Patent ID: 7545862

Claim:
An adaptive equalizer comprising: a feedforward filter for performing response according to a partial-response scheme on only a precursor portion of inter-symbol interference of an input waveform and for performing equalization that does not consider postcursor inter-symbol interference subsequent to the precursor portion, the feedforward filter generating a first response signal; at least one decoder for removing at least some distortion from the first response signal, the at least one decoder generating a second response signal; a feedback filter for generating a response for distortion due to a partial-response of the feedforward filter and for the postcursor inter-symbol interference; and at least one delay circuit for delaying the first response signal after the equalization performed by the feedforward filter to provide a delayed response signal, a delay of the at least one delay circuit being associated with a delay of the at least one decoder; wherein the response generated by the feedback filter is subtracted from the delayed response signal from the delay circuit so that a result of the subtraction provides a partial response.