Patent ID: 6870152

Claim:
A photodetector, comprising: a plurality of detection zones for detecting a plurality of modes of light incident on the plurality of detection zones, the plurality of detection zones positioned adjacent to one another on a substrate and arranged in a coplanar, annular configuration; a plurality of segments located within the detection zones, each of the segments being adapted to detect the plurality of modes and convert the plurality of modes into a plurality of electrical signals; and a plurality of signal modifiers to compensate for interference in the plurality of electrical signals caused by modal dispersion in the plurality of modes, each of the signal modifiers applying a weighting factor to the plurality of electrical signals from a respective segment according to a level of interference that is present in the plurality of electrical signals, wherein the plurality of electrical signals from a respective segment are biased to change the polarities of the electrical signals from the respective segment based on the level of interference present in the respective electrical signals so that the interference is suppressed when combined with other electrical signals from other segments.