Systems and methods for multiple sensor noise predictive filtering

A method, the method comprising:

• generating a first interim output corresponding to a first data input using a first multi-stream noise predictive filter circuit based upon a non-matrix based combination of the first data input and a previous instance of a second data input;
• generating a second interim output corresponding to a second data input using a second multi-stream noise predictive filter circuit based upon a non-matrix based combination of the first data input and a previous instance of a second data input;
• and
• summing the first interim output with at least the second interim output to yield a combination branch metric.

A storage device, the storage device comprising:

• a storage medium;
• a head assembly disposed in relation to the storage medium and operable to provide a first sensed signal and a second sensed signal corresponding to information along a track of the storage medium;
• a read channel circuit including:
• an analog front end circuit operable to provide a first analog signal corresponding to the first sensed signal, and a second analog signal corresponding to the second sensed signal;
• an analog to digital converter circuit operable to sample the first analog signal to yield a first series of digital samples, and sample the second analog signal to yield a second series of digital samples;
• an equalizer circuit operable to equalize the first series of digital samples to yield a first sample set, and equalize the second series of digital samples to yield a second sample set;
• a data detector circuit including:
• a first multi-stream noise predictive filter circuit operable to generate a first interim output corresponding to the first sample set based upon a non-matrix based combination of the first sample set and corresponding previous instances of the second sample set;
• a second multi-stream noise predictive filter circuit operable to generate a second interim output corresponding to the second sample set based upon a non-matrix based combination of the first sample set and corresponding previous instances of the second sample set;
• a combining circuit operable to combine at least the first interim output with the second interim output to yield a combination branch metric;
• and
• operable to provide a detected output corresponding to the first data input and the second data input based at least in part on the combination branch metric.