Abstract: A method and apparatus for signal equalization are provided. Multiple decision components are arranged in a sequence, beginning with a history portion and ending with a decode portion. Each decision component performs a decode decision on a symbol. Decode decisions are passed forward to other decision components where they can be used to compensate for intersymbol interference. Decode decision output by the history portion are otherwise discarded, while decode decisions output by the decode portion are output as a decoded signal. In the next decode cycle, input previously provided to the decode portion is again provided to the history portion, in a sliding, overlapping block manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for signal equalization are provided. Multiple decision components are arranged in a sequence, beginning with a history portion and ending with a decode portion. Each decision component performs a decode decision on a symbol. Decode decisions are passed forward to other decision components where they can be used to compensate for intersymbol interference. Decode decision output by the history portion are otherwise discarded, while decode decisions output by the decode portion are output as a decoded signal. In the next decode cycle, input previously provided to the decode portion is again provided to the history portion, in a sliding, overlapping block manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting sequences of symbols in a received signal in the presence of inter-symbol interference. Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detection (MLSD) is a known method for optimum detection of such sequences. To reduce the complexity of the MLSD, a Reduced-State Sequence Detection (RSSD) technique has been considered based on partitioning the states of the MLSD. In this approach, a simplified sequence detector is placed within a global decision feedback loop. The disclosed architecture shortens the feedback loop by moving the sequence detector outside the loop and converting the interaction between the two to a feed-forward manner. This is achieved through slicing the signal and closing a nested loop around the sliced bins. A further variant simplifies the detector even more by reducing the number of bins.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting sequences of symbols in a received signal in the presence of inter-symbol interference. Maximum Likelihood Sequence Detection (MLSD) is a known method for optimum detection of such sequences. To reduce the complexity of the MLSD, a Reduced-State Sequence Detection (RSSD) technique has been considered based on partitioning the states of the MLSD. In this approach, a simplified sequence detector is placed within a global decision feedback loop. The disclosed architecture shortens the feedback loop by moving the sequence detector outside the loop and converting the interaction between the two to a feed-forward manner. This is achieved through slicing the signal and closing a nested loop around the sliced bins. A further variant simplifies the detector even more by reducing the number of bins.

Abstract: A folding adaptive equalizer is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core and an automatic gain control loop. The equalizing transfer function of the equalizer core is modulated by one or more gain control signals generated by the automatic gain control loop and by a folding signal generated by the automatic gain control loop. When the folding signal is inactive, an increase in the gain control signals produces an increase in the high-frequency, high-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core. When the folding signal is active, further gain can be applied by decreasing the gain control signals, which produces a frequency-shift in the transfer function of the equalizer core toward lower bandwidth and an increase in the high-frequency, low-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for interfacing a first multi-media digital device with a second multi-media digital device. An exemplary method includes the steps of: (i) converting a plurality of differential digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels; (ii) transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one or more coaxial cables; and (iii) receiving the single-ended digital content channels from the one or more coaxial cables and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into a plurality of differential digital content channels that are supplied to the second multi-media digital device.

Abstract: A folding adaptive equalizer is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core and an automatic gain control loop. The equalizing transfer function of the equalizer core is modulated by one or more gain control signals generated by the automatic gain control loop and by a folding signal generated by the automatic gain control loop. When the folding signal is inactive, an increase in the gain control signals produces an increase in the high-frequency, high-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core. When the folding signal is active, further gain can be applied by decreasing the gain control signals, which produces a frequency-shift in the transfer function of the equalizer core toward lower bandwidth and an increase in the high-frequency, low-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core.

Abstract: A folding adaptive equalizer is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core and an automatic gain control loop. The equalizing transfer function of the equalizer core is modulated by one or more gain control signals generated by the automatic gain control loop and by a folding signal generated by the automatic gain control loop. When the folding signal is inactive, an increase in the gain control signals produces an increase in the high-frequency, high-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core. When the folding signal is active, further gain can be applied by decreasing the gain control signals, which produces a frequency-shift in the transfer function of the equalizer core toward lower bandwidth and an increase in the high-frequency, low-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for interfacing a first digital device with a second digital device. An exemplary method includes the steps of combining one of a plurality of digital content channels and a back channel to form a composite channel, the back channel for transmitting information from the second multi-media digital device to the first multi-media digital device, converting a digital content channel and the composite channel from the first digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels, transporting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first digital device to the second digital device, and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into the digital content channel and the composite channel that are supplied to the second digital device. Cross-talk interference is reduced between the back channel and one of the plurality of digital content channels via a cross-talk cancellation filter.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, an extended equalizer circuit is provided for equalizing a digital communication signal transmitted over a transmission medium that causes a frequency-dependent attenuation of the digital communication signal. An equalizer may be used that includes a linear equalization circuit and a non-linear equalization circuit, the linear equalization circuit being configured to apply a linear filter to the digital communication signal to compensate for the frequency-dependent attenuation caused by a first portion of the transmission medium, and the non-linear equalization circuit being configured to apply one or more non-linear operations to the digital communication signal.

