Abstract: A fast acquisition method is described that combines timing, gain and, if required, equalizer acquisition in one go with word synchronization. At the heart of the method is a preamble that begins with a repetition of identical words P whose length matches the code-word length. Preferably the method ends with a frame-sync word based on the bit-by-bit inverse of P. Main attractions of the technique are simplicity, speed, and robustness.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including a magnetic write head and a write amplifier with capacitive current compensation. The write amplifier is made up of four current mirrors which are turned on two at a time by two switchable floating current sources connected between the input terminals of the current mirrors in order to produce a write current of alternating polarity through the write head. The parasitic capacitances across the write head and/or the parasitic capacitances of the write amplifier at the write terminals are neutralized by means of neutralizing capacitors. The high impedance at the terminals of the write head enables the common-mode voltage across the write head to be fixed at any desired voltage value by means of a common-mode circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording on a magnetic record carrier includes a write amplifier comprising four current mirrors which are turned on two at a time by two switchable floating current sources connected between the input terminals of the current mirrors in order to produce a write current of alternating polarity through a write head. The high impedance at the terminals of the write head enables the common-mode voltage across the write head to be fixed at any desired voltage value by means of a common-mode circuit. The symmetrical structure further enables the parasitic capacitances at the write terminals to be neutralized by means of neutralizing capacitors.

Abstract: In a digital symbol receiver it is necessary to generate a clock signal with a correct frequency and phase, so that decisions a.sub.k about the value of transmitted symbols a.sub.k can be made at the right detection instants. A simple method of obtaining the desired clock signal is to adjust a VCO by means of a control signal obtained from the correlation of a detection signal r(t) with the detected symbols a.sub.k filtered by a symbol filter. The symbol filter may comprise a cascade connection of a differentiator and a filter which has a transfer function which is an estimate of the transfer function of a channel which supplies the transmitted symbols.

Abstract: In a digital transmission system including a transmitter (2) coupled via a channel (4) to a receiver (6) a detection signal r.sub.k is compared with a number of reference values to determine the destination symbols a.sub.k. Since the size of the received signal r.sub.k is not known in advance, the ratio between the detection signal and the reference values is to be determined by an adapting circuit (16) on the basis of the received signal and the decisions made. The problem may then occur that as a result of an initially erroneous value of the ratio between detection signal and reference values not a correct adaptation is made. By recognizing such a situation because specific values of the symbols a.sub.k are lacking, in such a situation said ratio can be brought to such a value by the correction circuit (18) that all the values of a.sub.k again occur.

Abstract: In a digital transmission system comprising a transmitter (2) connected to a receiver (6) through a channel (4), this receiver comprises an equalizer (8) which includes an equalization filter (12) with output signals from which a sum weighted with weight factors is determined. The output signal of the equalizer is applied to a detector. According to the inventive idea a correction signal for correcting the coefficients w of the equalizer is derived from w.sub.k =w.sub.k-1 +Ma.sub.k e.sub.k, where a.sub.k is the vector of a plurality of successive detected symbols, and e.sub.k is a difference between the current input signal of the detector and a reconstructed ideal input signal of the detector.

Abstract: Viterbi detector for a channel having a memory length 1, where no more than two survivors with an associated difference metric are updated. In the prior-art Viterbi detector of this type the new difference metric is from the previous difference metric by use of a saturation function. If the channel parameters differ from the values assumed for the calculation of the difference metric, the performance of the prior-art detector will rapidly degrade. In the detector according to the invention the new difference metric is derived from a combination of the saturation function of the previous difference metric and a correction signal which is a measure for the channel parameter difference.