Component characteristic tolerant and component alignment tolerant optical receiver

Abstract

The optical receiver comprises an optical input path, a light detector array, an optical converging element and an information signal generator. The light detector array includes light detectors and a light-sensitive surface. Each light detector generates an electrical signal in response to light. The optical converging element is located to focus an optical input signal received via the optical input path to form a spot on the light-sensitive surface of the light detector array. The spot has an area less than the area of the light-sensitive surface but greater than the area of one of the light detectors. The information signal generator generates an electrical information signal from at least one of the electrical signals. In an embodiment, the information signal generator includes a summer that sums the electrical signals generated by the light detectors to generate the electrical information signal. In another embodiment, the information signal generator operates to identify the electrical signals generated in response to the optical input signal, to generate the electrical information signal from the electrical signals and to exclude from the electrical information signal ones of the electrical signals not identified as being generated in response to the optical input signal. In another embodiment, the information signal generator selects one of the identified electrical signals as the electrical information signal.