Bounds on recovery times of decision feedback equalizers

New upper and lower bounds on the mean recovery times of decision feedback equalizers are derived. The analysis uses an approach based on writing difference equations for conditional, state dependent, mean recovery times. This method is simple and leads to simple expressions for the bounds. Two different recovery times are investigated; the channel error recovery time and the startup, or reset, error recovery time. Quantitative relationships between the two recovery times are established. Both noiseless and noisy equalizer operating conditions are examined. The new upper bounds are several orders of magnitude smaller than previous upper bounds in some practical cases