Variable Gain Amplifier Control With Dynamic Step Size Convergence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control loop systems face challenges in efficiently adjusting the gain of variable gain amplifiers to maintain a consistent signal power level, particularly when dealing with variable signal magnitudes due to changes in channel quality or supply voltage, which can lead to prolonged convergence times and disrupted downstream processing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a variable gain amplifier (VGA) controlled by a control vector, adjusted based on a comparator's evaluation of the signal magnitude relative to a target value, allowing for dynamic gain adjustments through a digital control module and analog control signal, enabling faster convergence by varying the step size and rate of gain change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a fixed step size is used to adjust the control vector in the automatic gain control system, then the control logic is simple, but the convergence time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic step size adjustment where the step size changes based on the current control vector value and target value. The control logic evaluates the difference between current and target values, and adjusts the step size accordingly - using larger steps when far from target and smaller steps when close, thereby reducing overall convergence time while maintaining manageable complexity through conditional logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of step size from a fixed value to a variable that adapts based on system state. By modifying the step size parameter dynamically according to the evaluation of magnitude difference, the system achieves faster convergence without requiring overly complex control structures
2Speed
If a large step size is used to reduce convergence time, then the convergence speed increases, but the overshoot and instability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic step size adjustment that adapts to the system's proximity to the target value. When the control vector is far from the target, larger steps are used to accelerate convergence. When approaching the target, the step size automatically reduces to prevent overshoot and oscillation, thereby maintaining both speed and stability throughout the convergence process
Solution Approach 2:
The step size parameter is changed from a constant to a variable that depends on the evaluation of the difference between current and target magnitude values. This parameter adaptation allows the system to use aggressive step sizes when safe and conservative step sizes when precision is needed, resolving the trade-off between speed and stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If a small step size is used to maintain stability, then the control stability is maintained, but the convergence time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic step size selection that is small when the control vector is close to the target value to maintain stability, and large when far from the target to reduce convergence time. The control logic continuously evaluates the system state and adjusts the step size accordingly, achieving both stability and fast convergence
4Productivity
If the control loop adjusts gain frequently to track signal magnitude changes, then the adaptation speed increases, but the computational load and processing disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control vector by variable amounts based on the evaluation of signal magnitude differences. By adjusting the control vector increment dynamically rather than using fixed increments, the system achieves faster adaptation to signal changes while managing computational complexity through efficient evaluation logic
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling convergence of gain to a target value for a variable gain amplifier comprising a detector module configured to determine a magnitude value of a variable gain amplifier output. Also, part of this embodiment is a comparator module configured to compare the magnitude value to a target value and responsive to the comparison, generate an up_dn signal. A digital control module is configured to receive the up_dn signal and processes the up_dn signal to generate a control vector. One or more digital to analog converters are configured to convert the control vector to an analog control signal such that the analog control signal controls the gain of the variable gain amplifier. Various methods of operation exist for this hardware configured to improve convergence time to a target gain value while controlling the rate of change of the gain.