Decision feedback equalizer having reduced gate count

摘要

An improved decision feedback equalization technique is provided that may be used in data communications receivers such as those in WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) systems. The decision feedback equalizer comprises a feedforward filter that is connected to receive an input data signal and output a filter representation thereof. The feedforward filter has a filter characteristic that depends on filter coefficient data. The decision feedback equalizer further comprises a filter coefficient computation unit for generating the filter coefficient data and outputting the generated data to the feedforward filter. At least one data processing circuit is provided that receives a mode switch signal for switching its operational mode. The data processing circuit is arranged for performing a feedforward filter function in one operational mode and a filter coefficient computation function in another operational mode.