Patent ID: 8848774

Claim:
A method of adjusting a setting of a linear equalizer, comprising: determining a change to a virtual decision feedback equalizer (DFE) tap weight value of a predefined metric according to a data signal and an error signal generated through a decision device coupled to an output of the linear equalizer, a virtual DFE related to the virtual DFE tap weight value being implemented with no feedback circuit between the decision device and the output of the linear equalizer, a channel response related to a requirement of equalization being unknown in advance, and the virtual DFE tap weight value being related to an estimate of the channel response at a corresponding time instant; using the change in the virtual DFE tap weight value to algorithmically generate a modification in the setting of the linear equalizer based on utilizing the linear equalizer as a feedback of the virtual DFE; and adjusting the setting of the linear equalizer until the predefined metric is optimized, wherein the generated modification in the setting of the linear equalizer further comprises: applying a logic XOR to compare a polarity of a change of a first virtual DFE tap weight value with a polarity of a change of a second virtual DFE tap weight value, selecting, by a multiplexer, the change in the first virtual DFE tap weight value when the polarity of the change of the first virtual DFE tap weight value and the polarity of the change of the second virtual DFE tap weight value are different, and selecting zero when the polarity of the changes of the first and second virtual DFE tap weight values are the same, and filtering, by an accumulator, the modification in the setting of the linear equalizer.