Variable dynamic range wireless receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a variable dynamic range wireless receiver. Systems and methods for conserving energy by managing a variable dynamic range of a receiver device are presented. The system can include a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions within any of a plurality of amplitude ranges. The receiver can include a processor to operate within a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges in a listening mode for the receiver in order to listen for a preamble of a wirelessly transmitted data frame. The reduced amplitude range can have a reduced power level below a threshold. The processor is capable of receiving the preamble of the data frame while operating within the reduced amplitude range. The processor is capable of, for a receive mode, switching to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased linearity or power level above the threshold.

Description

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Patent Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 636,969, filed April 22, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for reducing power consumption of a wireless receiver device, including but not limited to reducing power consumption of a receiver by dynamically adjusting the dynamic range during listen and receive modes. BACKGROUND

[0004] The market for wireless communication devices has been growing due to the increase in use of portable devices, the increase in connectivity between a wide variety of devices, and the transfer of data. Digital exchange technologies have facilitated the large-scale deployment of inexpensive, easy-to-use wireless communication networks. Wireless communication can operate according to a variety of standards, such as IEEE 802.1 lx (e.g., Wi-Fi technology), Bluetooth, Zigbee, and the like. Using such technologies, wireless communication devices can transmit their transmissions through radio frequencies and across a variety of spaces and ranges. SUMMARY

[0005] The technical solution of the present disclosure allows receiver devices to save energy by managing their variable dynamic range (VDR) when operating in a listen mode. By adjusting the VDR based on the mode of operation, the receiver can minimize power consumption during periods of low activity and improve receiver sensitivity (e.g., receiver dynamic range and performance) in time for data reception. This approach can improve the energy efficiency of wireless receivers in technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Zigbee, in which the receiver can even detect a preamble with a reduced dynamic range. By operating with a reduced dynamic range during the listen mode, due to the reduced demand on receiver circuitry components, the circuitry of the receiver can reduce the amount of power consumed. This allows the receiver to save energy during the listen mode by operating at a lower VDR and utilizing its full available VDR when appropriate for data frame processing.

[0006] One aspect of the present technology solution relates to a system. The system can include a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions having a plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels. The receiver can include one or more processors. The one or more processors can be configured to, for a listening mode of the receiver, operate in a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges in order to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission, the reduced amplitude range corresponding to a reduced power level that is below a power threshold. The one or more processors can be configured to receive the preamble of the data frame while operating in the reduced amplitude range. The one or more processors can be configured to, for a receive mode of the receiver, switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased power level that is above the power threshold.

[0007] The one or more processors can be configured to, for the listening mode, operate in the reduced amplitude range of a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, the first ADC having a reduced amplitude range that does not exceed an amplitude range threshold. The one or more processors can be configured to, for the receive mode, switch to the increased amplitude range of a second ADC of the receiver, the second ADC having an increased amplitude range that exceeds the amplitude range threshold.

[0008] The receiver can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to operate at the reduced power level during the listening mode, the reduced power level established based on at least one of a portion of an overall variable dynamic range of the ADC. The receiver can include one or more phase-locked loops (PLLs) and one or more local oscillator generators (LOGENs) configured to operate at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level during the listening mode and at a second current level corresponding to a second noise level during the receive mode. The first current level can be lower than the second current level to conserve energy and the first noise level can be higher than the second noise level.

[0009] The receiver can include a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to adjust a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges. The LNA can operate at a first voltage level during the listening mode and at a second voltage level during the receive mode. The first voltage level can be lower than the second voltage level.

[0010] The system can further include a baseband processor configured to adjust a headroom voltage between a first voltage level to be used during the listening mode and a second voltage level to be used during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

[0011] The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a first operating point of a variable dynamic range of the receiver. The one or more processors can be configured to select the first operating point based on the reduced power level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode. The increased amplitude range can be adjusted for a signal strength of the data frame based on one or more measurements of a signal of the preamble. The receiver can include an automatic gain controller (AGC) to adjust at least one of the reduced amplitude range or the increased amplitude range based on one or more conditions of the wireless transmission.

[0012] The receiver can be configured to switch between the listening mode and the receive mode within a predefined time window upon detecting the preamble. The preamble and the data frame can be part of a communication protocol including at least one of a Wi-Fi technology, a Bluetooth technology, or a Zigbee technology. The one or more processors can be configured to adjust the increased power level based on historical data of signal strengths of a plurality of data frames received by the receiver.

[0013] One aspect of the present technical solution relates to a method. The method can include operating, by one or more processors, for a listening mode of a receiver, in a reduced amplitude range of a plurality of amplitude ranges in order to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission, the receiver configured to receive the wireless transmission having the plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels. The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a reduced power level that is lower than a power threshold. The method can include receiving, by the one or more processors, the preamble of the data frame while operating in the reduced amplitude range. The method can include switching, by the one or more processors, to an increased amplitude range for a receive mode of the receiver to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame. The increased amplitude range can operate at an increased power level that is higher than the power threshold.

[0014] The method can include operating, by the one or more processors, for the listening mode, the reduced amplitude range of a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, the first ADC having a reduced amplitude range that does not exceed an amplitude range threshold. The method can include switching, by the one or more processors for the receive mode, to the increased amplitude range of a second ADC of the receiver, the second ADC having an increased amplitude range that exceeds the amplitude range threshold.

[0015] The method can include operating, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, at the reduced power level during the listening mode, the reduced power level established based on at least one of a portion of an overall variable dynamic range of the ADC. The method can include operating, by one or more phase-locked loops (PLLs) and one or more local oscillator generators (LOGENs) of the receiver, at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level during the listening mode and at a second current level corresponding to a second noise level during the receive mode, where the first current level is lower than the second current level to conserve energy and the first noise level is higher than the second noise level.

[0016] The method can include adjusting, by a low noise amplifier (LNA) of the receiver, a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges, where the LNA operates at a first voltage level during the listening mode and at a second voltage level during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level. The method can include adjusting, by a baseband processor of the receiver, a headroom voltage between a first voltage level to be used during the listening mode and a second voltage level to be used during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode. The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a first operating point of a variable dynamic range of the receiver, the one or more processors configured to select the first operating point based on the reduced power level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

[0017] One aspect of the present technical solution relates to a non-transitory computer- readable medium storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions having a plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels, can cause the at least one processor to, for a listening mode of the receiver, operate in a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges in order to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission. The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a reduced power level that is lower than a power threshold. The instructions can cause the at least one processor, while operating in the reduced amplitude range, to receive the preamble of the data frame. The instructions can cause the at least one processor, for a receive mode of the receiver, to switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame. The increased amplitude range can operate at an increased power level that is higher than the power threshold. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more fully apparent and better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding components throughout the drawings. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1A is a block diagram depicting a network environment including one or more access points in communication with one or more devices or stations, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1B and 1C is a block diagram depicting a computing device that can be used in connection with the methods and systems described herein, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0021] Figure 2A An example system for conserving energy by managing a variable dynamic range of a receiver device is illustrated.

[0022] Figure 2B An example transceiver for managing a variable dynamic range at a receiver device is illustrated.

[0023] Figure 3A and 3B is a graph showing a comparison of a conventional receiver and a dynamic range receiver of the present solution.

[0024] Figure 3C is a graph or table of example embodiments of power that can be conserved in different scenarios.

[0025] Figure 4A is a graph of a graph illustrating another embodiment of the present solution.

[0026] Figure 4B is a chart of another embodiment illustrating gain and dynamic range control using separate knobs.

[0027] Figure 5 is an example flowchart illustrating a method for conserving energy by managing variable dynamic range of a receiver device.

[0028] The details of various embodiments of the methods and systems are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following IEEE Standard(s) (including any draft versions of this Standard(s)) are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and made part of this disclosure for all purposes: WiFi Alliance standards and IEEE 802.11 standards, including but not limited to IEEE 802.11a TM , IEEE 802.11b TM , IEEE 802.11g TM , IEEE P802.11n TM ; IEEE P802.11ac TM ; and IEEE P802.11be TM to IEEE P802.11bn TM standards. While the present disclosure can refer to aspects of these standards, the present disclosure is in no way limited by these standards.

[0030] For the purpose of reading the description of various embodiments below, the following description of sections of the specification and their respective contents can be helpful:

[0031] - Section A describes network and computing environments that can be useful for practicing embodiments described herein; and

[0032] - Section B describes embodiments of variable dynamic range receivers of the present solution.

[0033] A. Computing and Network Environment

[0034] Before discussing specific embodiments of the present solution, it can be helpful to describe aspects of the operating environment and related system components (e.g., hardware elements) in connection with the methods and systems described herein. Referring to Figure 1A , an embodiment of a network environment is depicted. In brief overview, the network environment includes a wireless communication system that includes one or more access points (APs) or network devices 106, one or more stations or wireless communication devices 102, and network hardware components or network hardware 192. The wireless communication devices 102 may, for example, include laptop computers, tablet computers, personal computers, and / or cellular telephone devices. Referring toFigure 1B and 1C Details of embodiments of each station or wireless communication device 102 and AP or network device 106 are described in further detail. In one embodiment, the network environment can be an ad hoc network environment, an infrastructure wireless network environment, a subnet environment, etc. The network devices 106 or APs can be operably coupled to network hardware 192 via a local area network connection. In some embodiments, the network devices 106 are 5G base stations. The network hardware 192, which can include routers, gateways, switches, bridges, modems, system controllers, appliances, etc., can provide a local area network connection for the communication system. Each of the network devices 106 or APs can have an associated antenna or array of antennas to communicate with wireless communication devices in its area. The wireless communication devices 102 can register with a particular network device 106 or AP to receive service from the communication system (e.g., via a SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration). Some of the wireless communication devices can communicate directly via assigned channels and communication protocols for direct connections (e.g., point-to-point communication). Some of the wireless communication devices 102 can be mobile or relatively stationary with respect to the network devices 106 or APs.

