US Patent 10009195 Nonlinear equalizer

An equalizer and method is implemented to improve the performance of a communication system based on multi-level amplitude modulation schemes. The equalizer may include a linear equalization circuit including a plurality of time delayed taps and configured to receive an input signal and generate an output signal. The equalizer may further include a nonlinear circuit configured to receive signals from at least a portion of the time delayed taps and generate at least a portion of a difference between the signals, the output signal based at least in part on the difference.