Patent attributes
A receiver assembly for use in an optical telecommunications network is provided that automatically generates a reference level for the incoming signal burst based on its preamble without the need to pre-process the entire signal burst. The entire signal burst is fed directly from the TIA into the input of the limiting amplifier. A differential amplifier, tapped from the data and data bar outputs of the limiting amplifier, samples the signal stream to capture the preamble portion of each signal burst. The preamble portion of the signal burst is then passed, post amplification, into a sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit samples the amplitude of this preamble portion of the signal and then holds the sampled level for use as a reference level for the processing of following payload signal.