US 8,576,939 B2 · Method and system for slicing a communication signal

Abstract

A slicer can receive a communication signal having a level or amplitude that is between two discrete levels of a multilevel digital communication scheme. The slicer can compare the communication signal to a plurality of references such that multiple comparisons proceed essentially in parallel. A summation node can add the results of the comparisons to provide an output signal set to one of the discrete levels. The slicer can process the communication signal and provide the output signal on a symbol-by-symbol basis. A decision feedback equalizer (“DFE”) can comprise the slicer. A feedback circuit of the DFE can delay and scale the output signal and apply the delayed and scaled signal to the communication signal to reduce intersymbol interference (“ISI”).

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for processing a communication signal comprising a first signal segment that represents a first symbol and that immediately precedes a second signal segment representing a second symbol, the method comprising:

processing the first signal segment with a front end of a flash converter that comprises a plurality of comparators connected to a corresponding plurality of references, each comparator producing a respective output signal,
wherein the flash converter comprises the front end coupled to a logic circuit and is modified to form a slicer by replacing the logic circuit with a summation node;
setting a signal to a discrete intensity in response to performing a signal summation of the respective output signals with the summation node;
delaying and scaling the signal;
and
applying the delayed and scaled signal to the second signal segment to correct interference on the second signal segment,
wherein the front end of the flash converter coupled to the summation node form the slicer having a propagation delay that is less than or equal to a symbol period of the communication signal.

4 more elements

A method for processing a communication signal having a plurality of symbols, comprising:

during a time period less than or equal to a symbol period of the plurality of symbols, comparing, by a plurality of comparators that are arranged as a front end of a flash converter, a symbol of the communication signal with a plurality of reference voltages, each comparator producing a respective output signal having a respective amplitude, and summing the respective amplitudes at a summation node coupled to the plurality of comparators arranged as the front end to generate a signal comprising a sum of discrete values of a multilevel signaling scheme,
wherein the flash converter comprises the front end coupled to a logic circuit, and
wherein the flash converter is adapted to form a slicer by substituting the logic circuit of the flash converter with the summation node;
delaying and scaling the signal in a plurality of feedback loops;
and
applying the delayed and scaled signal to a second symbol of the communication signal to correct intersymbol interference on the second symbol.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for slicing a communication signal

Life of this patent

Method and system for slicing a communication signal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22