Method and apparatus for signal detection and baseline wander cancellation

A method comprising:

• receiving input signals at an input of a serializer/deserializer device;
• equalizing the received input signals by compensating for frequency response distortion to form equalized signals;
• analyzing the equalized signals to determine whether:
• (i) peak amplitudes of the equalized signals are within a range of amplitudes defined by two threshold values, or
• (ii) logic levels of the equalized signals correspond to a sequence of a same logic level;
• and
• generating a signal absent indicator when the peak amplitudes of the equalized signals are within the range or the logic levels of the equalized signals correspond to a sequence of a same logic level, wherein the signal absent indicator indicates that valid data traffic is absent among the received input signals.

An integrated circuit device, the integrated circuit device comprising:

• an equalization circuit configured to generate equalized receiver signals derived from raw receiver input signals by compensating for frequency response distortion in the raw receiver input signals;
• a signal detection circuit configured to determine when peak amplitudes of the equalized receiver signals are within or outside of a range of amplitudes defined by two threshold values;
• a decision circuit configured to determine logic levels of the equalized receiver signals;
• a stream detection circuit configured to determine when the logic levels of the equalized receiver signals correspond to a sequence of a same logic level;
• and
• a signal loss circuit configured to determine that valid data traffic is absent among the raw receiver input signals when:
• the peak amplitudes of the equalized receiver signals are within the range as determined by the signal detection circuit;
• or
• the logic levels of the equalized receiver signals correspond to a sequence of a same logic level as determined by the stream detection circuit.