The basic optical receiver consists of a photodetector to convert the optical signal into a current, a low-noise preamplifier to convert and amplify the current into a voltage, an optional low pass filter to shape the received pulse or limit the bandwidth and a high-gain. The basic optical receiver consists of a photodetector to convert the optical signal into a current, a low-noise preamplifier to convert and amplify the current into a voltage, an optional low pass filter to shape the received pulse or limit the bandwidth and a high-gain. This application note provides an in-depth analysis of the complete receiver optical sensitivity and the potential power penalties related to the accumulation of random noise and inter-symbol interference (ISI) in both amplitude and timing. The analysis is based on normal receiver sensitivity. the design of optical receivers. However, the signal gen-erated by a. An optical receiver is a device that converts light signals traveling through fiber optic cable back into electrical signals that electronic equipment can process. The challenge is to find a way to determine the.