Devices and techniques for integrated optical data communication

A method comprising:

• converting at least a portion of an optical signal to an electrical signal;
• determining a difference between the electrical signal and a reference signal representing a noise component of the electrical signal;
• comparing the difference to one or more threshold levels;
• and
• providing at least a portion of a data signal based on a result of comparing the difference to the one or more threshold levels.

An optical receiver, comprising:

• a photodetection circuit coupled to an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide being configured to provide an optical signal;
• and
• an amplification circuit, including:
• a first amplifier configured to provide a first amplifier signal based on a first photodetection signal provided by the photodetection circuit, the first photodetection signal corresponding to a first portion of the optical signal, the first portion of the optical signal encoding a first bit, and
• a second amplifier configured to provide a second amplifier signal based on a second photodetection signal provided by the photodetection circuit, the second photodetection signal corresponding to a second portion of the optical signal, the second portion of the optical signal encoding a second bit,
• wherein the amplification circuit is configured to provide an electrical data signal encoding the first and second bits.

A method comprising:

• obtaining a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal, the first electrical signal corresponding to a first portion of the optical signal, the second electrical signal corresponding to a second portion of the optical signal;
• with a first amplifier, providing a first amplifier signal based on the first electrical signal, the first amplifier signal encoding a first bit;
• with a second amplifier, providing a second amplifier signal based on the second electrical signal, the second amplifier signal encoding a second bit;
• and
• providing a data signal including the first amplifier signal and/or the second amplifier signal.