Method and apparatus for automatic equalization of very high frequency multilevel and baseband codes using a high speed analog decision feedback equalizer
First Claim
1. A decision feedback equalizer circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter for receiving a voltage input signal and converting said voltage input signal to a current input signal;
a current mode finite impulse response filter coupled to said voltage-to-current converter for adding positive and negative current increments to said current input signal at selected times to produce an equalized current signal;
a positive slicer block coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for detecting when said equalized current signal achieves a positive threshold current level and, upon such detection, providing via a first delay line a plurality of negative tap enable signals at a plurality of predetermined delay times to said current mode finite impulse response filter;
a negative slicer block coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for detecting when said equalized current signal achieves a negative threshold current level and, upon such detection, providing via a second delay line a plurality of positive tap enable signals at a plurality of predetermined delay times to said current mode finite impulse response filter; and
a current-to-voltage converter coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for converting said equalized current signal to an equalized voltage signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A decision feedback equalizer circuit employing a current mode finite impulse response (FIR) filter. A decision feedback equalizer circuit comprises an attenuator block for scaling a received voltage signal, a first transconductor (voltage-to-current converter) for converting the received voltage signal to a current signal, a current mode finite impulse response (FIR) filter for adding or subtracting current increments from the current signal and generating an equalized current signal, a second transconductor (current-to-voltage converter) for converting the equalized current signal into an equalized voltage signal, a positive slicer block for determining when the equalized voltage signal achieves a positive threshold level, a negative slicer block for determining when the equalized voltage signal achieves a negative threshold level, and a plurality of delay lines coupled respectively to the slicer blocks and to the current mode FIR filter for providing tap enable signals to the current mode FIR filter in response to signals received from the slicers. The decision feedback equalizer circuit may further comprise a baseline wander correction block for providing a correction current to the current mode FIR filter to compensate for baseline wander in the input voltage signal, and an adaptation block for providing compensation signals to the current mode FIR filter to insure that the equalized voltage signal conforms to a predetermined format.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A decision feedback equalizer circuit comprising:
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a voltage-to-current converter for receiving a voltage input signal and converting said voltage input signal to a current input signal; a current mode finite impulse response filter coupled to said voltage-to-current converter for adding positive and negative current increments to said current input signal at selected times to produce an equalized current signal; a positive slicer block coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for detecting when said equalized current signal achieves a positive threshold current level and, upon such detection, providing via a first delay line a plurality of negative tap enable signals at a plurality of predetermined delay times to said current mode finite impulse response filter; a negative slicer block coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for detecting when said equalized current signal achieves a negative threshold current level and, upon such detection, providing via a second delay line a plurality of positive tap enable signals at a plurality of predetermined delay times to said current mode finite impulse response filter; and a current-to-voltage converter coupled to said current mode finite impulse response filter for converting said equalized current signal to an equalized voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A decision feedback equalizer circuit for removing intersymbol interference from a received signal having pulse widths equal to or less than ten nanoseconds, said decision feedback equalizer circuit comprising:
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means for converting said received signal to an input current signal; means for adding positive and negative current increments to said input current signal to create an equalized current signal; and means for converting said equalized current signal to an equalized voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A decision feedback equalizer circuit for removing intersymbol interference from a received signal having pulse widths less than or equal to ten nanoseconds, said decision feedback equalizer circuit comprising:
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a first transconductor for converting said received signal to an input current signal; a current mode finite impulse response filter network for adding positive and negative current increments to said input current signal to remove said intersymbol interference from said input current signal, thereby converting said input current signal to an equalized current signal; and a second transconductor for converting said equalized current signal to an equalized voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for equalization of very high frequency multi-level and baseband codes, said method comprising:
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providing an input voltage signal to a first transconductor to produce an input current signal; providing said input current signal to a current mode finite impulse response filter, said current mode finite impulse response filter being configured to add positive and negative incremental currents to said input current in a programmably controllable manner to produce an equalized current signal; and providing said equalized current signal to a second transconductor to produce an equalized voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of filtering intersymbol interference in signal processing systems, said method comprising:
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receiving an input voltage signal having pulse widths less than or equal to ten nanoseconds; converting said input voltage signal to an input current signal; adding positive and negative current increments to said input current signal to produce an equalized current signal; and converting said equalized current signal to an equalized voltage signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification