CIRCUITRY FOR MITIGATING PERFORMANCE LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH FEEDBACK LOOP DELAY IN DECISION FEEDBACK EQUALIZER AND METHOD THEREFOR

摘要

A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) includes a forward equalizer, first and second adders, a decision device, a feedback equalizer, and an N-tap filter. Preferably, the first and second adders, the decision device, and the feedback equalizer constitute a first feedback loop, the second adder, the decision device, and the N-tap filter constitute a second feedback loop. In that case, the second feedback loop is free of an implementation delay associated with the first feedback loop. In the exemplary DFE, N is a positive integer. If desired, the N-tap filter is implemented in fast logic. A method for controlling a decision feedback equalizer based on first and second feedback signals is also described.