US Patent 7515654 Data slicing circuit using multiple thresholds

A data slicing circuit that receives a demodulated signal including a known data pattern followed by unknown data generates at least two different threshold potentials intermediate between the peak and bottom levels of the demodulated signal. Different comparators compare the demodulated signal with the different threshold potentials to generate at least two different binarized signals. During reception of the known data pattern, a signal processing circuit compares the binarized signals with the known data pattern, preferably oversampling the binarized signals, and selects the binarized signal that best matches the known data. The selected binarized signal is then used to receive the unknown data.