Adaptive Techniques for Joint Optimization of XTC and DFE Loop Gain in High-Speed I/O

High-speed I/O channels require adaptive techniques to optimize the settings for filter tap weights at decision feedback equalization (DFE) read channels to compensate for channel inter-symbol interference (ISI) and crosstalk from multiple adjacent channels. Both ISI and crosstalk tend to vary with channel length, process, and temperature variations. Individually optimizing parameters such as those just mentioned leads to suboptimal solutions. We propose a joint optimization technique for crosstalk cancellation (XTC) at DFE to compensate for both ISI and XTC in high-speed I/O channels. The technique is used to compensate for between 15.7 dB and 19.7 dB of channel loss combined with a variety of crosstalk strengths from 60 mV p-p to 180 mV p-p adaptively, where the transmit non-return-to-zero signal amplitude is a constant 500 mV p-p .