Methods and apparatus for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver operating in an idle mode

• US 7,853,230 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Jin, Xin, Young, Tom Yun Sang, Jiao, Qingzhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannon, Christian A
• Application Number:
  US12/268,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20090068972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 4552321-2532, 4553431-3436
• US Class Current: 455/234.2
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3052 in bandpass amplifiers (H.F. or I.F.) or in frequency-changers used in a (super)heterodyne receiver H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The settling time of a wireless receiver is reduced by providing a previously utilized gain control state value to an amplifier of a receiver front end during a warm-up portion of a wake-up period of the wireless receiver which follows a sleep period. One illustrative method includes the steps of receiving a notification signal which indicates that the wireless receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode, reading a gain control state value from a gain controller based on receiving the notification signal, storing the gain control state value in memory, providing the stored gain control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver during a warm-up period of a second wake-up period following the first wake-up period, and providing a gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver based on a signal level of a currently received signal of the wireless receiver after the warm-up period.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, during a first wake-up period of the wireless receiver, a notification signal which indicates that the wireless receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode;

reading a gain control state value from a gain controller during the first wake-up period, and storing the gain control state value in memory;

in response to the notification signal;

causing the wireless receiver to be placed in the sleep mode;

in response to expiration of a sleep mode timer for the sleep mode;

entering into a second wake-up period;

providing a selection signal for selecting, via a multiplexer, the stored gain control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver;

running a warm-up period timer for a warm-up period of the second wake-up period; and

in response to expiration of the warm-up period timer;

switching from selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gained control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver to selecting, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further steps of:

repeating the recited acts for subsequent sleep modes and wake-up periods of the wireless receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the act of providing the stored gain control state value from the memory to the wireless receiver comprises providing it to a low noise amplifier (LNA) of the wireless receiver; and

wherein the act of switching from use of the stored gained control state value in the wireless receiver to the gain control state value from the gain controller comprises providing the gain control state value from the gain controller to the LNA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching to the gain control state value from the gain controller comprises the further step of providing a step gain control state value from a plurality of gain control state values based on the signal level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching to the gain control state value from the gain controller comprises the further step of providing a continuously variable gain control state value based on the signal level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the continuously variable gain control state value is monotonically non-increasing with respect to the signal level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of switching to the gain control state value from the gain controller comprises the further step of providing a step gain control state value from a plurality of gain control state values and a continuously variable gain control state value based on the currently received signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the notification signal;

starting the sleep mode timer for the sleep mode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to expiration of the sleep mode timer for the sleep mode;

causing the wireless receiver to be exited from the sleep mode for entering into a second wake-up period.

10. A mobile station, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals through an antenna;

an amplifier of the receiver which is configured to amplify the RF signals;

a level detector configured to detect a signal level of the RF signals;

a gain controller configured to provide a gain control state value at an output in response to the signal level;

a multiplexer having an output coupled to a gain control input to the amplifier;

a processor configured to;

read a gain control state value from the gain controller during a first wake-up period of the receiver;

store the gain control state value in memory;

in response to receiving a notification signal which indicates that the receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode;

cause the receiver to be placed in the sleep mode;

in response to expiration of a sleep mode timer for the sleep mode;

cause a second wake-up period to be entered;

provide a selection signal for selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gain control state value from the memory to the amplifier for a warm-up period of the second wake-up period;

run a warm-up period timer for the warm-up period; and

in response to expiration of the warm-up period timer;

switch from selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gained control state value from the memory to the amplifier to selecting, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the amplifier, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the receiver.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, further comprising:

a notification means configured to indicate that the receiver is to be placed in the sleep mode; and

the processor being further configured to read the gain control state value from the gain controller and store the gain control state value in the memory based on receiving the indication from the notification means.

12. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operative to:

continue to repeat the recited actions for subsequent sleep modes and wake-up periods of the receiver.

13. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the amplifier comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a front end stage of the receiver.

14. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the gain controller is further configured to provide a step gain control state value including a plurality of gain state values in response to the signal level.

15. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the gain controller provides a continuously variable gain control state value in response to the signal level.

16. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the continuously variable gain control state value is monotonically non-increasing with respect to the signal level.

17. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the gain controller provides a step gain control state value from a plurality of gain control state values and a continuously variable gain control state value in response to the signal level.

18. A circuit for a wireless receiver, comprising:

an amplifier configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signals in the wireless receiver;

a level detector configured to detect a signal level of the RF signals;

a gain controller configured to provide a gain control state value in response to the signal level;

a multiplexer having an output for providing a gain control input to the amplifier; and

a processor configured to;

read a gain control state value from the gain controller during a first wake-up period of the wireless receiver;

store the gain control state value in memory;

in response to receiving a notification signal which indicates that the receiver is to be placed in a sleep mode;

cause the wireless receiver to be placed in the sleep mode;

in response to expiration of a sleep mode timer for the sleep mode;

cause the wireless receiver to enter into a second wake-up period;

provide a selection signal for selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gain control state value from the memory to the amplifier for a warm-up period of the second wake-up period;

run a warm-up period timer for the warm-up period of the second wake-up period; and

in response to expiration of the warm-up period timer;

switch from selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gained control state value from the memory to the amplifier to selecting, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the amplifier, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently received signal in the wireless receiver.

19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein the amplifier comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a front end stage of the wireless receiver.

20. A circuit for a wireless receiver, comprising:

a front end stage having a low noise amplifier (LNA) which is configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signals received via the front end stage;

a down converter having an input which is coupled to an output of the front end stage, the down converter including a mixer;

an intermediate frequency (IF) or bandband stage having an input coupled to an output of the down converter;

a level detector having an input coupled to an output of the IF or baseband stage, the level detector being configured to detect a signal level of the processed RF signals;

a gain controller which is configured to provide a gain control state value in response to the signal level;

a multiplexer having an output coupled to a gain control input to the LNA; and

a processor which is configured to read a gain control state value from the gain controller during a first wake-up period of the wireless receiver;

store the gain control state value in memory;

provide a selection signal for selecting, via the multiplexer, the stored gain control state value from the memory to the LNA during a warm-up period of a second wake-up period following the first wake-up period; and

select, via the multiplexer, after the warm-up period of the second wake-up period, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the LNA, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently received signal in the wireless receiver.