Marvellworld Trade Ltd.

Credo Technology Group Limited

Xuemei Liu

Hui Wang

Tao Zhang

Haihui Luo

Kaibo Miao

A disclosed DFE selection element reduces the degree of unrolling that might otherwise be required. In one illustrative embodiment of a method for converting a receive signal from a communication channel into a sequence of symbol decisions, the method includes, for each sampling interval: (a) generating a set of tentative symbol decisions each having a thermometer-coded representation with a least significant bit and a most significant bit; (b) providing each least significant bit as a thermometer-coded input to a first multiplexer; (c) providing each most significant bit as a thermometer-coded input to a second multiplexer; (d) applying a thermometer-coded representation of a preceding output symbol decision as selection inputs to the first and second multiplexers; and (e) capturing a current output symbol decision having a thermometer-coded representation that includes outputs of the first and second multiplexer.

Thermometer-encoded unrolled DFE selection element

A programmable delay line comprises a delay stage responsive to an analog control signal and responsive to one or more digital control signals. The delay stage generates an output signal that is delayed relative to an input signal by a delay amount. The delay amount controlled by a value of the analog control signal and one or more values of the digital control signals. A method for controlling a delay locked loop circuit comprises providing, to a programmable delay line of the delay locked loop circuit, a one or more digital signals, and providing, to the programmable delay line, an analog signal. A first portion of a delay produced by the programmable delay line corresponds to values of the one or more digital signals. A second portion of the delay produced by the programmable delay line corresponds to a value of the analog signal.

Growing community of inventors

Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Xuemei Liu