Automatic Gain Control (AGC) For Multichannel/Wideband Communications System
AssigneeEdgewater Wireless Systems Inc.
InventorsManish Bhardwaj, Garret Shih
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automatic Gain Control (AGC) system for multi-channel signals attenuates an incoming multi-channel signal by providing a gain. The system further adjusts each individual channel, of the multi-channel signal, by supplying a second gain if needed. The AGC system is designed to ensure a received signal power is at an optimal level for analog to digital conversion or any other form of signal processing. The system also enables elimination of mid-packet gain adjustments.
Claims21
(canceled)
An automatic gain controller (AGC) to control a variable gain amplifier (VGA) implemented within a multi-channel receiver, the multi-channel receiver comprising the VGA operable to adjust gain of a multi-channel signal, an analog to digital converter (ADC) operable to digitize the output of the VGA and a plurality of digital filters operable to filter the output of the ADC into a plurality of individual channels of different frequencies, the AGC operable to:
- apply a first nominal analog gain to an incoming multi-channel signal to ensure a total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the VGA is at a desired acquisition threshold for the ADC;
- and
- apply the first nominal analog gain as a first fixed nominal analog gain to all incoming multi-channel signals unless the total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the VGA is above a high power threshold for the ADC or below a low power threshold for the ADC.
A method of controlling a gain amplifier for a multi-channel signal prior to digitizing the multi-channel signal and filtering the digitized multi-channel signal into a plurality of individual channels, the method comprising:
- applying a first nominal analog gain to an incoming multi-channel signal to ensure a total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the gain amplifier is at a desired acquisition threshold for digitizing;
- and
- applying the first nominal analog gain as a first fixed nominal analog gain to all incoming multi-channel signals unless the total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the gain amplifier is above a high power threshold for digitizing or below a low power threshold for digitizing.
A multi-channel receiver comprising:
- a variable gain amplifier (VGA) operable to adjust gain of a multi-channel signal;
- an analog to digital converter (ADC) operable to digitize the output of the VGA;
- a plurality of digital filters operable to filter the output of the ADC into a plurality of individual channels of different frequencies;
- and
- an automatic gain controller (AGC) operable to control the VGA to apply a first nominal analog gain to an incoming multi-channel signal to ensure a total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the VGA is at a desired acquisition threshold for the ADC;
- and apply the first nominal analog gain as a first fixed nominal analog gain to all incoming multi-channel signals unless the total power level of the multi-channel signal output from the VGA is above a high power threshold for the ADC or below a low power threshold for the ADC.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.