ABSTRACT
Optical receivers are an essential part of a communication system. An optical receiver converts an optical signal, transmitted through an optical fibre cable, into an electrical signal suitable for a receiving device installed at the other end of the communication system. The conversion process in the receiver is performed by two essential parts: a detector and an electronic signal processor. The electronic signal processor converts the raw detector signal into a form decipherable by the receiving device, such as a telephone, camera or scanner. This chapter presents two experimental cases: measuring light power using two types of photodetectors, and measuring the power output and calculating the efficiency of a solar cell with/without a filter and/or a lens. The most common type of optical detector is the semiconductor photodiode, which produces current in response to incident light. Detectors operate based on the principle of the semiconductor diode (p-n junction). The chapter describes the fundamental principles of semiconductors.
