METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION

• US 20120014484A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zebra Enterprise Solutions Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Richley, Edward A., Ameti, Aitan
• Granted Patent: US 8,705,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/345
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02213 Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/244 using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]

Abstract

Various methods for performing amplifier gain compensation to correct for variations in temperature are provided. One example method includes modifying a gain adjustment value based on a current temperature reading, receiving a signal,

applying a gain adjustment to the signal based on the gain adjustment value, comparing the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds to generate respective comparison outputs, and selecting one of the comparison outputs for use in determining content and timing information of the received signal. Related systems and apparatuses are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

modifying a gain adjustment value based on a current temperature reading;

receiving a signal;

applying a gain adjustment to the signal based on the gain adjustment value;

comparing the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds to generate respective comparison outputs; and

selecting one of the comparison outputs for use in determining content and timing information of the received signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the gain adjustment value includes modifying the gain adjustment value based on the temperature reading and a gain compensation table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the gain adjustment value includes repeatedly reading the temperature provided by a temperature sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the gain adjustment to the signal is performed by a step attenuator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes generating the plurality of thresholds via a resistor network that receives a calibrated input reference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes generating the plurality of thresholds, each of the plurality of thresholds being offset from another by a given amount.

7. An apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to control the apparatus to:

modify a gain adjustment value based on a current temperature reading;

receive a signal;

apply a gain adjustment to the signal based on the gain adjustment value;

compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds to generate respective comparison outputs; and

select one of the comparison outputs for use in determining content and timing information of the received signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry configured to modify the gain adjustment value includes being configured to modify the gain adjustment value based on the temperature reading and a gain compensation table.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry configured to modify the gain adjustment value includes being configured to repeatedly read the temperature provided by a temperature sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry configured to apply the gain adjustment to the signal is a step attenuator.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry configured to compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes being configured to generate the plurality of thresholds via a resistor network that receives a calibrated input reference.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing circuitry configured to compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes being configured of generate the plurality of thresholds, each of the plurality of thresholds being offset from another by a given amount.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is a receiver of an asset locating system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature at a time of receipt of the signal.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code being configured to, when executed, cause and apparatus to:

modify a gain adjustment value based on a current temperature reading;

receive a signal;

apply a gain adjustment to the signal based on the gain adjustment value;

compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds to generate respective comparison outputs; and

select one of the comparison outputs for use in determining content and timing information of the received signal.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the program code configured to cause the apparatus to modify the gain adjustment value includes being configured to cause the apparatus to modify the gain adjustment value based on the temperature reading and a gain compensation table.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the program code configured to cause the apparatus to modify the gain adjustment value includes being configured to cause the apparatus to repeatedly read the temperature provided by a temperature sensor.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the program code configured to cause the apparatus to apply the gain adjustment to the signal includes being configured to cause the apparatus to apply the gain adjustment to the signal via a step attenuator.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the program code configured to cause the apparatus to compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes being configured to cause the apparatus to generate the plurality of thresholds via a resistor network that receives a calibrated input reference.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the program code configured to cause the apparatus to compare the gain adjusted signal to a plurality of thresholds includes being configured to cause the apparatus to generate the plurality of thresholds, each of the plurality of thresholds being offset from another by a given amount.