Communications system with an apparatus for controlling overall power consumption based on received signal strength
First Claim
1. A system having a received signal path therein, said signal path including a mixer that modifies a carrier frequency of an information signal propagating through said signal path, said system comprising an apparatus for reducing an overall power consumption of said system, said apparatus comprising:
- a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuit, in communication with said signal path, that provides an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of said information signal; and
a power reduction circuit, coupled to said RSSI circuit, that reduces a current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level and increases said current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal falls below a lower threshold level, said upper and lower threshold levels forming a hysteresis band to render said power reduction circuit immune to changes in RSSI signal level caused by operation of said power reduction circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
For use in a system having a received signal path therein, the signal path including a mixer that modifies a carrier frequency of an information signal propagating through the signal path, an apparatus for, and method of, reducing an overall power consumption of the system and a radio device employing the same. The apparatus includes: (1) a received signal strength indicator ("RSSI") circuit, in communication with the signal path, that provides an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of the information signal and (2) a power reduction circuit, coupled to the RSSI circuit, that reduces a current draw of the mixer when the RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level, the overall power consumption of the receiver thereby reduced.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system having a received signal path therein, said signal path including a mixer that modifies a carrier frequency of an information signal propagating through said signal path, said system comprising an apparatus for reducing an overall power consumption of said system, said apparatus comprising:
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a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuit, in communication with said signal path, that provides an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of said information signal; and a power reduction circuit, coupled to said RSSI circuit, that reduces a current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level and increases said current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal falls below a lower threshold level, said upper and lower threshold levels forming a hysteresis band to render said power reduction circuit immune to changes in RSSI signal level caused by operation of said power reduction circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. For use in a system having a received signal path therein, said signal path including a mixer that modifies a carrier frequency of an information signal propagating through said signal path, a method of reducing an overall power consumption of said system, comprising the steps of:
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providing an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of said information signal; reducing a current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level; and increasing said current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal falls below a lower threshold level, said upper and lower threshold levels forming a hysteresis band to render said power reduction circuit immune to changes in RSSI signal level caused by operation of said power reduction circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A radio device, comprising:
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a signal path, including; an antenna for receiving an information signal, a first low noise amplifier that amplifies said information signal, a first mixer that reduces a carrier frequency of said information signal to a first intermediate frequency, a second amplifier that further amplifies said information signal, a second mixer that reduces said first intermediate frequency to a second intermediate frequency, a third amplifier that still further amplifies said information signal, and a frequency modulation (FM) demodulator that reduces said second intermediate frequency to a final frequency; a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuit, in communication with said signal path, that provides an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of said information signal; and a power reduction circuit, coupled to said RSSI circuit, that reduces a current draw of said first mixer when said RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level and increases said current draw of said mixer when said RSSI signal falls below a lower threshold level, said upper and lower threshold levels forming a hysteresis band to render said power reduction circuit immune to changes in RSSI signal level caused by operation of said power reduction circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification