3. Photodetectors

The second main type of function involved in the definition of optical transmissions is the optical/electrical (O/E) converter.

A great deal of work has gone into the research and development of these photoreceptors to increase their bandwidth, linearity and saturation level.

A review of the different types of photoreceptor is presented in the following paragraphs, drawing on work carried out in Professor Decoster's Department at IEMN (Institut d'Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologies de l'Université de Lille 1) at Thales R&T and Alcatel Opto+.

Conventional PIN-structure photodiodes (see the article Optical interconnections ) are the most common components. One of their limitations is related to the parasitic capacitance associated with the component's active surface. Indeed,...