Optical data signal receiver

A method for the reception of data using an optical fiber wherein data is received in bursts, said method comprising:

• providing a photodiode of an assembly of electronic components;
• providing a transimpedance amplifier of the assembly, the transimpedance amplifier coupled to said photodiode, the gain of said transimpedance amplifier being adjusted based on a level of a gain control signal;
• providing a received input signal sensor of the assembly, the received input signal sensor configured to sense a received input signal level and provide said gain control signal, said gain control signal being varied according to said received input signal level;
• wherein:
• said received input signal level is sensed via a sampling circuit arrangement taking samples at instants dependent on the occurrence of data symbol transitions;
• the speed of response of said received input sensor to changes in said received input signal level is dependent on the frequency of symbol level transitions in said received signal;
• and
• the timing of said sampling is arranged so that the taking of said samples is defined to be symmetrical in time with respect to both positive and negative data symbol level transitions;
• providing a comparator of the assembly, the comparator configured to detect data symbol level transitions in said received input signal and wherein an output of said comparator is configured to control the sampling instants of said sampling circuit arrangement;
• and
• providing an adjustor of the assembly for adjusting a low-frequency behavior and a high-frequency behavior of said comparator so that said detection of both positive data symbol level transitions and negative data symbol level transitions in said received signal have identical behavior within accepted engineering tolerances, and wherein said adjustor further comprises:
• a low-frequency calibration arrangement;
• a high-frequency calibration arrangement;
• and
• a calibration controller, configured to control the configuration of the comparator into different desired modes, said modes comprising:
• a normal operating mode for the reception of signals;
• a low-frequency calibration mode, wherein imperfections in said comparator response to rapidly changing inputs are analyzed and corrected by said calibration controller;
• and
• a high-frequency calibration mode, wherein imperfections in said comparator response to slowly changing inputs are analyzed and corrected by said calibration controller.