Patent ID: 7839955

Claim:
A method for adjusting a signal, comprising: using an equalizer, applying loss compensation for frequency-dependent distortion to a signal before or after the distortion occurs to generate an output signal; using a clock signal, sampling the output signal using a sampler to generate a plurality of data values and boundary values, each data value and boundary value comprising either a high value or a low value based on the sampling of the output signal; and based only on the high or low values of one or more of the data values and boundary values, adjusting the loss compensation applied to the signal using a controller, wherein: if the loss compensation applied to the signal is to be increased, the loss compensation is increased by a first amount; if the loss compensation applied to the signal is to be decreased, the loss compensation is decreased by a second amount; the magnitude of the first amount is not equal to the magnitude of the second amount; the first amount and the second amount are associated with a control target value; and the control target value is adjusted dynamically based on the value of the loss compensation applied to the signal.