Passive intermodulation detection

An apparatus for detecting intermodulation distortion affecting a received signal in a wireless receiver, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store:
• a first data set that includes samples of an amplitude of a receiver signal collected when a measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion exceeds a first pre-determined level;
• a second data set that includes samples of the amplitude of the receiver signal collected when the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion does not exceed a second pre-determined level, the second pre-determined level being less than the first pre-determined level;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory and configured to:
• collect the samples of the first data set when the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion exceeds the first pre-determined level;
• collect the samples of the second data set when the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion does not exceed the second pre-determined level;
• and
• perform a comparison based on data of the first data set and on data of the second data set (32) to determine a measure of intermodulation distortion.

A receiver equipped to determine a condition of intermodulation distortion, the receiver comprising:

• a detector module configured to detect a measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion;
• a collector module configured to collect in a first data set samples of a receiver signal amplitude when the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion exceeds a first pre-determined level and to collect in a second data set samples of the receiver signal amplitude when the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion does not exceed a second pre-determined level, the second pre-determined level being less than the first pre-determined level;
• and
• a comparator module configured to perform a comparison based on data of the first data set and data of the second data set to determine a measure of intermodulation distortion.