Combined feed forward and blind equalizer

1. An equalizer, comprising:

a plurality of taps, each tap comprising a multiplier which is coupled to multiply a respective input sample by a respective coefficient, the taps being arranged in sequence so that the input sample to each of the taps, except to a first tap in the sequence, is delayed relative to a preceding tap in the sequence; and

an input selector, which is coupled to toggle the input sample to at least a selected tap among the plurality of taps, responsive to a state of the equalizer, so that the equalizer operates in a first state as a feed forward equalizer, and in a second state as a blind equalizer;

and comprising coefficient update circuitry, which receives an error signal as an input and determines the respective coefficient to be applied to each of the taps responsive to the error signal, wherein the error signal is provided in the second state by the selected tap, and wherein the input selector is adapted to toggle the input sample to the selected tap so that in the second state the input sample to the selected tap comprises a differential signal.

2. An equalizer according to claim 1 , wherein the differential signal comprises a difference between the input sample to the selected tap and the input sample to the tap preceding the selected tap.

3. An equalizer according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the respective coefficients is zero.

4. An equalizer according to claim 1 , and comprising a slicer which in the first state of the equalizer provides the error signal.

5. An equalizer according to claim 1 , wherein the respective coefficient comprises a blind coefficient determined by the coefficient update circuitry when the equalizer is operative in the second state and a feed forward coefficient determined by the coefficient update circuitry when the equalizer is operative in the first state, and wherein the coefficient update circuitry determines the feed forward coefficient responsive to the blind coefficient.

6. An equalizer according to claim 5 , wherein the feed forward coefficient for the selected tap comprises the blind coefficient for the selected tap, and wherein the feed forward coefficient for the tap preceding the selected tap comprises a difference between the blind coefficient for the selected tap and the blind coefficient for the tap preceding the selected tap.

7. A method for equalization, comprising:

providing a plurality of taps in an equalizer, each tap comprising a multiplier which is coupled to multiply a respective input sample by a respective coefficient;

arranging the taps in sequence so that the input sample to each of the taps, except to a first tap in the sequence, is delayed relative to a preceding tap in the sequence; and

toggling the input sample to at least a selected tap among the plurality of taps, responsive to a state of the equalizer, so that the equalizer operates in a first state as a feed forward equalizer, and in a second state as a blind equalizer;

and comprising:

receiving an error signal as an input;

determining the respective coefficient to be applied to each of the taps responsive to the error signal, wherein the error signal is provided in the second state by the selected tap; and

toggling the input sample to the selected tap so that in the second state the input sample to the selected tap comprises a differential signal.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the differential signal comprises a difference between the input sample to the selected tap and the input sample to the tap preceding the selected tap.

9. A method according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the respective coefficients is zero.

10. A method according to claim 7 , and comprising, in the first state of the equalizer, providing the error signal from a slicer.

11. A method according to claim 7 , and comprising:

operating the equalizer in the second state so as to determine the respective coefficient as a blind coefficient; and

determining a feed forward coefficient of the equalizer responsive to the blind coefficient, when the equalizer is operative in the first state.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the feed forward coefficient for the selected tap comprises the blind coefficient for the selected tap, and wherein the feed forward coefficient for the tap preceding the selected tap comprises a difference between the blind coefficient for the selected tap and the blind coefficient for the tap preceding the selected tap.