Single-stage photodiode op-amp solution suited for a self-mixing FMCW system

The current delivered by the photodiode in a self-mixing frequency modulated continuous wave or optical frequency domain reflectometry system consists of a dc-current resulting from the local oscillator, the reflected signal, dark current in the photodiode, and current generated from background light. The current also contains the useful harmonic signal with a beat frequency corresponding to the range and radial velocity of a target. To avoid saturation and clipping due to the dc current generated in the photodiode, it is desirable to minimize the gain at dc while maintaining a high gain in the beat frequency region. We have investigated some different solutions and present a modified current-to-voltage converter using bootstrapping and added voltage gain, which addresses this problem using only one OP-amp and no dc shorting inductors.