Transimpedance amplifier with selective DC compensation

An optical receiver comprising:

• a photo detector that generates an input current in response to a light signal;
• a first amplifier that converts a first polarity of the input current to a first voltage;
• a second amplifier that converts a second polarity of the input current to a second voltage;
• and
• a compensation circuit that generates a correction current when the first voltage is above a predetermined threshold voltage, wherein the correction current is added to an input of the second amplifier to adjust a DC level of the second voltage.

A pseudo-differential transimpedance amplifier comprising:

• a first input amplifier configured to receive an AC-coupled input current and to output a first voltage;
• a second input amplifier configured to receive a DC-coupled input current and to output a second voltage;
• and
• a DC compensation circuit coupled between an output of the first input amplifier and an input of the second input amplifier to selectively adjust a DC offset in the second voltage.

A method for selectively adjusting a DC offset in a pair of differential signals, the method comprising the acts of:

• providing a first input signal of a first polarity to a first amplifier to generate a first output voltage;
• providing a second input signal of a second polarity to a second amplifier to generate a second output voltage;
• detecting the amplitude of the first output voltage;
• generating a correction current if the amplitude of the first output voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold;
• and
• combining the correction current with the second input signal at an input of the second amplifier to adjust the DC offset of the second output voltage.

A transimpedance amplifier comprising:

• means for converting an AC-coupled current signal to a first voltage;
• means for converting a DC-coupled current signal to a second voltage;
• means for generating a compensation current when the first voltage exceeds a predefined threshold;
• and
• means for adding the compensation current to the DC-coupled current signal to adjust a DC offset in the second voltage.