Abstract: A folding adaptive equalizer is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core and an automatic gain control loop. The equalizing transfer function of the equalizer core is modulated by one or more gain control signals generated by the automatic gain control loop and by a folding signal generated by the automatic gain control loop. When the folding signal is inactive, an increase in the gain control signals produces an increase in the high-frequency, high-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core. When the folding signal is active, further gain can be applied by decreasing the gain control signals, which produces a frequency-shift in the transfer function of the equalizer core toward lower bandwidth and an increase in the high-frequency, low-bandwidth gain of the transfer function of the equalizer core.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for interfacing a first digital device with a second digital device. An exemplary method includes the steps of combining one of a plurality of digital content channels and a back channel to form a composite channel, the back channel for transmitting information from the second multi-media digital device to the first multi-media digital device, converting a digital content channel and the composite channel from the first digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels, transporting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first digital device to the second digital device, and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into the digital content channel and the composite channel that are supplied to the second digital device. Cross-talk interference is reduced between the back channel and one of the plurality of digital content channels via a cross-talk cancellation filter.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, an extended equalizer circuit is provided for equalizing a digital communication signal transmitted over a transmission medium that causes a frequency-dependent attenuation of the digital communication signal. An equalizer may be used that includes a linear equalization circuit and a non-linear equalization circuit, the linear equalization circuit being configured to apply a linear filter to the digital communication signal to compensate for the frequency-dependent attenuation caused by a first portion of the transmission medium, and the non-linear equalization circuit being configured to apply one or more non-linear operations to the digital communication signal.

Abstract: A tunable ring oscillator, in accordance with the teachings described herein, may include one or more delay circuits having a coarse tuning circuitry and a fine tuning circuitry. The coarse tuning circuitry may be used to set one of a minimum time delay or a maximum time delay as a function of a coarse tuning input. The fine tuning circuitry may be used to adjust between the minimum time delay and the maximum time delay as a function of a fine tuning input.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer with a large data rate range is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core, a slicer and an automatic gain control (AGC) loop. The equalizer core is coupled to an input signal from a transmission medium and applies a transfer function to the input signal to compensate for losses incurred in the transmission medium in order to generate a core output signal. The equalizer core is also coupled to a bandwidth control signal that controls a bandwidth of the transfer function. The slicer is coupled to the core output signal and converts the core output signal to a digital output signal having a fixed digital output swing that approximates a transmission swing of the input signal prior to transmission over the transmission medium. The AGC loop is coupled to the core output signal and the digital output signal and compares the core output signal with the digital output signal in order to generate the bandwidth control signal.

Abstract: A tunable ring oscillator, in accordance with the teachings described herein, may include one or more delay circuits having a coarse tuning circuitry and a fine tuning circuitry. The coarse tuning circuitry may be used to set one of a minimum time delay or a maximum time delay as a function of a coarse tuning input. The fine tuning circuitry may be used to adjust between the minimum time delay and the maximum time delay as a function of a fine tuning input.

Abstract: An adaptive equalizer with a large data rate range is provided. The equalizer comprises an equalizer core, a slicer and an automatic gain control (AGC) loop. The equalizer core is coupled to an input signal from a transmission medium and applies a transfer function to the input signal to compensate for losses incurred in the transmission medium in order to generate a core output signal. The equalizer core is also coupled to a bandwidth control signal that controls a bandwidth of the transfer function. The slicer is coupled to the core output signal and converts the core output signal to a digital output signal having a fixed digital output swing that approximates a transmission swing of the input signal prior to transmission over the transmission medium. The AGC loop is coupled to the core output signal and the digital output signal and compares the core output signal with the digital output signal in order to generate the bandwidth control signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for avoiding and or recovering from the latch-up condition in a quantized feedback DC restorer circuit for use in a digital data communication system receiver. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit controls the level of the received data by comparing the AGC output with a quantized output signal from the DC restorer. A carrier detect circuit detects the presence of data transitions in the quantized output signal, and in the absence of such transitions continuously ramps up the gain of the AGC until such transitions are detected. The carrier detect circuit can be further used to disable, either entirely or partially, the positive feedback path of the DC restorer in the absence of transition in the quantized output signal. The present invention further provides an inherent muting function of the DC restorer output signal in the absence of valid data transitions.

Abstract: In general, a system and method for routing audio over a Digital Visual Interface (DVI) link is described herein. In one embodiment, the system comprises a a Digital Audio Interface (DAI) transmitter and a DAI receiver. Coupled to a fourth channel of the DVI link that transmits a pixel-rate clock signal, the DAI transmitter modulates the pixel-rate clock signal by input digital audio. The DAI transmitter sends the modulated clock signal to the DAI receiver. The DAI receiver recovers the digital audio from the modulated pixel-rate clock signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for avoiding and or recovering from the latch-up condition in a quantized feedback DC restorer circuit for use in a digital data communication system receiver. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit controls the level of the received data by comparing the AGC output with a quantized output signal from the DC restorer. A carrier detect circuit detects the presence of data transitions in the quantized output signal, and in the absence of such transitions continuously ramps up the gain of the AGC until such transitions are detected. The carrier detect circuit can be further used to disable, either entirely or partially, the positive feedback path of the DC restorer in the absence of transition in the quantized output signal. The present invention further provides an inherent muting function of the DC restorer output signal in the absence of valid data transitions.