Low-cost receiver using automatic gain control

A receiver, comprising:

• a first programmable gain element for adjusting a gain of a radio frequency (RE) input signal to provide an adjusted RF input signal, and having gain steps of a first magnitude;
• a signal processing circuit for processing said adjusted RF input signal to provide a processed signal;
• a second programmable gain element for adjusting a gain of said processed signal to provide an output signal, said second programmable gain element having gain steps of a second magnitude that is smaller than said first magnitude;
• said signal processing circuit comprising a third programmable gain element for adjusting a gain of said adjusted RF input signal, and having gain steps of a third magnitude;
• and
• a controller for adjusting a gain of the receiver by a desired gain by changing a sum of gains of said first programmable gain element and said third programmable gain element by a first amount and also changing a gain of said second programmable gain element by substantially a corresponding inverse first amount, and subsequently changing said gain of said second programmable gain element incrementally by steps of said second magnitude to achieve said desired gain.

A method comprising:

• adjusting a gain of a radio frequency (RF) input signal by a first amount to provide an adjusted RF input signal using a gain step of a first magnitude;
• processing said adjusted RF input signal to provide a processed signal, said processing said adjusted RF input signal comprises adjusting a gain of said adjusted RF input signal by a second amount;
• adjusting a gain of said processed signal by substantially a corresponding inverse of a sum of said first amount and said second amount to provide an output signal;
• and
• subsequently changing a gain of said output signal incrementally using a plurality of gain steps of a second magnitude to achieve a desired gain, said second magnitude being smaller than said first magnitude.