US Patent 9638725 Optical receiver and light reception current monitoring method

An optical receiver includes a light reception element for receiving an optical signal, a bias voltage supply/monitoring circuit for supplying a bias voltage to the light reception element and generating a monitoring voltage indicating magnitude of an output current of the light reception element, and a constant current source. The bias voltage supply/monitoring circuit is supplied with a remaining current obtained by subtracting the output current of the light reception element from an output current of the constant current source. The bias voltage supply/monitoring circuit converts the remaining current to the monitoring voltage.