Communication modules, such as electronic or optoelectronic transceivers or transponder modules, are used in electronic and optoelectronic communication. Such communication modules may include multiple components that operate at various voltages. An example of such a component is an optical receiver that converts an optical signal (incident light) into an electrical signal or voltage using, for example, a photodetector. A photodiode or photodiode array may be used as the photodetector to generate the electrical signal from the incident light. The communication module may also include an electrical circuit to receive and process the electrical signal from the photodetector to suit the desired application.
Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) may be used as photodetectors that provide internal electrical gain and therefore have high sensitivity suitable for very weak optical signal detection. After the optical signal is converted into the electrical signal by the optical receiver, the optical receiver amplifies the electrical signal, and converts the electrical signal into an electrical digital data stream.
The avalanche photodiode may be operated at a voltage close to its breakdown voltage to achieve maximum sensitivity. This operation voltage is often higher than any available voltage supply used elsewhere in such equipment and so some form of power conversion circuitry must be provided to supply the higher voltages.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.