System and method for configurable low-power wake-up detection

An integrated circuit device comprising:

• a receiver, the receiver configured to receive an input RF (radio frequency) signal, wherein the receiver comprises an attenuator, the attenuator configured to attenuate the input RF signal for output as an attenuated RF signal, wherein the attenuator is configured for a limited number of different attenuator gain settings;
• a detector, the detector configured to compare the attenuated RF signal to a subset of different reference threshold levels;
• and
• a wake-up threshold control configured to receive a pre-determined signal threshold level and to map the pre-determined signal threshold level to a specific attenuator gain setting and a specific reference threshold level, wherein the attenuator is used as a passive device which does not consume power, wherein the detector is to output a wake-up signal in response to detecting a low level of power relative to the specific reference threshold level, and wherein the wake-up threshold control is to provide or output the specific reference threshold level to configure the attenuator at a selected one of the limited number of different attenuator gain settings.

A method to enhance resolution for signal strength detection, the method comprising:

• using a receiver of a device to receive an input RF (radio frequency) signal;
• using an attenuator of the receiver to attenuate the input RF signal for output as an attenuated RF signal to a detector of the device, wherein the attenuator is configured for a limited number of different attenuator gain settings, and wherein the detector is configured to compare the attenuated RF signal to a limited number of different reference threshold levels;
• using a wake-up threshold control circuit to map a pre-determined signal threshold level to a specific attenuator gain setting and a specific reference threshold level, wherein the mapping enables the detector to detect an effective signal threshold level for the input RF signal that is close to the pre-determined signal threshold level as one of the different reference threshold levels;
• using the detector to determine if the input RF signal is higher than the effective signal threshold level;
• and
• using the detector to output a wake-up signal in response to determining that the input RF signal is higher than the effective signal threshold level.

A computer program product comprising executable instructions encoded in a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a device, carry out or control a method to enhance resolution for signal strength detection, the method comprising:

• using a receiver of the device to receive an input RF (radio frequency) signal;
• using an attenuator of the receiver to attenuate the input RF signal for output as an attenuated RF signal to a detector of the device, wherein the attenuator is configured for a limited number of different attenuator gain settings, wherein the detector is configured to compare the attenuated RF signal to a subset including one or more of among a limited number of different reference threshold levels;
• using a wake-up threshold control to map a pre-determined signal threshold level to a specific attenuator gain setting and a specific reference threshold level, wherein the mapping enables the detector to detect an effective signal threshold level for the input RF signal that is close to the pre-determined signal threshold level and, in response, using the detector to output a wake up signal for waking up circuitry in the receiver;
• and
• using the detector to determine if the input RF signal is higher than the effective signal threshold level.