Optical automatic gain control based on stable, non-absorbing optical hard limiters

The optical automatic gain controller comprising:

• automatic gain control logic operably coupled to receive an optical input signal having a first intensity range and output an optical output signal having a second intensity range less than the first intensity range, wherein the automatic gain control logic comprises a number of automatic gain control stages coupled in series, each automatic gain control stage comprising:
• first logic operably coupled to receive a threshold input signal and determine whether the threshold input signal is above or below a predetermined threshold;
• and
• second logic operably coupled to receive a gain input signal and amplify the gain input signal if and only if the threshold input signal is determined by the threshold detection logic to be below the predetermined threshold.