Receiver Gain Control Architecture Without Manual AGC Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art receivers require manual alignment of automatic gain control during production, making the process expensive, time-consuming, and less reliable, and necessitating costly calibration and repairs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing two independent gain controllers for the radio frequency and intermediate frequency stages, each with a gain detector and generator, to adjust gains relative to a reference level set during design, eliminating the need for manual alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual alignment of automatic gain control is performed during production, then the receiver achieves proper gain control, but the production process becomes expensive, time-consuming, and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver performs self-alignment through automatic gain control by detecting the output signal level and automatically adjusting the gain of amplifiers. The system uses a gain detector to monitor output levels and a gain generator to produce control signals that adjust amplifier gains, eliminating the need for manual alignment during production while maintaining reliable gain control throughout the receiver's lifecycle.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment is performed during production, then proper signal levels are achieved, but production costs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment is performed automatically during the receiver's operation rather than during production. The gain detector continuously monitors output signal levels and the gain generator adjusts amplifier gains in real-time, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment during manufacturing while maintaining precise gain control.
3Productivity
If independent gain controllers are used for each stage, then manual alignment is eliminated and production efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gain control system is segmented into independent controllers for different stages (radio frequency stage and intermediate frequency stage). Each stage has its own gain detector and gain generator that operate independently, allowing automatic alignment without manual intervention while managing complexity through modular, stage-specific control units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where gain detectors monitor output signal levels from each stage and feed this information back to gain generators. The gain generators produce control signals that adjust amplifier gains based on the detected output levels, creating closed-loop automatic gain control that eliminates manual alignment while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized feedback mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Receivers (1) for receiving radio frequency signals need automatic gain control alignment by hand during the production process, which makes the production process more expensive, more time-consuming and less reliable (insight). By (basic idea) providing receivers (1) with a first and a second gain controller (38, 54) for controlling the gains of a first (radio frequency) and a second (intermediate frequency) stage (3, 5) independently from each other, alignment by hand is no longer necessary, which results in a less expensive, less time-consuming and more reliable production process. The gain controllers (38, 54) have gain detectors (41, 59) for detecting output signals, and gain generators (40, 58) for generating gain control signals, and control inputs (42, 60) for receiving the same reference level signal (REF) for controlling the gains in relation to the same reference level.