An automatic-
gain-control device in an optical
receiver is provided and includes a pre-
amplifier for converting a current
signal outputted from an
optical detector to a
voltage signal and a bottom level
detector for detecting the bottom level from the output of the pre-
amplifier, the automatic-
gain-control device comprising a bottom
signal-level-determining section for analyzing the bottom level from the bottom level
detector and outputting a signal denoting the presence of a signal and a reset signal for initialization at intervals between packets; and an automatic-
gain-
control signal generating section for providing an automatic-gain-
control signal by showing the presence of a signal, the automatic-gain-control-signal-generating section including a first
transistor which turns on according to a signal from the bottom signal-level-determining section and a second
transistor which is connected to a
capacitor for charging or discharging a
voltage applied by the first
transistor, and the drain
voltage of which becomes low when the
capacitor is charged but becomes high when the
capacitor is discharged.