ADAPTIVE EQUALISER WITH ASYNCHRONOUS DETECTION AND INHIBIT SIGNAL GENERATOR

Generating updated coefficients for an adaptive equalizer involves generating phase tracking information using asynchronous detection strategy (ADS) based on resolved data, and equalized signals, and estimating a phase corrected error based on the equalized signals, the phase tracking information and the resolved data. An inhibit signal is generated to inhibit updating of the equalization coefficients, the inhibit signal representing a likelihood of the phase corrected error being accurate, determined according to the phase corrected error, and the equalized signals. The equalization coefficients for the equalizer are adapted based on the received signals, and on the phase corrected error, and the adapting is inhibited according to the inhibit signal. Compared to conventional ADS, the new combination with the inhibit signal can enable improved convergence of coefficient adaptation. This is particularly useful for coherent receivers for optical systems.