A Viterbi detector for use in a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) signal processing apparatus. The Viterbi detector can be used for different partial response (PR) equalizations with different parameters, and can be used for different PRML signal processing apparatuses such as high speed optical disk systems. The Viterbi detector includes an input buffer, a branch metric calculation unit, an add-compare-select circuit, a path memory unit, and a clock buffer. The Viterbi is designed based on a union trellis diagram relation obtained by combining trellis diagram relations associated with the PR equalizations with the parameters. According to the invention, the Viterbi detector has advantages of saving hardware space and conveniently changing PR equalizations with different parameters.
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