Decision-feedback equalizer slicers for pulse amplitude modulation signaling

A reference voltage generator, comprising:

• a first replica summing circuit that is at least a partial replica of a current summer, the first replica summing circuit being configured to output a first threshold signal based on a common-mode voltage at an input of the current summer;
• and
• a second replica summing circuit that is at least a partial replica of the current summer, the second replica summing circuit being configured to output a second threshold signal based on the common-mode voltage at the input of the current summer,
• wherein:
• the first threshold signal is provided to a first slicer that is configured to generate a first decision regarding a signaling state of an input signal received by the current summer based on a voltage level of the first threshold signal, and
• the second threshold signal is provided to a second slicer that is configured to generate a second decision regarding a signaling state of the input signal received by the current summer based on a voltage level of the second threshold signal.

A method for receiving signals, comprising:

• summing a current representative of a signaling state of an input signal in a present transmission interval with currents representative of signaling states of the input signal captured in previous transmission intervals to obtain a summer output signal;
• generating a first decision based on a comparison of the summer output signal and a voltage level of a first threshold signal;
• generating a second decision based on a comparison of the summer output signal and a voltage level of a second threshold signal;
• generating the first threshold signal based on a common-mode signal that is representative of a common-mode voltage of the input signal;
• and
• generating the second threshold signal based on the common-mode signal.