Processing data samples using thermometer codes

An analogue to digital converter produces a series of values, Yn, encoded as thermometer codes. The values may be from a differential serial signal. The sequence of values is processed to produce one of two output values, -1 and +1, from each input value Yn. The values are processed as thermometer codes without converting them to another format. The processing may involve, for each value, Yn, determining if the magnitude of the next value, Yn+1, is greater than a threshold. If so, Yn is decreased if Yn+1 is positive and increased if Yn+1 is negative. The value of Yn is then compared with a threshold to determine which of the two output values it represents. This may be used as a feed forward equalizer. The required thermometer code comparator and increment circuits may be constructed from multiplexors with two inputs.