Pmc-sierra, Inc.

John Philip Plasterer

Matthew W McAdam

Jurgen Hissen

William Michael Lye

Anthony Eugene Zortea

Ognjen B Katic

Mathew McAdam

Victor Lee

An apparatus and method are provided for equalizing a dispersive channel based on in-phase and quadrature samples corresponding to an input signal. An equalizer according to the present invention uses a novel adaptation algorithm to adjust filtering characteristics based on previous in-phase samples and a current quadrature sample. The adaptation algorithm is configured to update filter coefficients in response to detecting a transition in the in-phase samples. The equalizer provides equalization for quadrature post-cursor intersymbol interference (ISI) components of the input signal. In an embodiment, the equalizer also provides equalization for in-phase post-cursor ISI components, quadrature precursor ISI components, in-phase precursor ISI components, or a combination of the forgoing.

In-phase and quadrature decision feedback equalizer

A method and apparatus for creating high speed logic circuits in a CMOS environment using current steering logic cells with actively-peaked NMOS or PMOS loads and the biasing of these logic cells is disclosed. The logic cells can include, for example, buffers, AND gates, OR gates, flip-flops, and latches. The current steering cells with actively-peaked loads can provide benefits such as reduced power consumption, smaller area, and higher speed performance over conventional devices. This performance boost is preferably achieved using NMOS followers with resistively degenerated gates to create frequency peaked transfer function of current-mode logic cells. These logic cells with actively-peaked loads can advantageously be used in circuits in which relatively good power area and performance are desired for state machine logic, parallel to serial conversions, serial to parallel conversions, and the like.

Systems and methods for actively-peaked current-mode logic

Methods and apparatus for canceling pre-cursor inter-symbol interference (ISI) are disclosed. In a digital communication system, a significant amount of noise can be attributed to the pre-cursor portion of the ISI. In a receiver, it can be relatively difficult to compensate for pre-cursor ISI in part because pre-cursor ISI is a result of one or more symbols that have yet to arrive at the receiver. One embodiment removes a portion of this ISI by using multiple detection thresholds in parallel. For example, data slicing (generation of a hard decision) can include three thresholds. These thresholds for slicing include a positive offset, a negative offset and no offset. The positive and negative offsets can correspond to the expected pre-cursor component of the data channel for which the data is transmitted or to a fraction thereof. The path with the correctly-compensated ISI is selected later.

Pre-cursor inter-symbol interference cancellation

Circuits and devices for an efficient, mixed voltage/current mode output driver. An output driver circuit includes a series terminated voltage mode driver circuit parallel with a current mode driver circuit. The output driver allows for a highly efficient driver but with an easily controllable output. It can be used for driving single ended or doubly terminated transmission lines.

Growing community of inventors

Burnaby, Canada

John Philip Plasterer