[0035] In some embodiments, the network devices 106 or APs include a device or module (including a combination of hardware and software) that allows the wireless communication devices 102 to connect to a wired network using wireless fidelity (WiFi) or other standards. The network devices 106 or APs can sometimes be referred to as wireless access points (WAPs). The network devices 106 or APs can be implemented (e.g., configured, designed, and / or built) for operation in a wireless local area network (WLAN). In some embodiments, the network devices 106 or APs can connect to a router as a standalone device (e.g., via a wired network). In other embodiments, the network devices 106 or APs can be components of a router. The network devices 106 or APs can provide access to a network for multiple devices. The network devices 106 or APs can, for example, connect to a wired Ethernet connection and use a radio frequency link to provide wireless connectivity for other devices 102 to utilize that wired connection. The network devices 106 or APs can be implemented to support standards for sending and receiving data using one or more radio frequencies. Those standards, and the frequencies they use, can be defined by the IEEE (e.g., the IEEE 802.11 standards). The network devices 106 or APs can be configured and / or used to support public Internet hotspots, and / or extend the Wi-Fi signal range of a network over the network.

[0036] In some embodiments, the access points or network devices 106 can be used for a wireless network (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Zigbee, any other type of radio frequency based network protocol, and / or variations thereof) in, for example, a home, a vehicle, or a building. Each of the wireless communication devices 102 can include a built-in radio and / or be coupled to a radio. Such wireless communication devices 102 and / or access points or network devices 106 can operate according to the various aspects of the disclosure as presented herein to enhance performance, reduce cost and / or size, and / or enhance broadband applications. Each wireless communication device 102 can have the ability to act as a client node seeking access to resources (e.g., data and connection to networked nodes (e.g., servers)) via one or more access points or network devices 106.

[0037] A network connection can include any type and / or form of network and can include any of the following: a point-to-point network, a broadcast network, a telecommunication network, a data network, a computer network. A network topology can be a bus, star, or ring network topology. The network can be any network topology capable of supporting the operations described herein, as is known to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, different types of data can be transmitted via different protocols. In other embodiments, the same types of data can be transmitted via different protocols.

[0038] The communication device(s) 102 and access point or network device(s) 106 can be deployed as and / or executed on any type and form of computing device, such as a computer, network appliance, or appliance capable of communicating over any type and form of network and performing the operations described herein. Figure 1B and 1C A block diagram of a computing device 100 useful for practicing an embodiment of the wireless communication device 102 or network device 106 is depicted. As shown in Figure 1B and 1C As shown in Figure 1B The computing device 100 can include a storage device 128, an installation device 116, a network interface 118, an I / O controller 123, display devices 124a-124n, a keyboard 126, and a pointing device 127, such as a mouse, as shown in Figure 1C As shown in

[0039] The central processing unit or processor 121 is any logic circuitry that responds to and processes instructions fetched from the main memory unit 122. In many embodiments, the central processing unit or processor 121 is provided by a microprocessor unit, such as: a microprocessor unit manufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California; a microprocessor unit manufactured by the International Business Machines of White Plains, New York; or a microprocessor unit manufactured by the Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, California. The computing device 100 can be based on any of these processors, or any other processors capable of operating as described herein.

[0040] The main memory unit 122 can be one or more memory chips capable of storing data and allowing any storage location to be directly accessed by the microprocessor or processor 121, such as any type or variation of static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, and solid state drive (SSD). The main memory unit 122 can be based on any of the above memory chips, or any other available memory chip capable of operating as described herein. In Figure 1B In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the processor 121 communicates with the main memory unit 122 via a system bus 150 (described in greater detail below). Figure 1C An embodiment of the computing device 100 is depicted in which the processor communicates directly with the main memory unit 122 via a memory port 103. For example, in Figure 1C In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the main memory unit 122 can be a DRDRAM.

[0041] Figure 1C An embodiment is depicted in which the main processor 121 communicates directly with cache memory 140 via a secondary bus, sometimes called a backside bus. In other embodiments, the main processor 121 communicates with the cache memory 140 using the system bus 150. Cache memory 140 is typically provided by a separate semiconductor memory unit, typically closer loaded into the main processor 121, that is dedicated to the main processor unit 121. By contrast, the main memory unit 122 is usually provided by one or more semiconductor memory units that are externally accessed by the processor unit 121. In this way, cache memory 140 can operate at faster speed than main memory unit 122. Figure 1CIn the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the processor 121 communicates with various I / O devices 130 via a local system bus 150. Various buses can be used to connect the central processing unit or processor 121 to any of the I / O devices 130, such as a VESA VL bus, an ISA bus, an EISA bus, a MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) bus, a PCI bus, a PCI-X bus, a PCI-Express bus, or a NuBus. For embodiments in which the I / O device is a video display 124, the processor 121 can use an advanced graphics port (AGP) to communicate with the display 124. Figure 1C An embodiment of a computer or computing system 100 is depicted in which the main processor 121 can communicate directly with I / O device 130b, e.g., via HYPERTRANSPORT, RAPIDIO, or INFINIBAND communication technology. Figure 1C An embodiment is also depicted in which a mix of local bus and direct communication is used: the processor 121 communicates with I / O device 130a using a local interconnect bus while communicating with I / O device 130b directly.

[0042] A wide variety of I / O devices 130a-130n can be present in the computing device 100. Input devices include keyboards, mice, trackpads, trackballs, microphones, dials, touch pads, touch screens, and graphics tablets. Output devices include video displays, speakers, inkjet printers, laser printers, projection devices, and dye-sublimation printers. An I / O device can be controlled by an I / O controller 123 as shown in Figure 1B The I / O controller can control one or more I / O devices, such as a keyboard 126 and a pointing device 127, e.g., a mouse or optical pen. In addition, an I / O device can be a storage device such as a disk drive, floppy disk drive, hard disk drive, or optical drive. Furthermore, an I / O device can be a

[0043] Referring again to Figure 1B, the computing device 100 may support any suitable installation device 116, such as a disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a CD-R / RW drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a flash memory drive, tape drives of various formats, a USB device, a hard drive, a network interface, or any other device suitable for installing software and programs. The computing device 100 may further include a storage device, such as one or more hard drives or a redundant array of independent disks, for storing an operating system and other related software, and for storing application software programs, such as any program or software 120 for implementing (e.g., configured and / or designed for) the systems and methods described herein. Optionally, any of the installation devices 116 may also be used as a storage device. Additionally, the operating system and software may be run from bootable media.

[0044] Furthermore, the computing device 100 may include a network interface 118 for interfacing with a network through various connections including, but not limited to, a standard telephone line, a LAN or WAN link (e.g., 802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25, SNA, DECNET), a broadband connection (e.g., ISDN, Frame Relay, ADSL, etc.), or a network interface 118. T 11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ad, CDMA, GSM, WiMax, and direct asynchronous connection. In one embodiment, computing device 100 communicates with other computing devices 100′ via any type and / or form of gateway or tunneling protocol, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS). The network interface 118 may include a built-in network adapter, a network interface card, a PCMCIA network card, a card bus network adapter, a wireless network adapter, a USB network adapter, a modem, or any other device suitable for connecting the computing device 100 to any type of network capable of communicating and performing the operations described herein.

[0045] In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can include or be connected to one or more display devices 124a through 124n. Thus, any of the I / O devices 130a through 130n and / or the I / O controller 123 can include any type and / or form of suitable hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software to support, enable or provide for the connection and use of the display device(s) 124a through 124n by the computing device 100. For example, the computing device 100 can include any type and / or form of video adapters, video cards, drivers, and / or libraries to interface, communicate, connect or otherwise use the display device(s) 124a through 124n. In one embodiment, a video adapter can include any number of connection types, bus types and / or speeds, and / or ports to connect to the display device(s) 124a through 124n. In other embodiments, the computing device 100 can include multiple video adapters, where each video adapter is connected to a display device 124a through 124n. In some embodiments, any portion of the operating system of the computing device 100 can be configured for use with multiple display devices 124a through 124n. In further embodiments, the I / O device 130 can be a bridge between the system bus 150 and an external communication bus, such as a USB bus, Apple Desktop Bus, RS-232 serial connection, SCSI bus, FireWire bus, FireWire 800 bus, Ethernet bus, AppleTalk bus, Gigabit Ethernet bus, Asynchronous Transfer Mode bus, Fiber Channel bus, Fiber Optical bus, a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface bus, a USB connection, or a HDMI bus.

[0046] Figure 1B and 1CThe computing device 100 of the sort depicted in FIG. 1A can operate under the control of an operating system, which controls scheduling of tasks and access to system resources. The computing device 100 can be running any operating system, such as any of the versions of the MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating systems, the different releases of the Unix and Linux operating systems, any version of the MAC OS for Macintosh computers, any embedded operating system, any real-time operating system, any open source operating system, any proprietary operating system, any operating systems for mobile computing devices, or any other operating system capable of running on the computing device and performing the operations described herein. Typical operating systems include, but are not limited to: the Android operating system produced by Google, Inc.; the WINDOWS 7, 8, and 10 operating systems produced by the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington; the MAC OS for Macintosh computers produced by Apple Computer of Cupertino, California; the WebOS produced by RIM; the OS / 2 produced by International Business Machines of Armonk, New York; and the freely available operating system Linux, or any type and / or form of Unix operating system, among others.

