# US 10,873,407 B2 · Transmitter tuning using receiver gradient > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,407 B2 - Document ID: US10873407B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/191,838 - Filed: 2018-11-15 - Published: 2020-05-21 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-15 - Assignees: Marvell Asia Pte Ltd - Applicants: Marvell Asia Pte, Ltd. - Inventors: Myles Kimmitt; Scott D. McIlhenny - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873407B2 ## CPC - H04B 17/336: Signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] - H04B 1/00: Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission - H04B 1/1027: {assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal} - H04B 7/0684: {using different training sequences per antenna} - H04B 17/26: using historical data, averaging values or statistics - H04B 17/382: for resource allocation, admission control or handover - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A controller operates to adjust a transmitter to optimize transmission of a communications signal. The controller measures properties of a signal received from a transmitter, and generates a figure of merit (FOM) for the signal. The FOM is compared against a record of previous FOMs and corresponding previous transmitter tap values, the transmitter tap value indicating settings of a transmitter equalizer of the transmitter during transmission of the signal. A differential between the FOM and a plurality of the previous FOMs is determined, and, in response to the differential being positive, a subsequent tap value is selected from a subset of potential tap values. The subsequent tap value is sent to the transmitter for adjustment of the transmitter equalizer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a signal from a transmitter; a monitor configured to measure properties of the signal and generate a figure of merit (FOM) for the signal, the FOM indicating a measure of signal-to-noise; a controller configured to: compare the FOM against a record of previous FOMs and corresponding previous transmitter tap values, the transmitter tap value indicating settings of a transmitter equalizer of the transmitter during transmission of the signal; determine a differential between the FOM and a plurality of the previous FOMs; and in response to the differential being positive, select a subsequent tap value from a subset of potential tap values; and an interface configured to send the subsequent tap value to the transmitter for adjustment of the transmitter equalizer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the record based on previous adjustment and measurement of the signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the subset of potential tap values each provide a transmit signal amplitude that is substantially the same across the potential tap values. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the subset of potential tap values excludes tap values associated with a signal amplitude that is substantially lower or higher than a signal amplitude associated with the tap value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate an average FOM from the plurality of previous FOMs, the differential being relative to the average FOM. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the tap value is a final tap value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the final tap value in response to the differential being below the threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the final tap value in response to detecting that the FOM and a plurality of the previous FOMs are within a threshold range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the final tap value based on a match between the tap value and the previous tap values, the match indicating a repetition among tap values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the final tap value in response to a timer surpassing a threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the final tap value in response to detecting the FOM being above a signal quality threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect an adverse move based on the FOM indicating a decrease in signal-to-noise relative to the previous FOMs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The circuit of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to select the subsequent tap value to reverse the decrease in signal-to-noise. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the receiver equalizer tap coefficients, linear equalizer response, and voltage gain based on the FOM indicating an increase or decrease in signal-to-noise relative to the previous FOMs. ### Claim 15 A method, comprising: receiving a signal from a transmitter; measuring properties of the signal and generate a figure of merit (FOM) for the signal, the FOM indicating a measure of signal-to-noise; comparing the FOM against a record of previous FOMs and corresponding previous transmitter tap values, the transmitter tap value indicating settings of a transmitter equalizer of the transmitter during transmission of the signal; determining a differential between the FOM and a plurality of the previous FOMs; in response to the differential being positive, select a subsequent tap value from a subset of potential tap values; and sending the subsequent tap value to the transmitter for adjustment of the transmitter equalizer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising generating the record based on previous adjustment and measurement of the signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the subset of potential tap values each provide a transmit signal amplitude that is substantially the same across the potential tap values. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the subset of potential tap values excludes tap values associated with a signal amplitude that is substantially lower or higher than a signal amplitude associated with the tap value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising calculating an average FOM from the plurality of previous FOMs, the differential being relative to the average FOM. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether the tap value is a final tap value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the final tap value in response to the differential being below the threshold.