Abstract: An optical receiver circuit receives analog optical signals and outputs corresponding electrical signals. The circuit's amplifier can amplify a modulated signal from a photodiode. Gain control can adjust the amplifier's gain to compensate for power fluctuation in the optical signals. Linear compensation can enhance the linearity of the gain adjustment in response to optical power fluctuation and can facilitate feedforward gain control. A digital controller can implement the linear compensation. The circuit can operate with an impedance mismatch in the coupling between the photodiode and the amplifier, thereby avoiding the need for an impedance matching transformer in that coupling.