[0047] The computer system or computing device 100 can be any workstation, telephone, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, server, handheld computer, mobile telephone, other portable telecommunication device, media playing device, gaming system, mobile computing device, or any other type and / or form of computing, telecommunications or media device that is capable of communication and that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the operations described herein. In some embodiments, the computing device 100 can have different processors, operating systems and input devices consistent with the device.

[0048] Aspects of the operations environments and components described above will become apparent in the context of the systems and methods disclosed herein.

[0049] B. Systems and Methods for Variable Dynamic Range Receivers

[0050] As in some other modern networking technologies, IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) wireless local area (WLAN) networking technologies can organize data to be transmitted into discrete packets that can be transmitted from one transceiver to another. Because the RF spectrum can be shared among different transceivers (e.g., there can be hundreds of transceivers in a local area), the use of the spectrum can be coordinated to avoid collisions between competing transmitter-receiver pairs. The 802.11 standard can define several ways of coordinating the use of the shared radio frequency (RF) spectrum. One of the coordination techniques can include a distributed coordination function (DCF), in which Wi-Fi devices can operate their radio receivers in a listening mode, waiting to receive or "hear" a transmission from another Wi-Fi device. In the listening mode, RF power in the channel can be sensed (e.g., energy detection) as well as a specific waveform of the Wi-Fi packet preamble (e.g., carrier sense). This sensing can be done to determine that a Wi-Fi packet is present in the air so that it is received. Sensing can also be done by a Wi-Fi transmission or any other radio technology (e.g., Bluetooth) to determine when a channel is occupied, which can interfere with a desired transmission. A Wi-Fi transceiver that wishes to transmit data can wait until the RF channel (medium) is free (no detectable packet and RF energy below a threshold) before transmitting. This means that the Wi-Fi transceiver can spend a large portion of time in the listening mode. This can occur in particular when the Wi-Fi functionality transmits or receives little data relative to its total capacity, because all the time the transceiver is not actively transmitting or receiving packets, it can operate in the listening mode. Thus, reducing the power consumed in the listening mode can have a significant impact on the energy consumption of the Wi-Fi functionality on energy-constrained devices (e.g., cell phones).

[0051] The present technical solution can include a variable dynamic range (VDR) receiver that can reduce the power consumed in the listening and receive (Rx) modes by adding a new, lower-power, lower dynamic range (DR), and operating point to the radio. The dynamic range of a receiver can be the difference between the internal noise power of the receiver (e.g., the cascaded noise figure of the receiver) and the maximum signal level that can be received without distortion.

[0052] As with some other radio technologies, receiving devices, such as Wi-Fi devices, can be configured to receive packets over a very wide range of RF power levels. For example, the 802.11 standard requires receivers to be able to receive packets at conducted power levels from -80 dBm to -4 dBm or 10 pW to 398 μW, however many commonly used receivers can successfully receive packets as weak as -100 dBm or 100 fW. In addition, modern 802.11 standards support packet types that can require modulation transmissions with signal-to-noise ratios from 0 dB to almost 40 dB. Furthermore, these packets can have a peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) that exceeds 12 dB. Allowing some margin for fading and gain errors can mean that the DR of a modern Wi-Fi receiver can exceed 60 dB. Although the DR is very wide, it can still be less than the 96 dB range of packet RF power levels over which the receiver needs to operate requiring an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit. At the start of a packet, during the first portion of the preamble, the AGC moves the DR window to the appropriate operating point for the observed packet power.

[0053] Because a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver can spend a significant amount of time listening to noise, waiting for a packet to arrive, or sensing the medium to determine if it can transmit, the listen or "carrier sense (CRS)" mode can actually be a large or the largest consumer of power in a WLAN system. The present solution focuses on reducing the power consumption of a transceiver, such as a wireless LAN transceiver, when operating in the listen mode.

[0054] Different schemes can be used to reduce the power consumed in the listen mode. These schemes can include reducing the gain or otherwise reducing the noise figure, increasing the observed noise power, and reducing the receiver sensitivity. The systems and methods of the present solution can increase the gain, maintain the noise figure, while reducing the dynamic range headroom of the elements of the analog and digital receiver chain to conserve power.

[0055] In some aspects, the noise figure can be a number by which the noise performance of a radio receiver, amplifier, mixer, or other circuit block can be specified. In such configurations, the lower the value of the noise figure, the better the performance of the transceiver. In one aspect, the noise figure can define the amount of noise that an element adds to the overall system.

[0056] The techniques of the present solution can be applied to and would benefit any wireless or wired telecommunication receiver that needs to sense or listen to a medium such as Ethernet (CSMA-CD) or Bluetooth LE beacon discovery. WLAN listen state power consumption can be a relevant engineering and market performance criterion. The techniques of the present solution can reduce the power consumed in the listen state by 50% or more.

[0057] The technical solution of the present disclosure allows receiver devices to save energy by managing (e.g., reducing) their variable dynamic range (VDR) while operating in a listening mode. The listening mode can be a low-power operating state of a wireless receiver in which the receiver can monitor for an incoming preamble preceding a data frame. The variable dynamic range (VDR) can be an adjustable range of signal amplitudes that a receiver can handle, extending from a signal noise level all the way to a maximum level of the signal (e.g., a signal peak). This adjustment allows the receiver to optimize its sensitivity and power consumption by reducing the dynamic range when listening for incoming transmissions or increasing the dynamic range when higher signal fidelity is desired (e.g., during active data reception). When the amplitude of an incoming signal exceeds the dynamic range of the receiver, the signal can be clipped (e.g., the signal peak can be cut off by saturated receiver circuitry). Thus, the variable nature of the dynamic range allows the receiver to dynamically modify its sensitivity to incoming signal strength, and thus modify the range of the captured received signal. However, increasing the sensitivity and range of the captured received signal can also increase power consumption, reducing the device energy efficiency.

[0058] Wireless receivers (e.g., wireless transceivers of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Zigbee) can have a listening mode of operation in which the receiver listens for incoming transmissions. When operating in the listening mode, the receiver device can consume energy according to the VDR utilized by the device, even if no transmission is received. Meanwhile, when an incoming transmission arrives, a receiver operating in its listening mode can detect the preamble preceding the data frame before decoding the frame data. These preambles can be detected by the receiver even when the receiver is operating in its reduced dynamic range (e.g., not utilizing their entire VDR). This provides the receiver with an opportunity to save their energy while operating in the listening mode by reducing the VDR until the preamble arrives and then increasing the VDR to prepare for decoding and processing the data frame.

[0059] The technical solution of the present disclosure facilitates energy savings for a receiver when operating in a listening mode by reducing the VDR of the receiver to an amplitude range that is centered above a signal noise floor. The amplitude range can include a span of signal strength levels that the receiver can detect and process, from a lowest detectable signal to a highest detectable signal before the receiver processing circuitry saturates. Reducing the amplitude range of the VDR allows the receiver to operate a sufficient amount of VDR to detect any incoming preamble, even if the amplitude of the preamble signal exceeds the reduced dynamic range of the receiver device (e.g., clip the preamble signal). The preamble can include any one or more (e.g., a series) of signals transmitted at the start of a wireless transmission to synchronize and prepare the receiver to receive an incoming data frame including data or a payload. Thus, the circuitry of the receiver device (e.g., eLNA, PLL, and LOGEN, baseband headroom, ADC) can operate at a reduced power, thereby saving energy when operating in a listening mode. Once a preamble is detected, the technical solution further allows the receiver to apply its automatic gain control to adjust (e.g., increase) its VDR to an operating point with an increased VDR, thereby allowing the receiver to receive and process the entire incoming data frame signal.

[0060] Figure 2A An example system 200 is illustrated for saving energy by managing a variable dynamic range (VDR) of a receiver. The example system 200 can include a transmitter 202 network device in communication with a receiver 212 network device via a wireless link 210. The transmitter 202 can generate and transmit one or more transmissions 204 that can include one or more preambles 206 and data frames 208. The receiver 212 can receive the transmissions 204 along with their respective preambles 206 and data frames 208. The receiver 212 can be a variable dynamic range receiver that can include one or more operating points 220, each of which can have their own amplitude range 222 and power level 224. The receiver 212 can include one or more operating functions 230 to implement various receiver operating functions, including according to different operating modes 232 (e.g., listening or receive modes). The receiver 212 can include one or more automatic gain controllers 250 and one or more operating circuits 240 for implementing various receiver operations. The operating circuits 240 can include any one or more of: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 242, a frequency synthesis system 244 (e.g., a phase-locked loop or local oscillator generator), an amplifier 246, and a baseband processor 248.

[0061] At a high level, the system 200 can include a transmitter 202 and a receiver 212 that wirelessly communicate via one or more links 210, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) that facilitates Wi-Fi communication systems, a communication of a Bluetooth Low Energy system, or a communication of a Zigbee system. The transmitter 202 can occasionally transmit one or more transmissions 204 to the receiver 212, where a preamble 206 of the transmission 204 can precede a data frame 208. The receiver 212 can be configured to receive wireless transmissions 204 from the transmitter. The transmissions 204 can have any of a plurality of amplitude ranges 222, which can correspond to any of a plurality of corresponding power levels 224. The receiver 212 can include one or more processors (e.g., 121) that can be coupled with one or more caches 140 or memories 140 that can store instructions, commands, or data to implement the functionality or features of the receiver 212 described herein, such as various operations at different amplitude ranges 222 or power levels 224 or different operating modes 232.

