Optical disk pickup using current mode signal exchanges and systems and methods using the same

An optical disk pickup system includes an array of photodiodes 101 for converting photons reflected from an optical disk into a plurality of electrical signals each representing a channel. Driving circuitry 407, 408 drives at least one of the electrical signals as a current across a conductor of a flexible cable 403. A low impedance load 404 converts the electrical signal driven across the conductor as a current into a voltage for further processing.