Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Jing Jing Chen

Chan-Hong Chern

Chih-Chang Lin

Ming-Chieh Huang

Tao Wen Chung

Yuwen Swei

An apparatus includes a plurality of delay elements configured to delay a respective input signal and to output a respective delayed signal. The apparatus also includes a weight generator configured to generate a plurality of tap weights based on the delayed signals. The apparatus further includes a tap controller configured to generate tap weight enabling signals corresponding to one or more of the tap weights if the corresponding tap weights are greater than a predetermined threshold value. The tap controller is also configured to generate a set of bias factors based on corresponding tap weights of the plurality of tap weights.

Apparatus having programmable taps and method of using the same

An apparatus comprises a plurality of delay elements connected in series. Each delay element is configured to delay a respective input signal and to output a respective delayed signal. The apparatus also comprises a weight generator configured to generate a plurality of tap weights based on the delayed signals. The apparatus further comprises a tap controller configured to (1) generate tap weight enabling signals corresponding to one or more of the tap weights based on a determination that the corresponding tap weights are greater than a predetermined threshold value, and (2) generate a set of bias factors. The apparatus additionally comprises a summer configured to output a weighted signal based on the delayed signals, the tap weight enabling signals, the tap weights, and the bias factors.

Apparatus having programmable taps

A Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) with programmable taps includes a summer configured to receive a DFE input signal. Delay elements are coupled to the summer. The delay elements are connected in series. Each delay element provides a respective delayed signal of an input signal to the delay element. A weight generator is configured to provide tap weights. The DFE is configured to multiply each tap weight to the respective delayed signal from the respective delay element to provide tap outputs. Each tap output is selectively enabled to be added to the summer or disabled based on a first comparison of a first threshold value and each impulse response or each tap weight corresponding to the respective tap output, where the impulse response is the DFE input signal in response to a pulse signal transmitted through a channel.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Jing Jing Chen