[0062] For example, during a pause where the receiver 212 is waiting for any transmissions to arrive, the receiver 212 can be in a listening operating mode 232. During the listening operating mode 232, the receiver 212 can operate according to a reduced operating point 220 with a reduced amplitude range 222 (e.g., an active range of a VDR) of the receiver 212, allowing the receiver 212 to conserve energy during the listening operating mode 232. For example, the processor 121 of the receiver 212 can be configured (e.g., via instructions, data, or commands stored in the memory 122 or the cache 140) to operate, for the listening operating mode 232 of the receiver 212, within a reduced amplitude range 222 of the plurality of amplitude ranges 222, for which the receiver 212 can listen for preambles 206 of data frames 208 of wireless transmissions 204.

[0063] The reduced amplitude range 222 can include any reduced or narrower range of signal strengths that the receiver can handle, centered around a noise level, to conserve power during low peak amplitude or low maximum amplitude operations (e.g., a listening mode). The reduced amplitude range 222 can be at or correspond to a reduced amplitude or power level that can be below an amplitude or power threshold (e.g., a power threshold of the power levels 224 associated with a power or energy conservation level). The increased amplitude range can refer to a wider range of signal amplitudes that the receiver can handle or process, allowing the receiver to detect and process stronger or more forceful signals, such as signals of data frames that the receiver can receive when operating in a receive mode.

[0064] The power threshold can be any predefined signal strength level that can be used by the receiver to switch between operating modes, such as transitioning from a reduced power listening mode (e.g., below a threshold level) to a higher power reception mode when the signal exceeds this level or exceeds a second threshold level higher than the first threshold level. In some configurations, the threshold can be an amplitude threshold, a signal range threshold (e.g., corresponding to a signal range that can be captured at an ADC), or a linearity threshold (e.g., corresponding to linearity of an amplifier to be adjusted). Switching can refer to the process of changing a receiver's operation settings from one configuration or mode to another configuration or mode, such as changing from a reduced amplitude range to an increased amplitude range. Power level can refer to a magnitude of power of a signal typically measured in units of, for example, watts, milliwatts, or decibels, which indicates a strength of the signal. For example, switching to an increased amplitude range can include adjusting a gain setting of the receiver and a power level to enhance sensitivity and capture higher signal strengths to improve data reception.

[0065] By operating within the reduced amplitude range 222 of the VDR, each of the operating circuits 240 can operate at a reduced power level (e.g., during the listening operating mode 232). For example, the analog-to-digital converter 242 can conserve energy by reducing the active dynamic range, thereby processing only the necessary portion of the signal and avoiding power consumption associated with handling the unused portion of the dynamic range. The frequency synthesis system 244, including the PLL and the LOGEN, can conserve power by reducing the operating current and reducing the phase noise requirements. The amplifier 246 can conserve power by reducing its supply voltage while maintaining its gain and noise figure, resulting in reduced linearity. The baseband processor 248 can conserve energy by minimizing its processing tasks and operating at a lower clock speed. In doing so, the reduced amplitude range 222 can correspond to a lower power consumption level, allowing energy to be conserved during the listening operating mode 232.

[0066] When the receiver 212 detects the arrival of the transmission 204 (e.g., by detecting the incoming preamble 206 of the transmission 204 preceding the data frame 208), the receiver 212 can switch from the listening operating mode 232 to the reception operating mode 232. For example, the processor 121 can be configured (e.g., via instructions, commands, or data stored in the memory 122 or the cache 140) to receive the preamble 206 of the data frame 208 while operating within the reduced amplitude range 222. For example, the processor 121 can determine that the incoming signal within the reduced amplitude range 222 corresponds to the preamble 206 of the incoming transmission 204. The processor 121 can determine, based on the detected preamble 206, that the data frame 208 is to follow the preamble 206 within a predetermined time interval, such as within 10 to 30 microseconds for Wi-Fi transmissions or within 100 to 150 microseconds for Bluetooth LE transmissions.

[0067] Receiver 212 (e.g., processor 121) can be configured to switch to an increased amplitude range 222 for a receive operating mode 232 of receiver 212 in response to receiving preamble 206 of data frame 208. The increased amplitude range can include any extended signal range that the receiver is configured to utilize or handle, allowing the receiver to capture higher signal levels or ranges during data reception to improve signal fidelity. The increased amplitude range 222 can operate at an increased power level 224, which can be higher than a power threshold, the power level 224 of the decreased amplitude range 222 being lower than the power threshold during the listening operating mode 232. Receiver 212 can utilize an operating function 230 to adjust operating point 220 from the operating point 220 of the decreased amplitude range 222 and their corresponding reduced power level 224 used during the listening mode to the operating point 220 with the increased amplitude range 222 and their corresponding increased power level 224 as utilized during the receive mode. The receive mode can be any operating state of the receiver in which the receiver is configured to process or decode incoming data (e.g., data frame) after detecting a preamble (e.g., in the listening mode). In doing so, operating function 230 can increase the amplitude range 222 activated and utilized by receiver 212, allowing the full range of signal ranges of preamble 206 or data frame 208 to be received and processed by receiver 212.

[0068] Transmitter 202 and receiver 212 can include any combination of hardware and software, such as a device configured for wireless communication. Transmitter 202 and receiver 212 can include any computing system, such as a Wi-Fi router or access point, a computer or laptop, a smartphone, a smartwatch, or an Internet of Things (IoT) device. Transmitter 202 and receiver 212 can be configured to communicate wirelessly via a WLAN, a cellular network, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any wired or wireless network. Transmitter 202 can be configured for generating and transmitting data packets, including preamble 206 followed by data frame 208.

[0069] Transmission 204 can include any sequence of data sent from transmitter 202 to receiver 212 over wireless link 210. Transmission 204 can include at least two main components: preamble 206 and data frame 208. Preamble 206 can include an initial signal or set of signals that precede the actual data frame 208. Preamble 206 can serve one or more purposes, including allowing receiver 212 to synchronize with the incoming signal, performing initial signal processing, and determining the start of data frame 208. Following the preamble, data frame 208 can include the actual information (e.g., payload) being transmitted, which can include data intended for reception, along with any control and error-checking information.

[0070] The preamble 206 can include any information or data that can indicate or represent the start of the transmission 204. The preamble 206 can include a field, indication, or flag that can facilitate or allow the receiver 212 to synchronize with the incoming data and adjust its operation to receive the data. The receiver 212 can be equipped with a variable dynamic range (VDR) capability to adjust its operational parameters based on the operational mode 232.

[0071] The data frame 208 can include any unit of data transmitted over a network. The data frame can include both payload data and metadata necessary for proper data interpretation and error checking. The data frame 208 can generally follow the preamble 206, which can represent the start of the transmission 204 and allow the receiver 212 to synchronize and prepare to efficiently decode the incoming data frame 208. For example, during the listening operational mode 232, the receiver 212 can operate with a reduced amplitude range 222 and a corresponding power level 224 below a certain predetermined threshold to facilitate conserving the receiver’s energy in monitoring for incoming preambles 206. Upon detecting the preamble 206 (e.g., through the operational function 230), the receiver 212 can utilize the automatic gain controller 250 to transition from the reduced amplitude range 222 to the increased amplitude range 222 and its increased power level 224 (e.g., to initiate the receive operational mode 232). In doing so, the receiver 212 can increase its dynamic range and power level to accurately process and decode the data frame 208.

[0072] The link 210 can include any communication channel that facilitates the transmission of data between devices with or without any physical connection (e.g., wires or cables or electromagnetic waves). The link 210 can facilitate any combination of wired or wireless communication through various technologies, each tailored for certain environments. For example, the link 210 can include or facilitate a Wi-Fi connection, providing high-speed data transfer over short to medium distances, typically used in local area networks (LANs). For example, the link 210 can include or facilitate Bluetooth short-range communication between devices (e.g., personal area networks (PANs) and low-power applications). For example, Zigbee can support low-power, low-data rate communication over short distances, typically used in home automation and IoT devices. For example, the link 210 can include or facilitate cellular network connections, including 4G and 5G long-range, high-speed data transfer over wider areas. For example, the link 210 can include or facilitate LoRa (Long Range) that provides low-power, wide-area network capabilities for IoT applications.

[0073] The operating points 220 can include any particular configuration of amplitude range and corresponding power level of a variable dynamic range (VDR) system that can be used by the receiver to process an incoming signal. Each operating point 220 can be characterized by a distinct amplitude range 222, which can represent a span of signal strength that the receiver can effectively handle. The amplitude range 222 can determine or indicate a range of signal power levels that the system can capture, detect, or represent without introducing distortion or noise.

[0074] The corresponding power level 224 indicates an amount of power consumed by the operational circuitry 240 of the receiver when operating at a given amplitude range 222. Lower amplitude ranges 222 and their corresponding lower power levels 224 can be used during operations in which accuracy can not be limited, such as when the preamble 206 arrives during a listening operation mode 232, for example, in order to conserve energy. In contrast, higher amplitude ranges 222 and corresponding higher power levels 224 can be employed during active data reception to ensure high resolution and robust signal processing as well as accurate data decoding. By dynamically tuning, configuring, changing, or adjusting between these operating points 220, the receiver 212 can balance energy efficiency (e.g., during a listening mode) and performance (e.g., during a reception mode) based on current operating preferences.

