OPTICAL-ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS FOR DIODE-CLAMPED SMART PIXEL OPTICAL RECEIVERS

We calculate the switching time as a function of optical energy for a single-stage smart pixel receiver. We find that operating the receiver s dynamically using modelocked pulses is the most energy-efficient met hod of operation. We also show that the receivers no longer operate wi th constant optical input energy, like the symmetric self electro-opti c effect device (S-SEED), but rather the product of the required optic al energy and the switching time is constant, as a result of the intro duction of electrical voltage gain.