatible with a digital circuit.

An optical communication system comprising:

• an optical transmitter, said optical transmitter being configured to convert an electrical signal into an optical pulse train;
• an optical medium, said optical pulse train traveling through said optical medium;
• a receiver circuit, said receiver circuit configured to receive said optical pulse train and convert said optical pulse train into an electrical signal compatible with a digital circuit, said receiver circuit comprising:
• a photodetector, said photodetector being configured to convert said optical pulse train into an electrical pulse train;
• a dynamic impedance module, said dynamic impedance module being configured to change an input impedance of said receiver circuit between a low impedance state and a high impedance state, said high impedance state occurring during electrical pulses and said low impedance state occurring during a time period between electrical pulses;
• a buffer stage, said buffer state being configured to receive said electrical pulses and converting said electrical pulses into an voltage signal;
• and
• a digital circuit, said digital circuit being configured to receiving said voltage signal, said voltage signal being compatible with a digital circuit.

A method for receiving an optical signal comprising:

• receiving said optical signal and converting said optical signal into an electrical pulse train, said electrical pulse train being made up of higher energy pulses separated by lower energy periods;
• switching a dynamic impedance module between a high impedance state and a low impedance state, said high impedance state occurring during said higher energy electrical pulses and said low impedance state occurring during said lower energy periods;
• transforming said electrical pulse train into a output voltage signal using a buffer stage during said high impedance state;
• and
• receiving said output voltage signal by a digital circuit.