[0075] The operational functions 230 of the receiver 212 can include any combination of hardware and software used to perform operations or functionalities of the receiver 212 with respect to receiving an incoming signal or conserving energy. The operational functions 230 can include any functions used to implement any particular processes or tasks that the receiver 212 performs in managing and processing an incoming signal. The operational functions 230 can include functions such as any signal reception, identification, detection, amplification, conversion, and data processing involved with any of the operational modes 232.

[0076] The operational modes 232 can include any distinct state or phase in which the receiver operates, such as a listening mode or a reception mode. In a listening operational mode 232 (also referred to as a listening mode), the receiver can be configured or set to monitor an incoming signal at a reduced or minimal power consumption, focusing on detecting a preamble or signal indicator using a reduced amplitude range 222 (e.g., an amplitude range 222 set to a particular power level 224). In a reception operational mode 232 (also referred to as a reception mode), the receiver can actively engage in decoding and processing a data frame 208. During the reception mode, the operational functions 230 can switch to a higher amplitude range 222 and increased power level 224 to handle the full dynamic range of the signal.

[0077] Receiver 212 can be configured to adjust and select different operating points based on the operating mode 232. For example, in a listening mode, receiver 212 can use an operating point 220 with a particular (e.g., narrow) amplitude range and lower power to extend battery life. For example, operating points 232 can be distinguished by amplitude range 222 and power level 224, allowing operating function 230 to select a particular operating point 220 for a given desired power level 224 (e.g., energy consumption level) or a given amplitude range 222 (e.g., a given VDR range to be utilized).

[0078] However, when transitioning to a receive mode, receiver 212 can select an operating point 220 with a wider amplitude range 222 and higher power 224 to efficiently capture and decode a full data frame 208. For example, operating function 230 can employ and utilize an automatic gain controller 250 to determine the lowest amplitude range 222 and its corresponding (e.g., lowest) power level 224 that is large enough to fully capture a data frame 208 signal. In doing so, operating function 230 and automatic gain controller 250 can maximize energy savings without sacrificing incoming signal processing performance. This dynamic adjustment of operating points 220 can allow receiver 212 to optimize both performance and energy efficiency depending on its current operating requirements.

[0079] Depending on the operating mode 232, operating circuits 240 can include any circuits that can operate at reduced power or energy. For example, in a listening operating mode 232, several operating circuits within the receiver can be adjusted or configured to conserve energy while still maintaining the ability to detect incoming transmissions (e.g., a monitor for incoming preamble 206). For example, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 242 can be set to utilize only a portion of its dynamic range, reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary processing of signal amplitudes outside of a limited selected range (e.g., corresponding to amplitude range 222 used during listening mode). Similarly, a frequency synthesis system 244 (e.g., a phase-locked loop (PLL) and local oscillator generator (LOGEN)) can operate at a reduced current level or increased phase noise level, enabling lower power usage while still maintaining sufficient phase noise performance for listening mode signal detection. Likewise, amplifiers 246 (e.g., low noise amplifiers (LNAs)) can be configured to operate at reduced linearity, reducing their power consumption without compromising the ability to detect weak preamble 206 signals. Similarly, baseband processors 248 can be adjusted to perform minimal processing tasks, reducing their operational load and conserving energy during periods when receiver 212 is not actively decoding data frames 208.

[0080] An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 242 can include any circuit or component in the receiver 212 that converts an analog signal to digital data. By sampling an incoming analog signal at discrete intervals, the ADC 242 can translate a continuous signal amplitude into a digital format that can be analyzed by the digital circuitry of the receiver. In the energy conservation mode, the ADC 242 can be configured to use a reduced portion of its dynamic range, minimizing power consumption while allowing important signal events, such as the preamble 206, to be detected. The receiver 212 can include a plurality of ADCs 242 that can be configured for any number of low and high amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224. For example, the receiver 212 can include low energy and low performance ADCs 242 configured for operation within a reduced or minimized amplitude range 222 and their corresponding reduced or minimized power level 224, such as the amplitude range and power level best suited for the listening mode of operation 232. For example, the receiver 212 can include high energy and high performance ADCs 242 configured for an increased or maximized amplitude range 222 and their corresponding power level 224. The receiver 212 can also include any number of ADCs 242 configured for operating points 220 with amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224 set between a minimized operating point 220 and a maximized operating point 220, allowing selection between any number of amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224 at any number of operating points 220.

[0081] Frequency synthesis system 244 (e.g., a phase-locked loop (PLL) and a local oscillator generator (LOGEN)) can include any circuitry responsible for generating the desired or tuned frequency signals needed for signal processing and demodulation. A PLL can be configured to lock the phase of a local oscillator signal to a reference signal, while a LOGEN can convert the output of the PLL to a signal that can drive a mixer. To conserve energy during the listening operation mode 232, both the PLL and the LOGEN can operate at a reduced current level or increased noise, which can reduce their power consumption while still maintaining sufficient frequency accuracy to detect an incoming signal. Receiver 212 can include multiple frequency synthesis systems 244 that can be configured for any number of low and high amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224. For example, receiver 212 can include low-energy and low-performance frequency synthesis systems 244 configured for operating at a reduced or minimized amplitude range 222 and their corresponding reduced or minimized power levels 224 (e.g., the amplitude range and power levels best suited for the listening operation mode 232). For example, receiver 212 can include high-energy and high-performance frequency synthesis systems 244 configured for a large or maximized amplitude range 222 and their corresponding power levels 224. Receiver 212 can also include any number of frequency synthesis systems 244 configured for operating points 220 with amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224 set between a minimized operating point 220 and a maximized operating point 220, allowing for selection between any number of amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224 at any number of operating points 220.

[0082] Amplifier 246 (e.g., any signal, power, or external low noise amplifier (eLNA)) can include any circuitry used to boost the strength of an incoming signal to a level suitable for further processing. Amplifier 246 can be coupled with a transceiver (e.g., antenna circuitry) for amplifying or processing an incoming signal. At the listening operation mode 232, amplifier 246 can be adjusted to operate at a lower linearity setting, reducing its power consumption. This adjustment can facilitate amplifier 246 providing sufficient linearity to detect a preamble 206 without consuming more energy than is needed to do so when the receiver is not actively processing a data frame 208.

[0083] Baseband processor 248 can include any combination of hardware and software used to handle digital signal processing tasks to decode and interpret received data frames 208. During the listening operation mode 232, baseband processor 248 can be configured to perform minimal processing tasks, which can reduce its computational load and power usage, allowing receiver 212 to reduce its operating speed (e.g., clock) and conserve energy. By focusing only on the functions to be performed for the listening operation mode 232 (e.g., preamble detection tasks), baseband processor 248 can conserve energy while still facilitating the receiver identifying the presence of an incoming transmission.

[0084] Automatic gain controller (AGC) 250 (also referred to as controller 250) may include any combination of hardware and software that can dynamically adjust the gain of receiver 212. Controller 250 may include any functionality for adjusting or managing the gain (e.g., automatic gain control) or variable dynamic range (VDR) operation of receiver 202. Controller 250 may include, for example, hardwired circuitry configured to perform the operations of AGC 250 (including any AGC or VDR operations or functionality). For example, controller 250 may be a state machine implemented using a combination of digital logic gates configured to perform the functionality or operations of controller 250 described herein.

[0085] The AGC 250 may include functionality to adjust the gain of the receiver 212 to maintain a consistent signal level for optimal processing. The AGC 250 may continuously monitor the amplitude of the incoming signal and modify, select, or adjust the amplitude range 222 of the VDR to select a range where the signal is neither too weak nor too strong (e.g., suitable for processing). The AGC may manage the dynamic range of the receiver, allowing the receiver 212 to operate with a reduced dynamic range and lower power consumption when listening for the preamble 206. Once the preamble is detected (e.g., by the operation function 230), the AGC 250 may adjust the gain to increase the dynamic range (e.g., increase the amplitude range 222), thereby preparing the receiver to handle the data frame 208 at full fidelity.

[0086] Figure 2B An example transceiver 260 of the receiver 202 is illustrated that can be used to implement the functionality of the present solution. The example transceiver 260 may include or correspond to Figure 2A 200 and vice versa. Example transceiver 260 may include one or more of the following: antenna 262, low noise amplifier (LNA) 246A, RF power detector 266, power amplifier 246B, phase-locked loop (PLL) 270, baseband filter 272, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 242, controller 250, packet detector 278, and demodulator 280. Transceiver 260 may be configured to communicate (e.g., transmit or receive) signals via antenna 262 and utilize controller 250, which may be configured for AGC and VDR control and may be coupled to each of LNA 246A, one or more RF power detectors 266, power amplifier 246B, baseband filter 272, ADC 242, and packet detector 278, which may be further coupled to demodulator 280.

[0087] Controller 250 may receive a power detection signal from RF power detector 266, which may be located at the output of LNA 246A or at the input of power amplifier 246B, at the output of power amplifier 246B, and between baseband filter 272 and ADC 242. The controller may provide outputs to control any one or more of: LNA 246A, baseband filter 272, and ADC 242. In one example, a signal received via antenna 262 may be processed by LNA 246A, and the output of LNA 246A may be input to power amplifier 246B. The output signal from power amplifier 246B may be used by PLL 270 to provide a clock or timing signal for the system. The output of power amplifier 246B may be input to baseband signal 272, which may be input to ADC 242 to convert the analog signal into a digital signal. The digital output signal of ADC 242 may be input to packet detector 278 for detecting network packets. The output of packet detector 278 may be input into demodulator 280 for demodulating and processing network packets. Based on the processed incoming packet signal, packets may be detected and controller 250 may adjust gain and DR as desired.

