Patent ID: 8199800

Claim:
A system for decoding data from a bit-patterned media having data tracks comprised of a plurality of sub-tracks, the system comprising: a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) equalizer configured to receive a vector input that includes read-back signal samples corresponding with each of the plurality of sub-tracks and to generate in response a plurality of equalized outputs corresponding with each of the plurality of sub-tracks; a detector configured to receive a plurality of equalized outputs provided by the MIMO equalizer and to generate in response a vector output that includes estimates corresponding with user data associated with each of the plurality of sub-tracks; and a multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) target filter to generate an optimized equalizer filter employed by the MIMO equalizer and an optimized target employed by the detector, wherein the optimized equalizer-target filter pair is optimized by comparing each of the plurality of equalized outputs generated by the MIMO equalizer with each of the plurality of target outputs generated by the MIMO target filter.