Data receiving apparatus capable of compensating for reduced timing margin caused by inter-symbol interference and method thereof

A data receiving apparatus, comprising:

• a reference generating means for generating an upward reference level adjusted higher than a virtual typical reference level and a downward reference level adjusted lower than the virtual typical reference level by monitoring signal levels of data signals Din+ and Din− which are inputted differentially or base on an external control command;
• a differential comparing means for determining typical logic values of the differentially inputted data signals Din+ and Din− by comparing the signal levels of the differentially inputted data signals Din+ and Din− with each other, determining an upward adjusted logic value by comparing the first and second upward adjusted logic values with each other after determining a first upward adjusted logic value and a second upward adjusted logic value by comparing the differentially inputted data signals Din+ and Din−, with the upward/downward reference levels transmitted from the reference generating means, and determining a downward adjusted logic value of the differentially inputted data signal by comparing the first and second downward adjusted logic values after determining a first downward adjusted logic value and a second downward adjusted logic value by comparing the differentially inputted data signals Din+ and Din− with the downward/upward reference levels from the reference generating means;
• a selecting means for selecting any one among the typical logic value of the differentially inputted data signal, the upward adjusted logic value, and the downward adjusted logic value as a valid logic value of the differentially inputted data signal upon a selection control signal;
• and
• a selection controlling means for providing the selection control signal to the selecting means in such a manner that the typical logic value of the differentially inputted data signal is selected as the valid logic value of the data signal at first, and then receiving a signal from the selecting means, monitoring the retimed valid logic value of the differentially inputted data signal by two bits according to a rule registered by the external control command, and providing the selection control signal to the selecting means in such a manner that any one among the typical logic value of the differentially inputted data signal, the upward adjusted logic value, and the downward adjusted logic value is selected as a valid logic value of a next data signal,
• wherein the differential comparing means includes:
• a first comparing unit for determining the typical logic value of the differentially inputted data signal by comparing the signal levels of differentially inputted data signals Din+ and Din− with each other;
• two second comparing units for determining a first upward adjusted logic value and a second upward adjusted logic value by comparing the positive differentially inputted data signal Din+ with the upward reference level from the reference generating means and comparing the negative differentially inputted data signal Din with the downward reference level from the reference generating means;
• a third comparing unit for determining an upward adjusted logic value of the differentially inputted data signal by comparing the first upward adjusted logic value with the second upward adjusted logic value, which are transmitted from the two second comparing units;
• two fourth comparing units for determining a first downward adjusted logic value and a second downward adjusted logic value by comparing the positive differentially inputted data signal Din+ with the downward reference level from the reference generating means and comparing the negative differentially inputted data signal Din with the upward reference level from the reference generating means;
• and
• a fifth comparing unit for determining a downward adjusted logic value of the differentially inputted data signal by comparing the first downward adjusted logic value with the second downward adjusted logic value, which are transmitted from the two fourth comparing units.

A data receiving method, comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving a data signal inputted through a transmission line;
• b) generating a plurality of reference levels by monitoring a signal level of the inputted data signal or upon an external control command, wherein the reference levels include a typical reference level, a plurality of upward reference levels adjusted higher than the typical reference level, and a plurality of downward reference levels adjusted lower than the typical reference level;
• c) determining a plurality of logic values of inputted data signal by comparing the inputted data signal with the above-generated reference levels, individually;
• d) determining whether the inputted data signal is initial data;
• e) if the inputted data signal is initial data, selecting and outputting a typical logic value of the inputted data signal as a valid logic value Dout;
• and
• f) if the inputted data signal is not initial data, selecting any one of the logic values of the inputted data signal as a next valid logic value by monitoring the previous valid logic value,
• wherein the step c) includes:
• determining the typical logic value of the inputted data signal Din by comparing the signal level of the inputted data signal Din with the typical reference level;
• determining a plurality of upward adjusted logic values by comparing the signal level of the inputted data signal Din with the upward reference levels, individually;
• and
• determining a plurality of downward adjusted logic values by comparing the signal level of the inputted data signal Din with the downward reference levels, individually,
• wherein, in the step b), the typical reference level, the upward reference levels, and the downward reference levels are generated by monitoring the signal level of the inputted data signal or upon the external control command,
• wherein, in the step c), the signal level of the inputted data signal is compared with the typical reference level, the upward reference levels and the downward reference levels, and the typical logic value of the inputted data signal, a plurality of upward adjusted logic values, and a plurality of downward adjusted logic values are determined, and
• wherein, in the step f), any one among the typical logic value of the inputted data signal, the upward adjusted logic values, and the downward adjusted logic values is selected as the valid logic value Dout of a next inputted data signal and outputted by monitoring more than two bits of a retimed valid logic value of the previously inputted data signal based on a rule registered by the external control command.