Circuit and method for controlling gain in an amplifier
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorJanice Chiu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit is provided for controlling the gain of an amplifier, such as an amplifier that may be used in telecommunication devices. The circuit includes an analog portion that receives signals from one or more mixers and that produces an output that is an inverse logarithmic function of the input signal. The output signal is digitally processed by a digital portion of the circuit, which determines whether gain of the amplifier should be increased, decreased, or held constant. Also, methods are provided for controlling the gain of an amplifier.
Claims19
A circuit for controlling gain of a first amplifier, the circuit comprising:
- a first portion for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal from a second amplifier, and to produce a first output signal that is an inverse logarithmic function of a combination of the first input signal and the second input signal;
- and
- a second portion for digitally processing the first output signal and to produce a second output signal that controls the gain of the first amplifier.
A method of controlling gain of a first amplifier, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first input signal and a second input signal from a second amplifier in a first portion of a circuit;
- producing a first output signal in the first portion that is an inverse logarithmic function of a combination of the first input signal and the second input signal;
- forwarding the first output signal to a second portion of the circuit;
- digitally processing the first output signal in the second portion to produce a second output signal;
- and
- controlling the gain of the first amplifier using the second output signal.
A circuit configured to control gain of an amplifier, the circuit comprising:
- receiving means for receiving a first input signal and a second input signal from the amplifier;
- first production means for producing a first output signal that is an inverse logarithmic function of a combination of the first input signal and the second input signal;
- processing means for digitally processing the first output signal;
- and
- second production means for producing a second output signal that controls the gain of the amplifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.