10.10. What is PRML?
Description
This item is from the Yet Another Enhanced IDE/Fast-ATA/ATA-2 FAQ, by John Wehman and Peter den Haan with numerous contributions by others. (v1.92).
10.10. What is PRML?
The Partial Response Maximum Likelihood or PRML read channel is quickly replacing the ordinary peak detection channel as a mass market technology. Briefly, where a peak detection channel uses a comparatively simple analogue technique to extract the digital data from the signal picked up by the read head, a PRML channel digitizes the signal and employs digital processing techniques to reconstruct the data. Thanks to these DSP techniques a PRML channel can still work reliably on very closely packed data where the distinction between individual bits tends to blur. The end result is a faster, higher capacity drive.
For a more thorough discussion of this topic, take a look at Quantum's excellent white papers <http://www.quantum.com/products/whitepapers/>.
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