Multi-segment gain control system

• US 7,496,338 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Sequoia Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Groe, John, Costa, Damian, Farias, Naone, Nejati, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US11/027,710
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 455/234.1, 455/240.1, 455/241.1, 455/245.2, 455/251.1, 330/133, 330/254, 330/310
• US Class Current: 455/240.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3068 Circuits generating control signals for both R.F. and I.F. stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3078 Circuits generating control signals for digitally modulated signals

Abstract

Multi-segment gain control system. Apparatus is provided for a multi-segment gain control. The apparatus includes logic to convert a gain control signal to an exponential signal, and logic to map the exponential signal to multiple control signals that are used to control multiple gain stages to produce linear multi-segment gain control.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a multi-segment gain control, the apparatus comprising:

logic to convert a gain control signal to an exponential signal; and

logic to map the exponential signal to generate a first control signal and a second control signal;

said first control signal and said second control signal provided to independently control a first gain segment and a second gain segment to produce multi-segment gain control;

wherein said multi-segment control follows a predefined square law gain characteristic.

2. Apparatus for providing a multi-segment gain control, the apparatus comprising:

logic to convert a gain control signal to an exponential signal; and

logic to map the exponential signal to generate a first control signal and a second control signal;

said first control signal and said second control signal provided to independently control a first gain segment and a second gain segment to produce multi-segment gain control;

wherein said multi-segment control follows a predefined square-root law gain characteristic.

3. Apparatus for providing a multi-segment gain control, the apparatus comprising:

logic to convert a gain control signal to an exponential signal; and

logic to map the exponential signal to generate a first control signal and a second control signal;

said first control signal and said second control signal provided to independently control a first gain segment and a second gain segment to produce multi-segment gain control;

wherein said multi-segment control follows a predefined cubic law gain characteristic.

4. Apparatus for providing multi-segment gain control in a communications device, the apparatus comprising:

logic to generate a gain control signal from a control signal, said logic to generate a gain control signal comprising logic to generate an exponential signal; and

logic to map the gain control signal to generate a plurality of gain segment control signals;

wherein ones of the gain segment control signals are provided to independently control ones of a plurality of gain control segments to provide a predefined gain characteristic, and wherein said predefined gain characteristic is a square law gain characteristic.

5. Apparatus for providing multi-segment gain control in a communications device, the apparatus comprising:

logic to generate a gain control signal from a control signal, said logic to generate a gain control signal comprising logic to generate an exponential signal; and

logic to map the gain control signal to generate a plurality of gain segment control signals;

wherein ones of the gain segment control signals are provided to independently control ones of a plurality of gain control segments to provide a predefined gain characteristic, and wherein said predefined gain characteristic is a square root law characteristic.

6. Apparatus for providing multi-segment gain control in a communications device, the apparatus comprising:

logic to generate a gain control signal from a control signal said logic to generate a gain control signal comprising logic to generate an exponential signal; and

logic to map the gain control signal to generate a plurality of gain segment control signals;

wherein ones of the gain segment control signals are provided to independently control ones of a plurality of gain control segments to provide a predefined gain characteristic, and wherein said predefined gain characteristic is a cubic law gain characteristic.