Control system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter

• US 20040092237A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Keming Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/126
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3042 in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers transmission power control in bidirectional transmission systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/0416 having gain or transmission power control

Abstract

A method and system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter can be created by detecting the signal power level of the transmitter with a detector, selectively attenuating the output signal power level with an attenuator having variable attenuation levels, and monitoring the output signal power level and comparing the output signal power level, as determined by the detector, to a predetermined threshold with a processor. The processor preferably controls the attenuator in accordance with the comparison of the output signal power level and the predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter, said system comprising:

a detector for detecting said output signal power level of said transmitter;

an attenuator with variable attenuation levels for selectively attenuating said output signal power level; and

a processor for monitoring said output signal power level and comparing said output signal power level as determined by said detector to a predetermined threshold, said processor controlling said attenuator in accordance with said comparison of said output signal power level and said predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, said system further comprising:

status signals generated by said transmitter for indicating an error in said transmitter, said processor monitoring said status signals; and

a mute signal generated by said processor, said mute signal adjusting a bias that mutes said output signal power level if any of said status signals indicates an error in said transmitter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a programmable circuit for programming said threshold.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said processor generates said mute signal if said output signal power level is above said predetermined threshold after said attenuator is set to its maximum attenuation level.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said detector outputs a signal comprising a root-mean-square direct current voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing an output of said detector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuit further comprises a detector for detecting an input signal power level of said transmitter, said processor further monitoring said input signal power level.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein said transmission system is incorporated in a two-way satellite communication system and said transmitter comprises an outdoor unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said transmission system further comprises:

an indoor unit that provides an input signal to said outdoor unit, said input signal comprising a modulated intermediate frequency signal; and

an interface circuit for communication between said outdoor unit and said indoor unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said processor communicates a status signal containing information from said outdoor unit to said indoor unit via said interface circuit, said information including said input and output signal power levels and said attenuation settings.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a temperature compensation circuit.

12. A method for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter, said method comprising selectively controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter in accordance with a comparison of said output signal power level and a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting said output signal power level of said transmitter with a detector;

selectively attenuating said output signal power level with a variable attenuation level;

monitoring said output signal power level; and

comparing said output signal power level to said predetermined threshold and controlling said attenuation levels in accordance with said comparison of said output signal power level and said predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating status signals for indicating an error in said transmitter; and

generating a mute signal, said mute signal adjusting a bias that mutes said output signal power level if any of said status signals indicates an error in said transmitter.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising programming said threshold.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating said mute signal if said power level is above said threshold after said variable attenuation level is set to its maximum attenuation level.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting and monitoring an input signal power level of said transmitter.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting in a two-way satellite communication system, said transmitter comprising an outdoor unit.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing an input signal to said outdoor unit with an indoor unit, said input signal comprising a modulated intermediate frequency signal.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicating information between said outdoor unit and said indoor unit with an interface circuit, said information including said input and output signal power levels and said attenuation levels.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising compensating for temperature changes.

17. The method of 13, further comprising generating a digitized signal of an output of said detector.

23. A system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter, said system comprising means for selectively controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter in accordance with a comparison of said output signal power level and a predetermined threshold.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

detector means for detecting said output signal power level of said transmitter;

means for selectively attenuating said output signal power level with a variable attenuation level;

means for monitoring said output signal power level; and

means for comparing said output signal power level to said predetermined threshold and controlling said attenuation level in accordance with said comparison of said output signal power level and said predetermined threshold.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for generating status signals for indicating an error in said transmitter; and

means for generating a mute signal, said mute signal adjusting a bias that mutes said output signal power level if any of said status signals indicates an error in said transmitter.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for programming said threshold.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for generating said mute signal if said power level is above said threshold after said variable attenuation level is set to its maximum attenuation level.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for generating a digitized signal of an output of said detector means.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for detecting and monitoring an input signal power level of said transmitter.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for transmitting in a two-way satellite communication system, said transmitter comprising an outdoor unit.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for providing an input signal to said outdoor unit with an indoor unit, said input signal comprising a modulated intermediate frequency signal.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for communicating information between said outdoor unit and said indoor unit with an interface circuit, said information including said input and output signal power levels and said attenuation levels.

33. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for compensating for temperature changes.