Prml system with reduced complexity maximum likelihood detector

Abstract

A less complex maximum likelihood detector can be implemented in a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) system without degrading system performance by saturating y values from a gain control loop to a smaller range before the y values are supplied to the maximum likelihood detector. A quantity 'D' of a maximum likelihood detector operating in accordance with a partial response scheme has a particular relationship with respect to the maximum (ymax) of the y input values processed by the maximum likelihood detector. In some embodiments, y values from a gain control loop are saturated from a first larger range (defined by ymaxreal) to a second smaller range (defined by a value SAT) which is at least as great as the ymax of the ideal input signal (ymaxideal) for the partial response scheme. The saturated y values are provided to the maximum likelihood detector. The D of the maximum likelihood detector (given the partial response scheme and the smaller range of y values) is in a different 'two to the power of an integer range' than the D would have been given the same partial response scheme but the larger range of y values.