Gain adjustment stepping control in a wireless repeater

A method for controlling gain in a wireless repeater having a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna, the method comprising:

• receiving an input signal at the receiving antenna, the input signal being a sum of a remote signal to be repeated and a feedback signal resulting from a feedback channel between the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna;
• transmitting an output signal on the transmitting antenna, the output signal being an amplified input signal;
• measuring one or more gain control metrics to determine a loop gain of the repeater;
• and
• dividing the loop gain of the repeater into a plurality of gain adjustment control zones that include a first zone having a loop gain in a stable operating region and a second zone having a loop gain outside the stable operating region;
• providing one or more gain adjustment control curves in the plurality of gain adjustment control zones, wherein the one or more gain adjustment control curves are provided in the first zone to increase a variable gain of the repeater and provided in the second zone to decrease the variable gain of the repeater;
• determining one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones in which the repeater is operating using the one or more gain control metrics;
• and
• adjusting the variable gain of the repeater using a gain adjustment step size, the gain adjustment step size being a function of the loop gain of the repeater as determined from the one or more gain control metrics and the one or more gain adjustment control curves provided in the determined one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones.

A wireless repeater having a receiving antenna for receiving an input signal and a transmitting antenna for transmitting an output signal, the input signal being a sum of a remote signal to be repeated and a feedback signal resulting from a feedback channel between the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna, the output signal being an amplified input signal, wherein the repeater comprises:

• a gain metric calculator configured to measure one or more gain control metrics to determine a loop gain of the repeater;
• and
• a gain control algorithm block configured to:
• divide the loop gain of the repeater into a plurality of gain adjustment control zones that include a first zone having a loop gain in a stable operating region and a second zone having a loop gain outside the stable operating region;
• provide one or more gain adjustment control curves in the plurality of gain adjustment control zones, wherein the one or more gain adjustment control curves are provided in the first zone to increase variable gain of the repeater and provided in the second zone to decrease the variable gain of the repeater;
• determine one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones in which the repeater is operating using the one or more gain control metrics;
• and
• adjust the variable gain of the repeater using a gain adjustment step size, the gain adjustment step size being a function of the loop gain of the repeater as determined from the one or more gain control metrics and the one or more gain adjustment control curves provided in the determined one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones.

An apparatus for controlling gain in a wireless repeater having a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• means for measuring one or more gain control metrics to determine a loop gain of a feedback channel between the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna;
• means for dividing the loop gain of the feedback channel into a plurality of gain adjustment control zones that include a first zone having a loop gain in a stable operating region and a second zone having a loop gain outside the stable operating region;
• means for providing one or more gain adjustment control curves in the plurality of gain adjustment control zones, wherein the one or more gain adjustment control curves are provided in the first zone to increase a variable gain of the repeater and provided in the second zone to decrease the variable gain of the repeater;
• means for determining one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones in which the repeater is operating using the one or more gain control metrics;
• and
• means for adjusting the variable gain of the repeater using a gain adjustment step size, the gain adjustment step size being a function of the loop gain of the feedback channel as determined from the one or more gain control metrics and the one or more gain adjustment control curves provided in the determined one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for controlling gain in a wireless repeater having a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna, wherein executing the instructions on a machine causes the machine to:

• measure one or more gain control metrics to determine a loop gain of a feedback channel between the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna;
• divide the loop gain of the feedback channel into a plurality of gain adjustment control zones that include a first zone having a loop gain in a stable operating region and a second zone having a loop gain outside the stable operating region;
• provide one or more gain adjustment control curves in the plurality of gain adjustment control zones, wherein the one or more gain adjustment control curves are provided in the first zone to increase a variable gain of the repeater and provided in the second zone to decrease the variable gain of the repeater;
• determine one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones in which the repeater is operating using the one or more gain control metrics;
• and
• adjust the variable gain of the repeater using a gain adjustment step size, the gain adjustment step size being a function of the loop gain of the feedback channel as determined from the one or more gain control metrics and the one or more gain adjustment control curves provided in the determined one of the plurality of gain adjustment control zones.