Abstract: An optical receiver which consists of an optical attenuator, an optical-to-electrical transducer, an amplifier, and an automatic level control circuit. The optical attenuator is an electrooptical modulator which is electrically controlled by the automatic level control circuit.

Abstract: A light-sensitive device is disclosed for separately detecting light of two different wavelength bands. Such a device can be used in optical data communication. The separate detection is accomplished by two separate pn junctions which are disposed on two different sides of a substrate and are optically in series. The pn junction lying in front in the light path responds to light of, e.g., 850 nm, but not to light in the range from 950 nm to 1,650 nm. The substrate acts as a filter and passes the light of longer wavelength while blocking the 850-nm light, so that the second pn junction is only reached by light in the range from 950 nm to 1,650 nm.