High dynamic range rf power detector

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a power meter for measuring a power level of a radio frequency (“RF”) input signal, comprising:
• a signal strength adjuster (SSA) to receive a radio frequency (“RF”) input signal, to adjust a strength of the RF input signal by an adjustment amount in response to a control signal, and to generate an adjusted signal;
• a rectifier for rectifying the adjusted signal and generating a rectified signal representing a detected power in the RF input signal;
• and
• a controller to provide the control signal to the SSA based on the rectified signal to cause the adjusted signal to be within a detection range of the rectifier.

A method of detecting the power in a radio frequency (“RF”) input signal over a detector operational input power range that is greater than a rectifier operational input power range of a single rectifier used in the detector, the method comprising:

• receiving at a signal strength adjuster (SSA) an RF input signal;
• receiving, at the SSA, at least one control signal;
• adjusting a strength of the RF input signal by an adjustment amount to generate an adjusted signal, wherein the adjustment amount is based on the at least one control signal;
• rectifying, with a single rectifier, the adjusted signal to generate a rectified signal;
• generating, at a controller, the at least one control signal based on the rectified signal to cause the adjusted signal to be within a detection range of the single rectifier;
• and
• generating a power detector output signal representing the power in the RF input signal, based on the rectified signal and an amount of adjustment made by the SSA.