Code tracking loop with automatic power normalization

A delay-locked code tracking loop (DCTL) for use in a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, the DCTL for correlating a received communication signal to estimate and track a channel delay of said communication signal, the DCTL comprising:

• a reference code generator for generating a reference code signal;
• an interpolator for generating a punctual output signal, an early output signal and a late output signal;
• a first timed signal correlator for correlating said early output signal with said reference code signal to generate a first correlated signal;
• a second timed signal correlator for correlating said late output signal with said reference code signal to generate a second correlated signal;
• a third timed signal correlator for correlating said punctual output signal with said reference code signal to generate a third correlated signal;
• means for combining the first and second correlated signals to generate a first error signal;
• an automatic power normalization (APN) loop for generating a second error signal based on said third correlated signal;
• and
• a normalization circuit for normalizing said first error signal by using said second error signal to generate a third error signal used for controlling the generation of the punctual output signal by the interpolator.