Patent ID: 8238477

Claim:
A data slicer comprising: a signal input node; a comparator having a first input of a first polarity, a second input of a second polarity which is the opposite of said first polarity, and an output coupled to a data out node, said first input of said comparator being coupled to said signal input node; and a multi-mode threshold generator including a first threshold generator and second threshold generator, whereby said first threshold generator is selected firstly and said second threshold generator is selected secondly and whereby only one of said first threshold generator and said second threshold generator provides an output to and input of said comparator; wherein said first threshold generator has a fast attack time and a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and includes a dual peak detector circuit and wherein said second threshold generator has a slow attack time and a high SNR and provides a threshold from an RC circuit and wherein said second threshold generator is charged to an output voltage of said first threshold generator.