A self-clocked photoreceiver device and a method of operating. The self-clocked photoreceiver device includes a light detector connected between a power supply node and a first node, and first to third switching elements. The light detector is configured to detect an incident optical data signal, and to output photocurrent corresponding to a magnitude of the optical data signal through the first node. The first switching element is connected between the first node and a ground node. The second switching element is connected between the power supply node and a second node. The third switching element is connected between the second node and the ground node. The third switching element has a control node connected to the first node.