Systems and methods for dynamically controlling a tuner

• US 20060287009A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: SiPort, Inc. (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Arad, Oren
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1027 assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/30 for homodyne or synchrodyne receivers demodulator circuits H03D1/22

Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically controlling a tuner are provided. In exemplary embodiments, the tuner receives control signals generated by digital signal processing hardware (DSPHW). These control signals control noise figure and linearity characteristic of components within the tuner by adjusting a current supply to those components, according to a desired configuration determined by the DSPHW. As a result, the DSPHW can optimize power consumption of the tuner while allowing for sufficient tuner performance for reliable demodulation of received signals.

Claims

1. A system for power conservation in a receiver device, comprising:

a tuner configured to receive a signal; and

a digital signal processing hardware comprising a tuner management logic, the tuner management logic configured to generate a control signal to switch components within the tuner between modes to conserver power.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the modes comprise a low gain mode, a medium gain mode, and high gain mode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the modes comprise a low linearity, a medium linearity, and a high linearity mode.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the modes comprise intermediate gain modes and intermediate linearity modes.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the tuner further comprises a control logic configured to decode the control signals from the digital signal processing hardware and produce component control signals.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the tuner further comprises probes configured to measure power at several points along a path of the received signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the DSPHW further comprises a demodulator configured to demodulate signals received from the tuner.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the demodulator further comprises a digital logic configured to measure signal-to-noise ratio of a demodulated signal of interest.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the DSPHW further comprises a power measurement logic configured to determine estimated power of an in-band signal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tuner further comprises at least one filter having a plurality of filter stages, the filter stages being selectively switched off when less filter stages are required in order to reduce power consumption of the tuner.

11. A method for power conservation in a receiver device, comprising:

obtaining a power measurement from a tuner and an average power measurement for a desired signal;

estimating control values required for reliable reception of the desired signal using the power measurement from the tuner and the average power measurement;

determining if a noise figure and linearity characteristics should be tightened or relaxed by comparing current control values with estimated control values; and

providing control signals, based on the comparison of the control values, to the tuner to regulate power consumption.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein obtaining the power measurement from the tuner comprises utilizing a measurement probe in the tuner.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein obtaining the average power measurement comprises utilizing a power measurement logic of a demodulator.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising obtaining a signal-to-noise value by utilizing a digital logic circuitry of a demodulator.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein estimating control signal values comprises classifying a signal at a low noise amplifier input into a desired power category and a blocker power category.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein estimating control values further comprises utilizing a look-up table based on the desired power category and blocker power category.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein determining if a noise figure and linearity characteristics should be tightened or relaxed further comprises comparing a signal-to-noise value to a threshold value that guarantees reliable reception of the desired signal.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the control signals comprise instructions for bypassing filter stages of a multi-stage filter.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the control signals comprise instructions for activating a bypass switch in a low noise amplifier.

20. A system for power conservation in a receiver device, comprising:

means for obtaining a power measurement from a tuner and an average power measurement for a desired signal;

means for estimating control values required for reliable reception of the desired signal using the power measurement from the tuner and the average power measurement;

means for determining if a noise figure and linearity characteristics should be tightened or relaxed by comparing current control values with estimated control values; and

means for providing control signals, based on the comparison of the control values, to the tuner to regulate power consumption.