[0088] The controller 250 of the example transceiver 260 may be configured to save energy by operating at an initial point of the reduced amplitude range 205 while listening for a preamble of an incoming data packet and then switching to the increased amplitude range 310 upon detecting the incoming preamble. For example, due to the fact that at the new initial gain operating point 220 (e.g., the lowest or leftmost operating point of the reduced amplitude range 305, e.g., Figure 3B , which can utilize less DR at the ADC 242 (shown in FIG), can reduce the power consumption of one or more radio circuits to operate at this operating point 220. This is clearly seen with ADC 242, as the DR of an ADC can typically be quantified as the effective number of bits (ENOB) at the digital output. ENOB can include a value identifying the number of bits (e.g., the minimum number of bits) sufficient to fully cover and quantify the ADC DR. The power consumed by ADC 242 can be a function of ENOB, and thus, for each ENOB bit removed, power can be reduced by approximately 75%. This can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, depending on the system design, two ADCs 242 can be utilized, with the first ADC 242 configured to operate at a high DR but consume higher power, while the second ADC 242 can be configured to operate at a low DR but consume less power. Controller 250 can include VDR control functionality to use the low DR / power ADC at the initial gain point within the reduced amplitude range 305, and also operate the high DR / power ADC for all other operating points 220 (e.g., the increased amplitude range 310).

[0089] The transceiver 260 can also similarly improve the energy efficiency of the PLL 270. For example, a high-DR receiver can utilize a PLL with a corresponding low phase noise (PN), and vice versa. Since the power consumed by a PLL can increase as its PN gets larger, the controller 250 can reconfigure the operation to switch to an initial gain within the reduced amplitude range 305 with a low-PN PLL and reduced power consumption. For example, the device can be configured to utilize two PLLs, including a first PLL 270 that operates at a low PN and high power consumption, and a second PLL 270 with a high PN and low power consumption. The controller 250 can control the VDR to select between the two PLLs 270, thereby turning off the PLL 270 that is not utilized, thereby conserving energy when the device is in a listening mode.

[0090] The utilized configuration can involve boosting the gain before elements of the transceiver 260, such as the ADC 242 or the PLL 270 plus mixer, to maintain the overall cascaded noise figure with an increase in the effective noise power. For example, when reducing the ENOB, the ADC quantization noise can go up, which can be compensated with higher gain before the ADC 242. In such an example, the additional gain can be achieved with less additional power than the power saved in the ADC.

[0091] For example, the configuration can involve reducing the supply voltage to a particular circuit. For example, the LNA 246A can need a higher supply voltage to remain linear (to maintain its DR) when operating with a strong signal (in-band or out-of-band). However, in the absence of a strong signal, the LNA 246A can operate with a lower voltage and reduced power consumption. The voltage switch can be controlled by the controller 250 and its VDR functionality or logic to conserve energy during a listening mode.

[0092] Figure 3A An example graph 300 illustrating a conventional Wi-Fi receiver, where the radio maintains full dynamic range performance regardless of the received (Rx) signal level. The graph shows an x-axis plotted according to a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), while the y-axis is plotted according to radio power in milliwatts (mW) or decibels (dBm) relative to 1 mW. As described by the graph 300, a series of operating points 220 can be provided with their amplitude ranges 222 and power levels 224 (e.g., radio power consumption), but they can not change significantly (e.g., in terms of their amplitude range or power) with radio gain until an external low noise amplifier (eLNA) is turned off for very strong signals.

[0093] For example, receiver 212 can be configured such that the listen function will be performed with the radio configured for the lowest cascaded noise figure, as packets can be detected before the data portion can be demodulated and the preamble structure can have, rely on, or utilize almost as much SNR as the data portion of the packet. For this reason, the highest gain can be referred to as 'Init Gain' or initial gain, which can correspond to reduced amplitude range 305. As such, AGC can adjust (e.g., lower) the gain as needed to avoid clipping (e.g., distortion of the packet signal) of the packet due to having power that exceeds the top of the DR window or range. Depending on the configuration and operation, data packets received at lower power levels can fall within the initial gain range and can not trigger any adjustment to operating point 220 at all.

[0094] Figure 3A A configuration of the receiver can be involved, where for automatic gain control, the DR window can be kept at its designed maximum (e.g., 60 dB) at each operating point 220. In such a configuration, as shown in chart 300, the x-axis can correspond to radio operating points, mainly corresponding to total radio gain. The y-axis scale can show the range of signal levels that the receiver can accommodate. Chart 300 shows a vertical arrow for each AGC operating point 220. For example, at the initial gain point in chart 300, signals with a peak no greater than -55 dBm can be accommodated. Any signal above the peak will trigger a reduction in gain, which can then result in moving the DR window up to a further right one of the operating points 220.

[0095] Reference Figure 3B is a chart 350 of an example configuration of a variable dynamic range receiver, where additional operating points 220 (e.g., gain steps) are added between the original initial gain operating point (e.g., within increased amplitude range 310) and a new initial gain point within reduced amplitude range 305. As shown in chart 350, additional operating points 220 can be added toward the left (e.g., lower RSSI values) and the initial gain can be moved to a higher gain, such as the highest possible gain. For each of the higher gain operating points, the dynamic range of the radio block can be reduced to save power while maintaining the noise figure. Automatic gain control (AGC) can start operating from the initial gain, which can back off the gain until the received power is within an acceptable full scale. Like example chart 300, example chart 350 also shows a chart where the x-axis is plotted according to received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the y-axis is plotted according to radio power in mW or dBm.

[0096] Example graph 350 shows an example of an initial (e.g., init.) point that can correspond to a reduced amplitude range 305. The reduced amplitude range 305 can be represented as an arrow whose magnitude (e.g., power level of the operating point 220) is presented as the shortest of the magnitudes of other arrows (e.g., operating points 220). The increased amplitude range 310 can be presented as the largest operating point 220 or among the largest of the operating points 220, which indicates an example in which the increased amplitude range 310 corresponds to a maximized amplitude range, although any other operating point 220 greater than the reduced amplitude range 305 can be selected depending on the configuration.

[0097] As shown in example graph 350, the VDR adjustment technique can not be limited to a single additional operating point 220 (e.g., at the initial point of the reduced amplitude range 305 shown in Figure 3B . Rather, depending on the design, multiple additional operating points 220 with multiple levels of amplitude range (e.g., between the high 305 and 310) can be provided with incremental dynamic ranges added to match the power level of the incoming signal to the lowest corresponding operating point.

[0098] As shown in graph 350, as each additional operating point 220 is added between the initial gain of the reduced amplitude range 305 and the increased amplitude range 310, the DR can increase by a set amount (e.g., 6 dB), and the power consumed by the radio can also increase. The operating points 220 on the right side of graph 350 can be used for packets with high RF power levels, as less radio gain can be used for these packets, while power consumption is also reduced. Figure 3B

[0099] In different embodiments of a variable dynamic range receiver, the following elements can be used to obtain power savings. For an external low noise amplifier (eLNA), the supply voltage can be changed from 1.8V to VBAT (battery voltage) based on the presence of strong blockers. For a VDR receiver, this mechanism can be coupled into the VDR gain table. Regarding phase locked loop (PLL) and local oscillator generator (LOGEN), a 24 dB dynamic range receiver can not be useful for the system to provide phase noise performance for EVM (error vector magnitude) or reciprocal mixing. Embodiments of the present solution "boost" the phase noise and reduce power consumption with each added gain step. Such embodiments can use a second low power PLL / VCO (voltage controlled oscillator). Regarding baseband headroom, embodiments of the present solution can select between 0.6V, 0.8V, 1.2V, and 1.5V based on the dynamic range needs. Regarding operation of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), embodiments of the present solution can discard 1 bit of ENOB (effective number of bits) or per each added gain step. For the initial gain, embodiments of the present solution can operate with only 4 bits. ​

[0100] With respect to these embodiments, Figure 3C An example table 370 is illustrated in which various receiver operating circuits 240 exhibit their power or energy savings between an increased amplitude range 310 (e.g., with power not reduced) and a decreased amplitude range 305 (e.g., with power reduced). The example table 370 shows power savings under various scenarios and elements of the receiver, including for eLNA, Trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) and GM-cell (GM), PLL and LOGEN, and ADC 242. In other aspects, the present solution can be used to scale the dynamic range of a time-interleaved SAR ADC (Successive Approximation Register (SAR) Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)). For example, if starting from a 4-way interleaved ADC, the SAR converter power can be reduced by ~3 / 4 by dropping to a single unit SAR ADC, which is given 1 / 4 of the time to complete the conversion.

[0101] As shown in table 370, the eLNA can drop from 40mW during increased amplitude range operation to 20mW during decreased amplitude range operation. Similarly, the PLL and LOGEN can drop from 30mW during increased amplitude range operation to 2mW during decreased amplitude range operation. Similarly, the TIA can drop from 12mW in the increased amplitude range to 8mW, and the ADC can drop from 20mW in the increased amplitude range to 1mW when operating in the decreased amplitude range of the VDR.

[0102] In some aspects of embodiments of the present solution, major adjacent channel interference (ACI) or blocking is good because the wideband AGC backoff gain accommodates any signal, whether it is in-band or out-of-band. However, ACI that occurs after the desired signal will interfere with the desired reception to a greater extent than before. A way to address this is to use an AGC with memory that recognizes when there is a strong interference or strong interferer and preemptively backs off the initial gain. Another way is to implement a packet Rx at a gain operating point of 55dB or lower. If the receiver of the present solution captures the entire band, there should be enough visibility in the digital power to set the gain appropriately. However, for a legacy selective receiver, the WRSSI (Wireless Received Signal Strength Indicator) function can need to be improved to accommodate the additional requirements of the VDR receiver of the present solution.

