Patent ID: 8687683

Claim:
A receiver, comprising: a decision feedback equalizer, DFE, wherein the DFE includes at least one fixed tap and a group of floating taps; and a processing module configured to determine floating tap positions in the DFE, wherein the processing module is configured to: obtain a baseline eye opening value for the receiver when the group of floating taps is disabled and when tap value of the at least one fixed tap is optimized; provide a plurality of floating tap distribution configurations, wherein each one of the plurality of floating tap distribution configurations specifying a distribution configuration for the group of floating taps within the DFE; obtain a plurality of eye opening values for the receiver, wherein each particular eye opening value of the plurality of eye opening values corresponding to a particular floating tap distribution configuration of the plurality of floating tap distribution configurations and wherein the particular eye opening value is obtained when the group of floating taps are distributed within the DFE according to the particular floating tap distribution configuration and tap values of the group of floating taps are optimized for this particular floating tap distribution configuration; compare each of the plurality of eye opening values against the baseline eye opening value; determine whether there exists a floating tap distribution configuration that provides a largest eye opening improvement compare to the baseline eye opening value and identify said floating tap distribution configuration as an optimal floating tap distribution configuration; and identify a none-distribution configuration as the optimal floating tap distribution configuration when said floating tap distribution configuration that provides the largest improvement in eye opening value compare to the baseline eye opening value does not exist.