Receiver for multivalued digital signals

Abstract

In order to decide on the logic value of the output signal corresponding to a received multivalued digital signal, the receiver includes a comparator circuit (3) for comparing the amplitude of the output signal with a plurality of decision thresholds produced by an integrator (24). Based on such comparison, a regenerated signal is produced having the decided logic value and an amplitude which is proportional to the decision thresholds. An adaptation circuit (17) compares the regenerated signal amplitude with that of the output signal, and based on such comparison produces a control signal (z) for either increasing or decreasing the decision thresholds so as to conform the regenerated signal with the output signal, such adaptation being effected by selectively supplying either a positive or a negative voltage to the input of the integrator (24). To prevent erroneous decisions on the logic value of the output signal due to misadaptations of the decision thresholds, adaptation is prevented in the case of output signals which can only result in one direction (increase or decrease) of erroneous adaptation. Such signals are those for which the corresponding regenerated signals have either the lowest or the highest absolute logic values.