[0103] Reference is made to Figure 4Awhich is an example graph 400 of a design or implementation of the present solution that adds additional initial gain points. Depending on the configuration, a receiver of the present solution can discard all or most of the intermediate points and only have a single initial gain point configured to operate in a low power "listening mode" shown as having a reduced amplitude range 305. The increased amplitude range 310 can correspond to any of the operating points 220 with increased DR windows.

[0104] In a device configuration corresponding to graph 400, a transmitter device and its VDR Wi-Fi transceiver can listen at a new initial gain (e.g., lowest) operating point 220 (e.g., an operating point of reduced amplitude range 305) and still achieve the same performance as a non-VDR receiver. The new initial gain operating point can reduce the maximum signal that can be received, but the noise power can remain the same, resulting in unchanged packet detection sensitivity.

[0105] For example, after a weak signal is detected at a new initial gain (e.g., lowest) operating point 220 (e.g., within a reduced amplitude range 305), the Wi-Fi function can move the radio operating point to a previous (e.g., old) initial gain operating point (e.g., within an increased amplitude range 310) in the preamble before the start of the complex modulation of the data portion of the packet. This can ensure that the data portion of the packet with a higher PAR can be successfully received. It can also ensure that any blocking that occurs during the reception of the packet on the adjacent spectrum can be tolerated at the same level as a non-VDR receiver.

[0106] A packet with a power level that exceeds the maximum of the new initial gain DR (e.g., within a reduced amplitude range 305) can trigger an immediate response of the AGC to adjust (e.g., reduce) the gain to an operating point 220 with sufficient DR headroom. This mechanism can correspond to the mechanism of a non-VDR receiver, except for the larger range of packet power that triggers the AGC response to move away from the initial gain (e.g., within a reduced amplitude range 305).

[0107] Depending on the configuration, the controller 250 can operate its VDR functionality to adjust its VDR across any of the range of operating points 220 between the lowest operating point 220 (e.g., within the reduced amplitude range 305) and operating points within the increased amplitude range 310. These intermediate or intermediary operating points 220 can be partially reduced relative to operating points within the increased amplitude range 310, but still greater than operating points within the reduced amplitude range 305. The controller 250 can operate the VDR such that it does not always switch to the original full DR (e.g., the increased amplitude range 310) upon detection of a packet, but rather the controller 250 can select one of the intermediary operating points 220. For example, the controller 250 can select to remain at the lowest DR operating point where the packet is not being clipped for the duration of the packet reception. In such an example, the controller 250 can operate at the minimum intermediary operating point 202 that is large enough so as not to clip or distort the signal. This operation or configuration can reduce the power consumed in the receive mode, similar to the way power is conserved in the listen mode.

[0108] Thus, depending on the configuration, the receiver 202 can change its dynamic range (DR) as its gain. The receiver 202 can listen for packets or RF energy in a reduced DR mode (e.g., at operating points 220 of the reduced amplitude range 305). The receiver 202 can switch to a full dynamic range mode (e.g., at operating points 220 within the increased amplitude range 310) upon detection of a packet preamble or energy. The receiver 202 can then switch back to the initial operating point 202 (e.g., within the reduced amplitude range 305) once the incoming transmission ends. In doing so, the receiver 202 can reduce the power consumed during operation in the listen mode of the radio receiver.

[0109] Reference Figure 4B An example graph 450 of another design or embodiment of the present solution can be considered. In some embodiments, a second knob that would independently control the dynamic range to have operating points as illustrated in the graph of Figure 3B In order to use this mode for packet Rx, the system can know and exploit the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) expected by the modulation before AGC. Some embodiments should maintain a semi-static non-4K QAM mode to use when used for or associated with access points that do not support 4K.

[0110] In terms of RSSI threshold detectors, embodiments of the VDR of the present solution can need to change gain for any in-band (5 to 7 GHz) signal above about -85 dBm. Further, to achieve accurate AGC in a single gain change, a wideband RSSI detector can be needed every 6 dB across the receiver dynamic range. For example, 14 threshold detectors from -6 dBm to -84 dBm. Another example embodiment can use a single detector driving a low rate, high dynamic range ADC.

[0111] Figure 5 An example method 500 for saving energy by managing a variable dynamic range (VDR) of a receiver is described. The method 500 can be used with, for example, the system 100 implemented to facilitate the system 200. The method 500 can include acts or operations 505-515. At 505, the method can operate in a reduced amplitude range to listen for a preamble in a listening mode. At 510, the method can receive a preamble of a data frame. At 515, the method can switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in a receiving mode. Figures 1A to 1C

[0112] At 505, the method can operate in a reduced amplitude range to listen for a preamble in a listening mode. The method can include one or more processors coupled with a memory of a receiver operating in a reduced amplitude range of a plurality of amplitude ranges for a listening mode of the receiver to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission. The receiver can be configured to receive wireless transmissions having a plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels. The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a reduced power level. The reduced power level can be below a power threshold, such as a power amount predetermined to operate receiver circuitry during the listening mode.

[0113] The preamble and the data frame can be part of a communication protocol including at least one of Wi-Fi technology, Bluetooth technology, or Zigbee technology. For example, the receiver device can be a wireless communication device configured for communication via a WLAN, such as a Wi-Fi access point device or a station device configured for communication with an access point.

[0114] ​One or more processors can operate within a reduced amplitude range of a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of a receiver for or during a listening mode. For example, a reduced amplitude range of a VDR can be established, provided, or configured by a first ADC of a plurality of ADCs. The first ADC can have a reduced amplitude range that does not exceed an amplitude range threshold. For example, the reduced amplitude range can be constrained or limited within a portion of the VDR that can be provided by one or more ADCs that include the first ADC. The method can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of a receiver operating at a reduced power level during a listening mode. By powering only circuitry of an ADC that corresponds to an amplitude range of signals corresponding to a VDR operable during a listening mode, the ADC can operate at a reduced energy level (e.g., a portion of the VDR range remains active while listening to a preamble). The reduced power level can correspond to a selected reduced amplitude range and can be established based at least on one of a portion of an overall variable dynamic range of the ADC. For example, when powering down a portion of the ADC during a listening mode, the receiver can discard 1 bit effective number of bits (ENOB) for each incremental step gain. For example, the reduced amplitude range can correspond to an initial gain anywhere between 3 to 8 bits of the ADC during a listening mode, such as 4 bits or 6 bits. The ADC can be configured to operate using a total of 8 to 12 bits or 12 to 16 bits. In some configurations (e.g., 12-bit ADC), only 4 bits or power to 4 bits of the 12 bits of the ADC can be utilized during a listening mode. The remaining (e.g., unused) bits of the ADC can be powered down, thereby enabling energy conservation of the ADC during a listening mode.

[0115] The method can include operating a frequency synthesis system (e.g., a PLL or a LOGEN) at a reduced power level (e.g., a power level lower than their maximum operable power level) during a listening mode of operation. During a listening mode, the method can include operating one or more phase-locked loops (PLLs) and one or more local oscillator generators (LOGENs) of a receiver at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level. The first current level can include a current level of the PLLs that is lower than a current level of the PLLs in a receive mode. The first noise level can include a noise level that is greater than a noise level of the PLLs or LOGENs in a receive mode. For example, a PLL for a listening mode can operate in a range of 1 to 5 dB, while a PLL for a receive mode can operate in a range of 18 to 24 decibels (dB).

[0116] The method can include adjusting, by an amplifier (e.g., a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a receiver), a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of a plurality of amplitude ranges. The LNA can operate at a first voltage level during a listening mode. The LNA can operate at a portion of a supply voltage (e.g., 1.8V from a 3.6V battery voltage) of a voltage level from a battery. This voltage drop can result in the LNA conserving energy during the listening mode. The LNA can conserve energy by amplifying a signal within a lower range or a portion of a range in which the LNA can amplify a signal.

[0117] The method can include adjusting, by a baseband processor of a receiver, a headroom voltage between a first voltage level to be used during a listening mode and a second voltage level to be used during a receive mode. The baseband circuitry can select between voltage ranges for its operation (e.g., between 0.6V, 0.8V, 1.2V, and 1.5V). These voltage selections or ranges can vary based on a dynamic range selection (e.g., a selection of an amplitude range). For example, the first voltage level of the listening mode can be lower than the second voltage level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

[0118] The reduced amplitude range can correspond to a first operating point of a variable dynamic range of the receiver. The one or more processors can be configured to select the first operating point based on a reduced power level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode. The receiver can include an automatic gain controller (AGC) to adjust at least one of the reduced amplitude range or an increased amplitude range based on one or more conditions of a wireless transmission.

[0119] At 510, the method can receive a preamble of a data frame. The method can include receiving, by the one or more processors of the receiver, the preamble of the data frame during operation within the reduced amplitude range. For example, when operating with a full set of bits of an ADC, the receiver can only use a portion of the ADC bits (e.g., 4 bits of a 12-bit ADC) to detect the preamble. The one or more processors can detect that the preamble of the transmission has been received while operating within the reduced amplitude range. For example, the one or more processors can determine that a plurality of bits received at the portion of the ADC operating during the listening mode correspond to the preamble. In response to this determination, the one or more processors can activate operational functions and an automatic gain controller to switch to the receive mode with remaining ADC bits (e.g., bits not utilized during the listening mode), power the bits, or activate the bits.

