Analogue-digital converter and method for generating a digital data stream

An analog-digital converter having at least one input to which at least one analog input signal (S(t)) may be supplied, and having at least one output which is configured to output a digital data stream which represents the analog input signal, wherein

• the analog-digital converter has an optical input stage which is configured to convert the analog input signal (S(t)) into a phase-modulated optical signal and to supply it to a hybrid coupler configured to transform the phase-modulated optical signal into a plurality of amplitude-modulated signals which are supplied to a plurality of output waveguides, each output waveguide being connected to at least one photodiode, each of said photodiodes having electrical connecting contacts,
• the electrical connecting contacts of each of the photodiodes are connected to an associated analog-digital converter via which an analog electrical input signal is converted into a digital electrical output signal, and said digital electrical output signals are connected to an output stage which is configured to form the digital data stream from the digital electrical output signals of the analog-digital converters, wherein
• the output stage is configured to select one digital electrical output signal of the analog-digital converter which lies within a predefined range of the amplitude and has a predefined slope and/or is larger than a predefined adjacent output signal, said selected digital electrical output signal forming said digital data stream.