Patent · US Expired

Constant compression automatic gain control circuit

US6625433B1 · kind B1 · utility

137Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 2000
Grant dateSep 23, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03G3/3068
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An automatic gain control (AGC) system controls a receiver having multiple amplifier stages with near constant compression. The AGC system controls gain, and thus compression, of each stage employing information generated by the other stages to generate feedback signals at a system level. A central controller uses threshold detection to monitor signal power at each stage of the receiver signal path as well as overall signal gain. Based on these various signal power measurements, the central controller adjusts signal gain of the input to one or more stages, while maintaining overall signal gain for a constant output signal level. The AGC function may be implemented by switching the gain of each stage's variable amplifier in discrete steps in discrete steps, with the step size being coarser for stages closer to the input signal than those closer to the final output baseband signal. Monitoring power of the signal at these points as the signal passes through the series chain of components may also allow for resolution of the desired signal from unwanted interferer signals coincident with the desired signal. Resolution of the desired signal at each stage may further allow for refinement…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.