| A decoder includes a signal amplifier and a decoder unit. The signal amplifier receives a to-be-amplified data signal that originated from an input data signal in a PAM-4 format and that is in a PAM-10 format because of 1+0.5D pulse shaping, and performs amplification and level shifting on the to-be-amplified data signal so as to generate a to-be-decoded data signal. The decoder unit is connected to the signal amplifier to receive the to-be-decoded data signal, decodes the to-be-decoded data signal into a decoded signal that is four-bits wide, and includes a three-bit ADC and a comparator. The three-bit ADC performs analog to digital conversion on the to-be-decoded data signal so as to generate a portion of the decoded signal that is three-bits wide. The comparator compares the to-be-decoded data signal with a reference voltage so as to generate another portion of the decoded signal that is one-bit wide. |