In optical receivers, extending the transimpedance amplifier's (TIA) dynamic range is a key to increasing the receiver's dynamic range, and therefore increase the channel capacity. Ideally, the TIA requires controllable gain, whereby the receiver can modify the characteristics of the TIA and/or the VGA to process high power incoming signals with a defined maximum distortion, and low power incoming signals with a defined maximum noise. A solution to the problem is to provide TIA's with reconfigurable feedback resistors, which are adjustable based on the level of power, e.g. current, generated by the photodetector, and variable load resistors, which are adjustable based on the change in impedance caused by the change in the feedback resistor.

In optical receivers, extending the transimpedance amplifier's (TIA) dynamic range is a key to increasing the receiver's dynamic range, and therefore increase the channel capacity. Ideally, the TIA requires controllable gain, whereby the receiver can modify the characteristics of the TIA and/or the VGA to process high power incoming signals with a defined maximum distortion, and low power incoming signals with a defined maximum noise. A solution to the problem is to provide TIA's with reconfigurable feedback resistors, which are adjustable based on the level of power, e.g. current, generated by the photodetector, and variable load resistors, which are adjustable based on the change in impedance caused by the change in the feedback resistor.

In optical receivers, extending the transimpedance amplifier's (TIA) dynamic range is a key to increasing the receiver's dynamic range, and therefore increase the channel capacity. Ideally, the TIA requires controllable gain, whereby the receiver can modify the characteristics of the TIA and/or the VGA to process high power incoming signals with a defined maximum distortion, and low power incoming signals with a defined maximum noise. A solution to the problem is to provide TIA's with reconfigurable feedback resistors, which are adjustable based on the level of power, e.g. current, generated by the photodetector, and variable load resistors, which are adjustable based on the change in impedance caused by the change in the feedback resistor.

An error amplifier including a differential pair circuit, a resistive device, a low voltage capacitor, and a protection device. The differential pair circuit is coupled between an upper supply node and a lower supply node with first and second intermediate nodes and is responsive to a difference between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage for driving a control voltage developed on the second intermediate node. The resistive device is coupled between the second intermediate node and a low voltage node, and the low voltage capacitor and the protection device are coupled between the low voltage node and the lower supply node. The protection device is dynamically controlled by the first intermediate node to prevent the low voltage node from exceeding a predetermined maximum level. The protection device may be a transistor having size parameters based on voltage characteristics of the first intermediate node during expected operating conditions.

The detection matrix for an Orthogonal Differential Vector Signaling code is typically embodied as a transistor circuit with multiple active signal inputs. An alternative detection matrix approach uses passive resistor networks to sum at least some of the input terms before active detection.

A circuit comprises: a circuit input; a circuit output; at least one passive feedback loop coupled between the circuit output and the circuit input; an active element, coupled in a feed-forward path of the circuit between the circuit input and the circuit output and configured to drive the at least one feedback loop in order to establish a function of the circuit, wherein the feed-forward path of the circuit comprises a second node (Vx) and a first node which are internal nodes of the active element and which are coupled between the circuit input and the circuit output, wherein the first node is configured to have a first voltage, the first voltage being a function of the circuit output, wherein the active element comprises a first voltage drop element coupled between the second node (Vx) and the first node.

A circuit comprises: a circuit input; a circuit output; at least one passive feedback loop coupled between the circuit output and the circuit input; an active element, coupled in a feed-forward path of the circuit between the circuit input and the circuit output and configured to drive the at least one feedback loop in order to establish a function of the circuit, wherein the feed-forward path of the circuit comprises a second node (Vx) and a first node which are internal nodes of the active element and which are coupled between the circuit input and the circuit output, wherein the first node is configured to have a first voltage, the first voltage being a function of the circuit output, wherein the active element comprises a first voltage drop element coupled between the second node (Vx) and the first node.