Patent ID: 6051997
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A circuit for tracking rapid changes in peak and trough voltages of a data signal, the circuit comprising:an input for receiving a data signal superimposed on a bias voltage;a peak detector circuit coupled to the input for detecting peaks in the data signal and providing a peak detect output signal indicative of detected peaks;a trough detector circuit coupled to the input for detecting troughs in the data signal and providing a trough detect output signal indicative of detected troughs;the circuit further comprising:a peak level rate of change detector coupled to the peak detector circuit for detecting a rate of increase in the voltage level of detected peaks and to the trough detector circuit for controlling the trough detector circuit to detect troughs when the voltage level of detected peaks rises rapidly; anda trough level rate of change detector coupled to the trough detector circuit for detecting a rate of decrease in the voltage level of detected troughs and to the peak detector circuit for controlling the peak detector circuit to detect peaks when the voltage level of detected troughs falls rapidly;wherein one of said peak and trough level rate of change detectors is selectively coupled for controlling the respective trough or peak detector circuit.