Adaptive channel equalization technique and method for wideband passive digital receivers

A channel equalizer system for a wideband passive receiver, comprising:

• an equalizing filter coupled to receive digital signals from a receiver, the filter having a filter response controlled by filter control signals and being configured to output filtered digital signals;
• a calibration signal generator configured to generate a wideband calibration signal to provide as a calibration input signal to the receiver and configured to generate a desired output signal;
• and
• equalizer control circuitry coupled to receive filtered digital signals as feedback and coupled to receive the desired output signal from the calibration signal generator, the equalizer control circuitry being configured to generate the filter control signals, and the filter control signals being configured to correct distortions caused by operational variations in transfer function characteristics of the receiver system.

A method for equalizing a channel within a wideband passive receiver system, comprising:

• receiving an RF input signal spectrum or an injected calibration input signal and processing the input signal to produce digital output signals;
• filtering the digital signals to produced equalized digital output signals, the filtering being controlled by filter control signals;
• generating a wideband calibration signal to provide the injected calibration input signal and generating a desired output signal;
• and
• processing the equalized digital output signals as feedback and the desired output signal to generate the filter control signals, and the filter control signals being configured to correct distortions caused by operational variations in transfer function characteristics of the receiver system.