Systems and methods for management of current consumption and performance in a receiver down converter of a wireless device

• US 6,487,419 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1998
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Freed, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/129,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/522, 455/232.1, 455/234.1, 455/234.2, 455/247.1, 455/250.1, 455/204, 455/200.1, 375/345
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2203/7239 the gated amplifier being switched on or off by putting into parallel or not, by choosing between amplifiers and shunting lines by one or more switch(es)
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3068 Circuits generating control signals for both R.F. and I.F. stages

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products are provide which control the operation of a receiver of a wireless device so as to reduce the power consumption of the receiver by setting the third order intercept point of a low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device or a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device. Furthermore, the gain of the low noise amplifier may also be set based upon received signal strength or transmitter power. Also, the gain of an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver may be set based upon received signal strength or transmitter power. Preferably, multiple power modes are provided to tailor the power consumption to the operating conditions of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operation of a receiver of a wireless device so as to reduce the power consumption of the receiver, the method comprising:

setting the third order intercept point of a low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise the step of;

setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a low third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if the transmitter is off.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of setting the gain of a low noise amplifier comprises the step of selectively bypassing the low noise amplifier.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of setting the gain of an amplifier associated with a mixer comprises the step of selectively bypassing the amplifier associated with the mixer.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the wireless device is in a sleep mode; and

disabling the receiver if the wireless device is in sleep mode.

5. A method of controlling the operation of a receiver of a wireless device so as to reduce the power consumption of the receiver, the method comprising:

setting the third order intercept point of a low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise the step of;

setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode and the transmitter is operating at an output power above a predefined threshold output power.

6. A method according claim 5, wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise the step of:

setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode and the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power.

7. A method according claim 5, wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise the steps of:

setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than a first predefined signal strength threshold and less than a second predefined signal strength threshold; and

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than the second predefined signal strength threshold and less than a third predefined signal strength threshold.

8. A method according claim 7, wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise the step of:

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if the wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than the third predefined signal strength threshold.

9. A method of controlling the operation of a receiver of a wireless device so as to reduce the power consumption of the receiver, the method comprising:

setting the third order intercept point of a low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

setting the gain of an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein the steps of setting the third order intercept point, setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise the steps of;

setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a low third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a AMPS/DAMPS mode and the received signal strength is greater than a first predefined signal strength threshold and less than a second predefined signal strength threshold; and

setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a AMPS/DAMPS mode and the received signal strength is greater than the second predefined signal strength threshold.

10. A down converter for a receiver of a wireless device, comprising:

a low noise amplifier;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver;

means for setting the gain of the amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a low third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if the transmitter is off.

11. A down converter according to claim 10, wherein said means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier comprises means for selectively bypassing the low noise amplifier.

12. A down converter according to claim 11, wherein said means for bypassing comprises a switch.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for setting the gain of an amplifier associated with the mixer comprises means for selectively bypassing the amplifier associated with the mixer.

14. A down converter according to claim 13, wherein said means for bypassing the amplifier associated with the mixer comprises a switch.

15. A down converter according to claim 10, further comprising:

means for determining if the wireless device is in a sleep mode; and

means for disabling the receiver if the wireless device is in sleep mode.

16. A down converter according to claim 10, wherein the wireless device is a radiotelephone.

17. A down converter for a receiver of a wireless device, comprising:

a low noise amplifier;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver;

means for setting the gain of the amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode and the transmitter is operating at an output power above a predefined threshold output power.

18. A down converter according claim 17, wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise:

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode and the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power.

19. A down converter according claim 17, wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise:

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a high third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than a first predefined signal strength threshold and less than a second predefined signal strength threshold; and

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a high gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than the second predefined signal strength threshold and less than a third predefined signal strength threshold.

20. A down converter according claim 19, wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, further comprise:

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a CDMA mode, the transmitter is operating at an output power below the predefined threshold output power and the received signal strength is greater than the third predefined signal strength threshold.

21. A down converter for a receiver of a wireless device, comprising:

a low noise amplifier;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device;

an amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver;

means for setting the gain of the amplifier associated with a mixer of the receiver of the wireless device based upon at least one of a strength of a signal received by the wireless device and a transmission power of a transmitter of the wireless device; and

wherein said means for setting the third order intercept point, means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier and means for setting the gain of the mixer amplifier, comprise;

means for setting the third order intercept point of the low noise amplifier to a low third order intercept point, the gain of the low noise amplifier to a high gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a AMPS/DAMPS mode and the received signal strength is greater than a first predefined signal strength threshold and less than a second predefined signal strength threshold; and

means for setting the gain of the low noise amplifier to a low gain and the gain of the mixer amplifier to a low gain if wireless device is operating in a AMPS/DAMPS mode and the received signal strength is greater than the second predefined signal strength threshold.