Automatic gain control system and related method
First Claim
1. An automatic gain control system comprising:
- at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range;
a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and
a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, and said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic gain control (AGC) system includes at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range and a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from the at least one variable-gain control component. The sensor may have an operating window based upon the signal that is smaller than the gain control range of the at least one variable-gain component. The AGC system may also include a controller responsive to the sensor for controlling the at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of the sensor. The controller may implement at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when the sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window. The controller may further implement movement to a fine gain value when the sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automatic gain control system comprising:
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at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range;
a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and
a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, and said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting an output from said sensor to a digital value;
a digital control loop connected to said A/D converter; and
an output section for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component based upon said digital control loop.
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9. The automatic gain control system of claim 8 wherein said at least one variable-gain component comprises:
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at least one first variable-gain component having an increasing gain for an increasing control signal; and
at least one second variable-gain component connected in series with said at least one first variable-gain component and having a decreasing gain for an increasing control signal.
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10. The automatic gain control system of claim 8 wherein said output section comprises a digital-to-analog converter.
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11. An automatic gain control system comprising:
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at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range;
a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and
a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump of a size based upon a prior coarse gain value from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window, and said controller also setting coarse and fine gain values to substantially center the amplitude of the signal from said at least one variable-gain control component within the operating window of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting an output from said sensor to a digital value;
a digital control loop connected to said A/D converter; and
an output section for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component based upon said digital control loop.
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18. The automatic gain control system of claim 17 wherein said at least one variable-gain component comprises:
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at least one first variable-gain component having an increasing gain for an increasing control signal; and
at least one second variable-gain component connected in series with said at least one first variable-gain component and having a decreasing gain for an increasing control signal.
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19. The automatic gain control system of claim 17 wherein said output section comprises a digital-to-analog converter.
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20. A method for controlling a signal gain comprising:
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sensing an amplitude of a signal from at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; and
controlling the gain of the at least one variable-gain component responsive to the sensed amplitude and according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude within an operating window smaller than the gain control range of the at least one variable-gain component by implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when the amplitude is outside the operating window, and implementing movement to a fine gain value when the amplitude is in the operating window. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification