Patent ID: 8665941

Claim:
A method comprising, in a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) of a receiver: initializing values of tap coefficients of the DFE based on values of tap coefficients of a partial response filter through which transmitted symbols passed en route to a sequence estimation circuit; receiving estimates of the transmitted symbols from the sequence estimation circuit; receiving an error signal that is generated based on an estimated partial response signal output by the sequence estimation circuit; updating values of tap coefficients of the DFE based on the error signal and the estimates of the transmitted symbols; generating one or more constraints that restrict impact of the error signal on the updating of the values of the tap coefficients of the DFE; establishing a first gain signal that determines an impact of the error signal on the updating of the tap coefficients of the DFE; establishing a second gain signal that determines an impact of the one or more constraints on the updating of the tap coefficients; and controlling a ratio of the first gain signal to the second gain signal based on a measured performance indicator.