[0120] At 515, the method can switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in a receive mode. The method can include switching, by one or more processors, to an increased amplitude range for a receive mode of the receiver and in response to receiving a preamble of the data frame to receive the data frame. The increased amplitude range can operate at an increased power level that is higher than the power threshold. The switching can include configuration adjustments to any of the operational circuitry of the receiver. For example, an ADC can switch to power or activate bits of the ADC that were not powered during the listen mode (e.g., a 12-bit ADC that operated with 4 bits during the listen mode can now operate with all 12 bits). For example, a frequency synthesis system (e.g., a PLL or LOGEN) can switch to operate at a higher current level and lower signal-to-noise ratio than was the case in the listen mode. For example, an amplifier (e.g., an eLNA) can be switched to operate at a higher supply voltage than was the case during the listen mode (e.g., a supply voltage that was reduced from 1.8 V to switch to a 3.6 V battery voltage). For example, a baseband processor can switch to a higher voltage setting (e.g., from 0.6 V during the listen mode to 1.5 V during the receive mode).

[0121] The receiver can be configured to switch between the listen mode and the receive mode within a predefined time window upon detection of the preamble. For example, an automatic gain controller can be configured to switch to the increased amplitude range of the VDR within a time window of at most 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, or 150 microseconds after the preamble, preamble arrival, or preamble detection. In instances in which multiple ADCs are used for multiple operational modes, the method can include switching, by one or more processors, to an increased amplitude range of a second ADC of the receiver for the receive mode. The second ADC can be used for a receive operational mode and can have an increased amplitude range that exceeds the amplitude range threshold. The increased amplitude range of the second ADC can be greater than the decreased amplitude range of the first ADC. A number of bits (e.g., resolution) of the second ADC (e.g., 10 to 16 bits) can be greater than a number of bits (e.g., 3 to 6 bits) of the first ADC that can be used for the listen mode at 505.

[0122] The method can include operating, by one or more phase-locked loops (PLLs) and one or more local oscillator generators (LOGENs) of a receiver, at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level during a listening mode and at a second current level corresponding to a second noise level during a receiving mode. The first current level can be lower than the second current level to conserve energy. The first noise level can be higher than the second noise level. For example, a single PLL can operate at the first current level and the first noise level during the listening mode and then switch to the second current level and the second noise level during the receiving mode. For example, a first PLL can be configured to operate at the first current level and the first noise level and this first PLL can be designated for use in the listening mode, while a second PLL can be configured to operate at the second current level and the second noise level and can be designated to be used in the receiving mode.

[0123] The method can include adjusting, by a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a receiver, a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of a plurality of amplitude ranges. The LNA can operate at a first voltage level during a listening mode and at a second voltage level during a receiving mode. The first voltage level can be lower than the second voltage level. An increased amplitude range can be adjusted for signal strength of a data frame based on one or more measurements of a signal of a preamble. The receiver can include an automatic gain controller (AGC) to adjust at least one of a decreased amplitude range or an increased amplitude range based on one or more conditions of a wireless transmission. The AGC can coordinate operation of various operational circuits to make a circuitry reconfiguration or adjustment (e.g., via an ADC, a PLL or LOGEN, an eLNA, or a baseband processor) to make an adjustment to reconfigure the receiver at its appropriate power level for the listening mode and the increased amplitude range.

[0124] References to “or” can be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” can indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. A reference to at least one of a list of items refers to any of those items individually or in combination with at least one of the other items in the list. For example, a reference to “at least one of ‘A’ and ‘B’” can include only ‘A’, only ‘B’, or both ‘A’ and ‘B’. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other open terminology can include additional items.

[0125] It should be noted that certain of the clauses of the present disclosure can refer to terms such as "first" and "second" for the purpose of identifying or differentiating a device, mode of operation, transmission chain, etc., from another or others. These terms are not intended to relate the entities only in time or according to a sequence (e.g., a first device and a second device), although in some cases these entities can include such a relationship. These terms also do not limit the number of possible entities (e.g., devices) that can operate within a system or environment. The term coupled or connected includes indirect and direct couplings and connections.

[0126] It should be understood that the systems described above can provide multiple ones of any or each of those components and these components can be provided on a single machine or across multiple machines in a distributed system in some embodiments. In addition, the systems and methods described above can be provided as one or more computer-readable programs or executable instructions embodied on or in one or more articles of manufacture. The article of manufacture can be a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a flash memory card, a PROM, a RAM, a ROM, or a magnetic tape. Generally, the computer-readable programs or executable instructions can be implemented in any programming language, such as LISP, PERL, C, C++, C#, PROLOG, or in any byte code language such as JAVA. The software programs or executable instructions can be stored on or in one or more articles of manufacture solely or in combination with other programs or executable instructions.

[0127] While the forgoing written description of the methods and apparatuses enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the content presently being described as the best mode contemplated, those skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples described herein fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the methods and systems described herein are not limited by the above-described embodiments, methods, and examples, but are only limited by the scope of the claims. The titles provided for the sections and subsections of the present document are non-limiting.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions having a plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels, the receiver comprising one or more processors configured to: for a listening mode of the receiver, operate in a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission, the reduced amplitude range corresponding to a reduced power level below a power threshold; while operating in the reduced amplitude range, receive the preamble of the data frame; and for a receive mode of the receiver, switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased power level above the power threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising one or more processors configured to: for the listening mode, operate in the reduced amplitude range of a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, the first ADC having a reduced amplitude range that does not exceed an amplitude range threshold; and for the receive mode, switch to the increased amplitude range of a second ADC of the receiver, the second ADC having an increased amplitude range that exceeds the amplitude range threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to operate at the reduced power level during the listening mode, the reduced power level established based on at least one of a portion of an overall variable dynamic range of the ADC.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes one or more phase-locked loops (PLLs) and one or more local oscillator generators (LOGENs), the one or more PLLs and the one or more LOGENs configured to operate at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level during the listening mode and at a second current level corresponding to a second noise level during the receive mode, wherein the first current level is lower than the second current level to conserve energy and the first noise level is higher than the second noise level.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) configured to adjust a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges, wherein the LNA operates at a first voltage level during the listening mode and at a second voltage level during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a baseband processor configured to adjust a headroom voltage between a first voltage level to be used during the listening mode and a second voltage level to be used during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode. ​ 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduced amplitude range corresponds to a first operating point of a variable dynamic range of the receiver, the one or more processors configured to select the first operating point based on the reduced power level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the increased amplitude range is adjusted for signal strength of the data frame based on one or more measurements of a signal of the preamble.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes an automatic gain controller (AGC) to adjust at least one of the reduced amplitude range or the increased amplitude range based on one or more conditions of the wireless transmission.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to switch between the listening mode and the receive mode within a predefined time window upon detecting the preamble.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the preamble and the data frame are part of a communication protocol comprising at least one of a Wi-Fi technology, a Bluetooth technology, or a Zigbee technology.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to adjust the increased power level based on historical data of signal strengths of a plurality of data frames received by the receiver.

13. A method comprising: operating, by one or more processors, for a listening mode of a receiver, in a reduced amplitude range of a plurality of amplitude ranges to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission, the receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions having the plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels, the reduced amplitude range corresponding to a reduced power level below a power threshold; receiving, by the one or more processors, the preamble of the data frame while operating in the reduced amplitude range; and switching, by the one or more processors, to an increased amplitude range for a receive mode of the receiver to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased power level above the power threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising: operating, by the one or more processors, for the listening mode, in the reduced amplitude range of a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, the first ADC having a reduced amplitude range that does not exceed an amplitude range threshold; and switching, by the one or more processors, for the receive mode, to the increased amplitude range of a second ADC of the receiver, the second ADC having an increased amplitude range that exceeds the amplitude range threshold.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising: operating, by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the receiver, during the listening mode, at the reduced power level, the reduced power level established based on at least one of a portion of an overall variable dynamic range of the ADC.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising: ​ ​ operating, by one or more phase-locked loops PLL and one or more local oscillator generators LOGEN of the receiver, at a first current level corresponding to a first noise level during the listening mode and at a second current level corresponding to a second noise level during the receive mode, wherein the first current level is lower than the second current level to conserve energy and the first noise level is higher than the second noise level.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising: adjusting, by a low noise amplifier LNA of the receiver, a supply voltage based on a selected amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges, wherein the LNA operates at a first voltage level during the listening mode and at a second voltage level during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising: adjusting, by a baseband processor of the receiver, a headroom voltage between a first voltage level to be used during the listening mode and a second voltage level to be used during the receive mode, the first voltage level being lower than the second voltage level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the reduced amplitude range corresponds to a first operating point of a variable dynamic range of the receiver, the one or more processors configured to select the first operating point based on the reduced power level to conserve energy of the receiver during the listening mode.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a receiver configured to receive wireless transmissions having a plurality of amplitude ranges at a plurality of corresponding power levels, cause the at least one processor to: for a listening mode of the receiver, operate in a reduced amplitude range of the plurality of amplitude ranges to listen for a preamble of a data frame of a wireless transmission, the reduced amplitude range corresponding to a reduced power level that is lower than a power threshold; while operating in the reduced amplitude range, receive the preamble of the data frame; and for a receive mode of the receiver, switch to an increased amplitude range to receive the data frame in response to receiving the preamble of the data frame, the increased amplitude range operating at an increased power level that is higher than the power threshold.

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