System, Apparatus And Method For Performing Automatic Gain Control In A Receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for performing automatic gain control in a receiver. In one example, a receiver includes: a low noise amplifier (LNA) to receive and amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal, the LNA having a first controllable gain; a mixer to downconvert the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) coupled to the mixer to amplify the IF signal, the PGA having a second controllable gain; a digitizer to digitize the IF signal to a digitized signal; a digital signal processor (DSP) to process the digitized signal; a first detector tooutput a first detection signal having a first value in response to the IF signal exceeding a first threshold during a first detection period; and a controller to dynamically update a gain setting ofone or more of the LNA and the PGA in response to the first detection signal.

Description

Background technique [0001] In a radio receiver, an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal is usually received by an antenna. The signal is then processed in the signal processing path of the receiver. Typical receive operations include amplification, filtering, downconversion, and digitization, resulting in a digitized signal that can then be digitally processed, such as demodulation for a particular modulation technique. [0002] Many receivers include multiple amplifiers or other gain components. At least some of these gain components can be controlled. While many gain control techniques are known, such techniques can suffer from various impairments, including complexity and processing difficulties. One reason for the difficulty in some techniques is the reliance on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) information, which is only available after digital processing of the signal, which in turn may cause delays in updating the gain components, which may adversely affect ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While many gain control techniques are known, such techniques can suffer from various impairments, including complexity and processing difficulties

One cause of difficulty in certain techniques is the reliance on Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) information, which is only available after digital processing of the signal, which in turn may cause delays in updating the gain components, which may adversely affect reception machine operation

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