Methods and systems for intelligent adaptive gain control

• US 20060189276A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richardson Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Richardson Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Moreno, Edwin, Halinski, Michael, Avicola, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/298,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189276A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578

Abstract

A wireless enhancer for providing bidirectional amplification is provided. The wireless enhancer may be positioned in an automobile or other mobile vehicle and used to increase the ability of a user to communicate with an existing cell phone system. The wireless enhancer provides bidirectional amplification for multiple signal formats and self-monitors to deliver the maximum amplification to the user without creating an oscillation or overdriven condition.

Claims

1. A communication system including:

a first bidirectional amplification system for using a first communication format, said first bidirectional amplification system including;

a first format transmit pathway; and

a first format receive pathway; and

a second bidirectional amplification system using a second communication format, said second bidirectional amplification system including;

a second format transmit pathway; and

a second format receive pathway,

wherein each of said first and second format pathways includes;

a signal power detector;

an attenuator; and

an amplifier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein one of said first format and said second format is the AMPS format.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein one of said first format and said second format is the PCS format.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein one of said first format and said second format is the iDEN format.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor uses one of said signal power detectors to determine the signal power for one of said pathways.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor controls one of said attenuators to reduce the signal power for one of said pathways.

7. A communication method including:

establishing a communication pathway for passing a signal through an amplifier, an attenuator, and a detector;

establishing an overpower threshold for said pathway;

sampling the signal power of said signal on said pathway using said detector;

comparing said signal power to said overpower threshold; and

when said signal power is greater than said overpower threshold, increasing the attenuation of said attenuator.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said signal is an AMPS signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said signal is a PCS signal.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said signal is an iDEN signal.

11. The method of claim 7 further including:

setting an overdrive flag.

12. The method of claim 11 further including:

when said signal power is less than said overpower threshold, determining if an overdriven flag has been set; and

when said overdrive flag has been set, increasing the attenuation of said attenuator.

13. The method of claim 7 further including:

determining an attenuation for said attenuator that causes said signal power to be less than said overpower threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 further including:

increasing the attenuation of said attenuator beyond said attenuation that causes said signal power to be less than said overpower threshold.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein said signal is an DCS 1800 signal.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein said signal is an GSM 900 signal.

17. A communication method including:

establishing a first communication pathway, said first pathway passing a first signal from a first antenna to a second antenna through a first amplifier, a first attenuator, and a first detector;

establishing a second communication pathway, said second pathway passing a second signal from said first antenna to said second antenna through a second amplifier, a second attenuator, and a second detector;

establishing a first overpower threshold for said first pathway;

establishing a second overpower threshold for said second pathway;

when said first pathway is in use,

measuring the power of said first signal using said first detector;

comparing said power of said first signal to said first overpower threshold;

increasing the attenuation of said first attenuator when said power of said first signal exceeds said first overpower threshold; and

when said second pathway is in use,

measuring the power of said second signal using said second detector;

comparing said power of said second signal to said second overpower threshold;

increasing the attenuation of said second attenuator when said power of said second signal exceeds said second overpower threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said first communication pathway uses a first communication format and said second communication pathway uses a second communication format.