Method and apparatus for a high performance and high dynamic range baseband power control system

A method for achieving a change in attenuation, the method comprising:

• applying smaller increments of attenuation to a digital attenuator relative to known increments of attenuation capable in an analog step attenuator;
• comparing a resulting change in attenuation to a predetermined attenuation threshold;
• and
• changing attenuation of an analog step attenuator and the digital attenuator according to the predetermined attenuation threshold.

A digital signal processor comprising:

• a signal generation unit coupled to an input multiplexer, the input multiplexer configured to receive a digital modulated signal;
• a digital attenuator coupled to the input multiplexer, the digital attenuator configured to provide an attenuated signal to a digital-to-analog converter and an analog step attenuator outside the digital signal processor;
• a closed loop calibration control block configured to receive a signal output from a baseband filter, the baseband filter configured to receive the analog signal output from the analog step attenuator;
• a storage block configured to receive control signals from the closed loop calibration control block, the storage block providing a calibrated step size indicative of an accuracy in attenuation of the analog step attenuator;
• and
• an open loop ramp up/down control block coupled to the storage block to apply the determined accuracy of the analog step attenuator to facilitate realization of a predetermined desired attenuation using both the analog step attenuator and the digital attenuator.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a signal generation unit coupled to an input multiplexer, the input multiplexer configured to receive a digital modulated signal;
• a digital attenuator coupled to the input multiplexer, the digital attenuator configured to provide an attenuated signal to a digital-to-analog converter and an analog step attenuator outside the digital signal processor;
• a closed loop calibration control block configured to receive a signal output from a baseband filter, the baseband filter configured to receive the analog signal output from the analog step attenuator;
• a storage block configured to receive control signals from the closed loop calibration control block, the storage block providing a calibrated step size indicative of an accuracy in attenuation of the analog step attenuator;
• and
• an open loop ramp up/down control block coupled to the storage block to apply the determined accuracy of the analog step attenuator to facilitate realization of a predetermined desired attenuation using both the analog step attenuator and the digital attenuator.