Multi-stage sampler with increased gain
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a memory device configured to store one or more historical data values;
a Decision-Feedback Equalization (DFE) computation circuit configured to generate a differential DFE magnitude value;
a decision-feedback offset generator configured to receive the differential DFE magnitude value at a first and a second differential pair of transistors and a historical data value of the one or more historical data values, and to responsively generate an analog DFE correction value having a voltage magnitude equal to the differential DFE magnitude value and a polarity determined via a selection of the first or the second differential pair of transistors according to the historical data value received from the memory device;
an input differential transistor pair configured to receive an analog input signal and to responsively generate an analog output signal; and
a pair of common output nodes connecting differential outputs of the decision-feedback offset generator and the input differential transistor pair, the pair of common output nodes configured to form an analog summation of the analog DFE correction value and the analog output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Generating first and second discharge control signals in response to a clock signal and an input voltage signal, the first and second discharge control signals decreasing at different rates to a threshold level during a first time period, wherein a difference in rates is determined by the input voltage signal, generating a differential voltage on a pair of nodes during the first time period by selectively controlling a respective amount of discharge of an initial charge on each node of the pair of nodes by applying the first and second discharge control signals to respective transistors in a differential transistor pair connected to the pair of nodes, and maintaining the differential voltage on the pair of nodes during a subsequent time period, and generating an amplified differential voltage during at least a portion of the subsequent time period by amplifying the differential voltage.
135 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory device configured to store one or more historical data values; a Decision-Feedback Equalization (DFE) computation circuit configured to generate a differential DFE magnitude value; a decision-feedback offset generator configured to receive the differential DFE magnitude value at a first and a second differential pair of transistors and a historical data value of the one or more historical data values, and to responsively generate an analog DFE correction value having a voltage magnitude equal to the differential DFE magnitude value and a polarity determined via a selection of the first or the second differential pair of transistors according to the historical data value received from the memory device; an input differential transistor pair configured to receive an analog input signal and to responsively generate an analog output signal; and a pair of common output nodes connecting differential outputs of the decision-feedback offset generator and the input differential transistor pair, the pair of common output nodes configured to form an analog summation of the analog DFE correction value and the analog output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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obtaining (i) a historical data value from a memory device storing one or more historical data values and (ii) a differential DFE magnitude value from a Decision-Feedback Equalization (DFE) computation circuit; providing the differential DFE magnitude value to a first and a second differential pair of transistors of a decision-feedback offset generator, and responsively generating an analog DFE correction value having a voltage magnitude equal to the differential DFE magnitude value and a polarity determined via a selection of the first or the second differential pair of transistors by the historical data value; receiving an analog input signal at an input differential pair of transistors and responsively generating an analog output signal; and generating an analog summation of the analog DFE correction value and the analog output signal on a pair of common output nodes connecting differential outputs of the decision-feedback offset generator and the input differential pair of transistors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification