Packet acquisition and channel tracking for a wireless communication device configured in a zero intermediate frequency architecture

A method of operating a wireless communication device to perform initial acquisition of a packet being transmitted in a wireless medium, the wireless communication device configured in a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) architecture including a DC feedback control loop and a gain feedback control loop, said method comprising:

• processing radio frequency (RF) energy in the wireless medium to generate a corresponding receive signal;
• determining if a DC threshold condition of the receive signal is exceeded;
• if the DC threshold condition is exceeded, holding the gain feedback control loop at a constant gain level and operating the DC feedback control loop to reduce DC of the receive signal until the DC threshold condition of the receive signal is met;
• and
• when the DC threshold condition of the receive signal is met, operating the DC feedback control loop to control the DC level of the receive signal and operating the gain feedback control loop to control a power level of the receive signal to a predetermined target power level.

A method of operating a wireless transceiver device in preparation for an expected acknowledgment packet, the wireless transceiver device configured in a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) architecture and including a DC feedback control loop and a gain feedback control loop, the method comprising:

• holding a gain level of the gain feedback control loop constant during a predetermined quiet period after transmission of a packet;
• operating the DC feedback control loop during the predetermined quiet period in an attempt to resolve DC level while the gain feedback control loop is held;
• and
• after the quiet period, releasing the gain feedback control loop to operate in a normal packet acquisition mode.

A method of operating a wireless communication device to determine clear channel assessment of a wireless medium, the wireless communication device configured in a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) architecture and including a DC feedback control loop and a gain feedback control loop, the method of comprising:

• storing a gain level value of the gain feedback control loop;
• detecting a packet being transmitted;
• after transmission of the packet is completed, retrieving the stored gain level value and holding the gain feedback control loop at the retrieved gain level value;
• operating the DC feedback control loop to search a stable DC level;
• and
• determining whether the DC loop converges to a stable DC level.