Patent ID: 7388435

Claim:
A circuit comprising: a sensor for sensing an input signal, and providing a output signal as a function of the input signal; and a trans-impedance amplifier for amplifying the output of the sensor, including a coupling for coupling the sensor to the trans-impedance amplifier, wherein the trans-impedance amplifier comprises: a coupling stage configured and arranged to receive an output from the sensor and to produce an output, wherein the coupling stage is configured and arranged to use a dynamic impedance of the sensor for input power detection, gain control, and amplifier stabilization; a linearization circuit configured and arranged to receive the output from the coupling stage, wherein the linearization circuit is configured and arranged to linearize the output from the coupling staged and to produce a linearized output; and an amplifier stage configured and arranged to receive and amplify output from the linearization circuit to produce an amplified output; wherein the coupling connects an output of the sensor to an inverting input of the trans-impedance amplifier.