Equalization combining outputs of multiple component filters

A method comprising the steps of:

• combining an output of two or more component filters into a single equalized data signal in an equalizer;
• determining a set of soft outputs, hard decision information and reliability indicators of the single equalized data signal;
• performing an iterative decoding process to decode the single equalized data signal based at least in part on the set of soft outputs, hard decision information and reliability indicators;
• and
• training the equalizer using the hard decision information.

A storage device comprising:

• at least one storage medium;
• a read head configured to read data from the storage medium;
• and
• control circuitry coupled to the read head and configured to process data received from the read head;
• the control circuitry comprising:
• read channel circuitry;
• and
• signal processing circuitry associated with the read channel circuitry, the signal processing circuitry comprising:
• an equalizer configured to combine an output of two or more component filters into a single equalized data signal;
• a detector with an input coupled to an output of the equalizer, the detector being configured to determine a set of soft outputs, hard decision information and reliability indicators of the single equalized data signal;
• a decoder with an input coupled to an output of the detector, the detector being configured to perform an iterative decoding process using the set of soft outputs, hard decision information and reliability indicators to determine a decoded data signal;
• and
• a multiplexer with a first input coupled to an output of the decoder, a second input coupled to an output of the detector, and an output coupled to an input of the equalizer;
• wherein the hard decision information is used to train the equalizer.