Tracking automatic gain control

• US 20050111401A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated, Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated, Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Terry, John David
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3052 in bandpass amplifiers (H.F. or I.F.) or in frequency-changers used in a (super)heterodyne receiver H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3078 Circuits generating control signals for digitally modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

An automatic gain control provides for enhanced acquisition and tracking of wireless signals. The wireless signals may include signals using electrostatic fields, magnetic fields, or electromagnetic fields. In an embodiment, wireless signals are provided as radio frequency signals. The automatic gain control design is intended to quickly acquire new incoming information in a wireless signal. A control unit regulates the automatic gain control to manage the acquisition and gain of the wireless signal based on a transmission protocol. The automatic gain control adjusts the gain for the wireless signal to a minimal level required for detection for a preprogrammed amount of time, at the same time minimizing unwanted background noise from interfering with the data packet. When the communication session is concluded, the automatic gain control can be released allowing increased sensitivity in preparation of the next transmission.

Claims

1. A receiver comprising:

a detector to acquire a wireless signal;

an automatic gain control to provide gain for the acquired wireless signal; and

a control unit having programmable acquisition, hold, and release parameters to manage the acquisition and gain of the wireless signal based on a transmission protocol.

2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmed with a plurality of sets of acquisition, hold, and release parameters, each set related to a different transmission protocol.

3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is programmed with a plurality of sets of acquisition, hold, and release parameters, each set related to a different transmitting unit.

4. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an electrostatic field.

5. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an magnetic field.

6. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an electromagnetic field.

7. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is an RF signal.

8. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to regulate the automatic gain control to adjust a gain to a minimal level for detection of a wireless signal for a predetermined amount of time according to the transmission protocol.

9. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to issue a hold command to the automatic gain control to maintain sensitivity for a next wireless transmission in a communication session defined by a transmission protocol that provides control and transmission information.

10. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the hold command to the automatic gain control includes a length of time to maintain the sensitivity.

11. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to issue a hold command the automatic gain control for a predetermined gain level to minimize the acquisition time for a wireless signal for a new communication session.

12. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to regulate the automatic gain control to increase a sensitivity when a communication session is ended.

13. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to regulate the automatic gain control to increase sensitivity when a wireless signal is not present during a period in a communication session in which the transmission protocol indicates a wireless transmission is scheduled.

14. A system comprising:

a receiver to receive wireless data signals; and

a processor responsive to the wireless data signals, wherein the receiver includes;

a detector to acquire a wireless signal;

an automatic gain control to provide gain for the acquired wireless signal; and

a control unit having programmable acquisition, hold, and release parameters to manage the acquisition and gain of the wireless signal based on a transmission protocol.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is programmed with a plurality of sets of acquisition, hold, and release parameters, each set related to a different transmission protocol.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is programmed with a plurality of sets of acquisition, hold, and release parameters, each set related to a different transmitting unit.

17. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an electrostatic field.

18. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an magnetic field.

19. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is a signal using an electromagnetic field.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal is an RF signal.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit regulates the automatic gain control to adjust a gain to a minimal level for detection of an wireless signal for a predetermined amount of time according the protocol.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is adapted to issue a hold command to the automatic gain control to maintain sensitivity for a next wireless transmission in a communication session defined by a transmission protocol that provides control and transmission information.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is adapted to issue a hold command for a predetermined gain level to minimize the acquisition time for a wireless signal in a next communication session.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is adapted to increase a sensitivity when a communication session is ended.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is adapted to increase a sensitivity when a wireless signal is not present at a time in communication session in which the transmission protocol indicates a scheduled wireless transmission.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit regulates the automatic gain control to adjust a gain to a minimal level to detect a wireless signal for a predetermined amount of time according to the transmission protocol to minimize unnecessary and unwanted amplification of electromagnetic interference during a data off portion of the wireless modulated transmission.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is a hearing aid.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the system further includes a transmitting subsystem.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the transmitting subsystem is in a first hearing aid and the receiver is in a second hearing aid.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the a transmitting subsystem is in a first hearing aid programming unit, and the receiver is in a hearing aid.

31. A method comprising:

detecting wireless energy;

determining whether the detected wireless energy corresponds to wireless signals in a communication session;

determining a transmission protocol to operate an automatic gain control for the communication session; and

managing the automatic gain control to regulate gain by according to the determined transmission protocol.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a transmission protocol includes determining periods of time for gain levels associated with the communication session.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein detecting wireless energy includes detecting energy of an electrostatic field.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein detecting wireless energy includes detecting energy of a magnetic field.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein detecting wireless energy includes detecting energy of an electromagnetic field.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein detecting wireless energy includes detecting RF energy.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein managing the regulation of gain by the automatic gain control includes sending control signals to the automatic gain control to adjust a gain to a minimal level for detection of a wireless signal for a predetermined amount of time according the protocol.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein managing the regulation of gain by the automatic gain control includes sending a hold command to the automatic gain control to maintain sensitivity for a next wireless transmission in a communication session defined by a transmission protocol that uses intermittent information transmittal.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein managing the regulation of gain by the automatic gain control includes sending a hold command for a predetermined gain level to minimize the acquisition time for a wireless signal in a next communication session.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein managing the regulation of gain by the automatic gain control includes sending control signals to the automatic gain control to increase a sensitivity when a communication session is ended.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein managing the regulation of gain by the automatic gain control includes sending control signals to the automatic gain control to increase a sensitivity when a wireless signal is not present at a time in communication session in which the transmission protocol indicates a scheduled wireless transmission.

42. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further includes performing the method in a hearing aid.

43. The method of claim 31, further including transmitting a wireless signal.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further includes transmitting a wireless signal from a hearing aid for a communication session with another hearing aid that receives the wireless signal.

45. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further includes transmitting a wireless signal from a hearing aid programming unit for a communication session with a hearing aid that receives the wireless signal.